The Oscars are an event I anticipate every year. For as long as I can remember, I have been hunkering for four hours of evening gowns, weepy speeches, fashion don’ts, and silly opening monologues. For the past four years, I have made Oscar Sunday my own by cooking up a storm and devising a memorable celebration. Last year, I even dogged devil horns and a pointy tail with footsie pajamas as Rosemary’s Baby. So before the Evite goes out, I have begun my whirlwind catch-up tour of Oscar hopefuls.

Capote
Ruben and I took in Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Golden Globe winning portrayal of author Truman Capote. A preening diva responsible for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the nonfiction classic In Cold Blood, Capote is simultaneously reprehensible for his compulsive lies and manipulations as he is likable for his ambition and theatricality. The movie follows the writing of In Cold Blood as Capote, reigning king of New York City’s literati, heads to Kansas with To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee(played brilliantly by the other indie queen, Catherine Keener)to seek out what he believes will be the subject of his masterpiece. He’s not mistaken but he goes to great lengths in the name of art. My favorite scene is when Capote poses for a magazine cover with his favorite killer. That scene perfectly captures the glamour and shock value of this literary legend.

nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay

Walk the Line
Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix sizzle in the biography of legendary musical lovers June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. Both actors recently received well-deserved Golden Globes. The rugged and sensitive Phoenix is the sexy Man in Black, full of self-destructive depression and in-your-face honesty. Witherspoon, always luminous, shines as the strong-willed, witty June Carter. The movie follows their relationship from its beginnings as a youthful friendship on a rock ‘n roll tour. Definitely one of my all-time favorite onscreen couples and a new addition to my romantic film favorites.

nominated for Best Actress for Reese Witherspoon

The New World
Terrance Malick’s long-awaited and re-edited epic is a poem on film. With poignant musical score and stunning cinematography, this romantic drama follows Pocahontas(played by the gorgeous half-Peruvian Q’Orianka Kilcher in an Oscar-worthy debut) from her adolescence in Virginia to her visit to England’s Royal Court in adulthood. Hottie Colin Farrell plays John Smith as a sensitive, yet cowardly, wanderer and Christian Bale is Pocahontas’ nice guy husband. Two of my favorite Native actors are also featured: Wes Studi as tribal leader Openchancanough and the always-beautiful Irene Bedard as Pocohontas’ mother.

nominated for Best Cinematography