Read on for the full low-down:
————————–
Movies are important. Maybe not as important as family, politics, the environment, etc., but they are still important. And the Academy Awards are the essence of what this industry is all about. It’s a night where the best films and performances are celebrated throughout the world and movies as a whole are given a chance to shine. But unless you’re as devoted of a movie geek as I am, it can be hard to know what films to see to prepare yourself before you turn on the TV February 27 to watch the big night unfold live in Hollywood. So to help those who are film-challenged, I have compiled a list based on a compilation of early critics awards, industry buzz, nominations totals from the BFCA, Golden Globes, SAG, etc. (call it a mathematical film equation if you will) to let you know, in order of importance, the 50 films you need to see before Oscar Night 2011.
- The Social Network
- The King’s Speech
- Inception
- Toy Story 3
- Black Swan
- The Fighter
- 127 Hours
- The Kids Are All Right
- True Grit
- Winter’s Bone
- The Town
- Another Year
- Alice in Wonderland
- Rabbit Hole
- Animal Kingdom
- Blue Valentine
- Get Low
- Conviction
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
- Tangled
- Bitiful
- Burlesque
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Shutter Island
- Waiting For “Superman”
- Frankie and Alice
- Love and Other Drugs
- Hereafter
- The Illusionist
- Exit Through the Gift Shop
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Never Let Me Go
- The Tempest
- The Ghost Writer
- The Way Back
- Iron Man 2
- Red
- Barney’s Version
- Tron: Legacy
- I Am Love
- Country Strong
- Despicable Me
- Greenberg
- Secretariat
- Inside Job
- Somewhere
- Easy A
- Casino Jack
- The Tourist
Awards Show Schedule:
People’s Choice Awards – Wednesday, January 5th (CBS)
Critics Choice (BFCA) Awards – Friday, January 14th (VH1)
Golden Globes – Sunday, January 16th (NBC)
Screen Actors Guild Awards – Sunday, January 30th (TNT / TBS)
BAFTA Awards – Sunday, February 13th (BBC One / BBC America)
The Grammys – Sunday, February 13th (CBS)
Independent Spirit Awards – Saturday, February 26th (IFC)
Academy Awards – Sunday, February 27th (Sky Premiere / ABC)
NAACP Image Awards – Friday, March 4th (Fox)