24 Movies I Really Really Want to See

Wow. Over the last two days, between fatherhood duties and sleeping, I have watched the complete three hours of the 85th Annual Academy Awards. The glory of YouTube!

The first 30 minutes is Seth McFarlane beingg himself, yet worth it for all that comes after.

Consequently I have developed a LONG list of movies that I really would like to see.

Some might say that uTorrent might be my only answer, but I don’t do that. I suspect I may be spending time either on Youtube or any remaining video outlets in my neighbourhood. But with Blockbusters no longer available, I welcome advice on where else I can hire the following movies.

Anyhow, before we go any further here is my list of movies I really really want to see:

• A Royal Affair
• Argo
• Amour *
• Asad
• Beats of the Southern Wild *
• Buzkashi Boys
• Chasing Ice
• Death of a Shadow *
• Django Unchained *
• Dreamgirls
• Five Broken Cameras
• Flight

Wait, trust me, this is NOT every movie mentioned. Yet, yes, it is almost all of them. Onwards…

• Kon Tiki
• Les Miserables
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Paperman
• Searching for Sugar Man
• Silver Linings PlayBook
• Skyfall – both the movie AND the Adele song!
• The GateKeepers
• The Impossible *
• The Invisible War
• Zero Dark Thirty *

I should really point out that these movies are in no particular order other than alphabetical. They are all as equally amazing as each other. BUT – there are a few that I NEVER thought would interest me. So I have put an asterix next to those alone.

What I enjoyed most is the amount of Australian actors on display. All the usual crowd were there – Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman. Yet it was a slight shock to spot both Jackie Weaver and Naomi Watts now standing alongside the who’s-who in Hollywood.

Despite Seth McFarlane’s butcher of his pre-written lines, he did a fairly good job of hosting the show. Set doesn’t seem to be a natural comedian, nowhere in the league of Richard Dreyfuss or Robin Williams, yet has a go at it. I doubt he will get asked again. Likewise, if there is a sequel to Ted, I see a sea of cotton-stuffing and … wait, they did that in a Katy Perry video clip!

Adele performed her song ‘SkyFall” at around 100 minutes into the show, and what a performance it was! I still consider her my favourite singer/writer/artist since 2011.

One of the most important part of every Oscars is the ‘In Memoriam’ component. There have been a LOT of amazing contributors to the movies over the last hundred years, from writers to cinematographers, sound artists to composers, and so many story writers who capture the imagination and make it a visual masterpiece.

As a photographer myself, I continue to be inspired by the imagination of those who have succeeded in Hollywood. Though it is not my dream to make it that far, it is awesome and amazing to watch those that have succeeded and consequently recognised for their effort.

Three hours later. My mind is filled with possibilities.

PostScript:

The SkyNet Data Centre has been built. Nobody let the machines take control.