85% Winner: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 119 min, R, [Comedy, Drama] [Alejandro G. Iñárritu] [14 Nov 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 77%, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, Metacritic: 87%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 4 Oscars. Another 191 wins & 275 nominations.
Actors: Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Jamahl Garrison-Lowe, Kenny Chin, Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis
Writer: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo, Raymond Carver (play)
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: Actor Riggan Thomson is most famous for his movie role from over twenty years ago of the comic book superhero Birdman in the blockbuster movie of the same name and its two equally popular sequels. His association with the role took over his life, where Birdman is more renowned than "Riggan Thomson" the actor. Now past middle age, Riggan is trying to establish himself as a true artist by writing, directing, starring in and co-producing with his best friend Jake what is his Broadway debut, an adaptation of Raymond Carver's story, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. He is staking his name, what little artistic reputation that comes with that name and his life savings on the project, and as such will do anything needed to make the play a success. As he and Jake go through the process of the previews toward opening night, Riggan runs into several issues: needing to find a replacement for the integral supporting male role the night before the first preview; hiring the talented Broadway name, Mike Shiner, for that role, Mike who ends up being difficult to work with and who may end up overshadowing Riggan in the play; having to deal potentially with a lawsuit based on one of his actions to ensure success; needing to be there for his daughter, Sam, who he has hired to be his production assistant and who has just come out of drug rehab; and pleasing the New York Times critic, Tabitha Dickinson, who wants to use any excuse to give the play a scathing review which in turn would close the show after the opening night performance. But Riggan's biggest problem may be his own insecurities, which are manifested by him constantly hearing what he believes to be the truth from the voice of his Birdman character, who he often battles both internally and externally.
Rotten Tomatoes: BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) - famous for portraying an iconic superhero - as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. (c) Fox Searchlight
72% Nominee: American Sniper 133 min, R, [Action, Biography, Drama, War] [Clint Eastwood] [16 Jan 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 73%, Rotten Tomatoes: 72%, Metacritic: 72%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 23 wins & 42 nominations.
Actors: Ben Reed, Bradley Cooper, Cole Konis, Kyle Gallner, Sienna Miller
Writer: Jason Hall, Chris Kyle (book), Scott McEwen (book), Jim DeFelice (book)
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Arabic Country: USA
Plot: Chris Kyle was nothing more than a Texan man who dreamed of becoming a cowboy, but in his thirties he found out that maybe his life needed something different, something where he could express his real talent, something that could help America in its fight against terrorism. So he joined the SEALs in order to become a sniper. After marrying, Kyle and the other members of the team are called for their first tour of Iraq. Kyle's struggle isn't with his missions, but about his relationship with the reality of the war and, once returned at home, how he manages to handle it with his urban life, his wife and kids.
Rotten Tomatoes: From director Clint Eastwood comes "American Sniper," starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to this true American hero than his skill with a rifle. U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname "Legend." However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, becoming emblematic of the SEAL creed to "leave no man behind." But upon returning home, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. (C) Warner Bros
92% Nominee: Boyhood 165 min, R, [Drama] [Richard Linklater] [15 Aug 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 79%, Rotten Tomatoes: 97%, Metacritic: 100%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 171 wins & 209 nominations.
Actors: Elijah Smith, Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater, Patricia Arquette
Writer: Richard Linklater
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, Spanish Country: USA
Plot: Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason's parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay's Yellow to Arcade Fire's Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.
Rotten Tomatoes: Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason's parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay's Yellow to Arcade Fire's Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It's impossible to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey. (c) Sundance Film Fest
87% Nominee: Selma 128 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, History] [Ava DuVernay] [09 Jan 2015]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 75%, Rotten Tomatoes: 99%, Metacritic: 88%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 58 wins & 88 nominations.
Actors: Carmen Ejogo, David Oyelowo, Jim France, Tim Roth, Trinity Simone
Writer: Paul Webb
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: UK, USA, France
Plot: The unforgettable true story chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay's "Selma" tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.
Rotten Tomatoes: SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernays SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.(C) Paramount
86% Nominee: The Grand Budapest Hotel 99 min, R, [Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama] [Wes Anderson] [28 Mar 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 81%, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, Metacritic: 88%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 4 Oscars. Another 127 wins & 218 nominations.
Actors: Adrien Brody, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Ralph Fiennes
Writer: Stefan Zweig (inspired by the writings of), Wes Anderson (screenplay), Wes Anderson (story), Hugo Guinness (story)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, French, German Country: USA, Germany
Plot: GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune -- all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.
Rotten Tomatoes: THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune -- all against the back-drop ofa suddenly and dramatically changing Continent. (c) Fox Searchlight
81% Nominee: The Imitation Game 114 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, Thriller, War] [Morten Tyldum] [25 Dec 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 80%, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%, Metacritic: 73%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 46 wins & 155 nominations.
Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear
Writer: Graham Moore, Andrew Hodges (book)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, German Country: USA, UK
Plot: Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.
Rotten Tomatoes: During the winter of 1952, British authorities entered the home of mathematician, cryptanalyst and war hero Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to investigate a reported burglary. They instead ended up arresting Turing himself on charges of 'gross indecency', an accusation that would lead to his devastating conviction for the criminal offense of homosexuality - little did officials know, they were actually incriminating the pioneer of modern-day computing. Famously leading a motley group of scholars, linguists, chess champions and intelligence officers, he was credited with cracking the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany's World War II Enigma machine. An intense and haunting portrayal of a brilliant, complicated man, THE IMITATION GAME follows a genius who under nail-biting pressure helped to shorten the war and, in turn, save thousands of lives. (c) Weinstein
76% Nominee: The Theory of Everything 123 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, Romance] [James Marsh] [26 Nov 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 77%, Rotten Tomatoes: 79%, Metacritic: 72%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 24 wins & 121 nominations.
Actors: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Sophie Perry, Tom Prior
Writer: Anthony McCarten (screenplay), Jane Hawking (book)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, French Country: UK, Japan, USA
Plot: The Theory of Everything is the story of the most brilliant and celebrated physicist of our time, Stephen Hawking, and Jane Wilde the arts student he fell in love with whilst studying at Cambridge in the 1960s. Little was expected from Stephen Hawking, a bright but shiftless student of cosmology, given just two years to live following the diagnosis of a fatal illness at 21 years of age. He became galvanized, however, by the love of fellow Cambridge student, Jane Wilde, and he went on to be called the successor to Einstein, as well as a husband and father to their three children. Over the course of their marriage as Stephen's body collapsed and his academic renown soared, fault lines were exposed that tested the lineaments of their relationship and dramatically altered the course of both of their lives.
Rotten Tomatoes: Starring Eddie Redmayne ("Les Misérables") and Felicity Jones ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), this is the extraordinary story of one of the world's greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of - time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed. The film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking, and is directed by Academy Award winner James Marsh ("Man on Wire"). (c) Focus
88% Nominee: Whiplash 106 min, R, [Drama, Music] [Damien Chazelle] [15 Oct 2014]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 85%, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, Metacritic: 88%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 3 Oscars. Another 89 wins & 136 nominations.
Actors: J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Miles Teller, Paul Reiser
Writer: Damien Chazelle
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA
Plot: A young and talented drummer attending a prestigious music academy finds himself under the wing of the most respected professor at the school, one who does not hold back on abuse towards his students. The two form an odd relationship as the student wants to achieve greatness, and the professor pushes him.
Rotten Tomatoes: Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man's life. Andrew's passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity. (C) Sony Classics