The Sessions

The Sessions give us the story of Mark O' Brien (John Hawkes), a man confined to an iron lung, who begins a personal quest that takes him to a priest (William H. Macy) and then a therapist (Helen Hunt).

Mark wants to be a better man, but the twist in this quest is that he wants to lose his virginity at age 38 and Hunt is the sex therapist who is very willing to help. It's safe to say that the story that follows is both awkward and intimate — and unlike any movie I've seen told on screen.

I certainly enjoyed the upbeat vibe of this year's The Intouchables more, and this is no My Left Foot, but my eyes were fixed to the screen to see how this true story plays out. The actors worked hard for this movie, so I feel like I owe them my ten bucks.

Like last year's Alfred Nobbs, this is a performance movie and not solid film in full. I wish that director Ben Lewin would have reworked the cheesy music score, tightened the script that leads to a few unwanted laughs — and stripped Helen Hunt of her unimpressive Boston accent

Simply put: 50 shades of uncomfortable, but you won't be bored

Award potential: Nominations for John Hawkes and Helen Hunt seem highly likely. 

Oscar loves it when a able-bodied actor plays a disabled character and when an actress plays a hooker with a heart. I don't expect the movie to go far, but I wouldn't count it out just yet. William H. Macy is shamelessly stiff in this role.

The ten buck review: Leave your money on the table. Worth ten bucks.

5 Oscar - caliber films you can see now

You’ll have to wait until it’s much colder to see Lincoln, Life of Pi, Linings, Les Miserables and other Oscar bait that begins with an “L”, but there are several Oscar-caliber movies that have already been released and most of them you can see right now.

  

 Argo

Don’t underestimate the Academy’s deep love for movies directed by actors. And never underestimate their love for true stories about Hollywood. In theaters Friday.

- Early contender for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay and more

The Master 

It’s the most talked about film of October. Emphasis on “October.” I didn’t join its cult of fans, but it’s easy to see why Joaquin Phoenix has secured a nomination. In theaters.

- Early contender for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Original Score and more

Moonrise Kingdom

Other than Gabby Douglas, this may be the only gold-worthy thing to come out of this summer. It’s one of Wes Anderson’s most accessible pictures and a sleeper hit. Perfect for the Globes, maybe even Oscar. In theatres. On DVD/Blu Ray October 16th.

-Early contender for Best Picture, Original Screenplay and Original  Score

 Beasts of the Southern Wild

It won’t be eligible for SAG, but that scandal may keep this heavily praised film top of mind. Pay Per View. On DVD/Blu-Ray December 4^th.

- Early contender for Best Picture and Actress

The Intouchables

It’s France's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film, and in the U.S. it was released by (drumroll) The Weinstein Company, a team who certainly knows how to turn a small film into Oscar gold. French version(subtitles) online.

- Early contender for Best Picture and Best Foreign Film

Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand and of course Bill Murray, who has worked in director Wes Anderson’s last five films. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as two twelve-year-olds who fall in love and run away together.

This original film is charming, enchanting and warm like fond childhood memories of summer camp, but ironically it all takes place in a world that is a little too quirky and a bit too quaint to be realistic. How all this comes together so well is beyond me. But, thanks to Wes Anderson, it does. This is a perfect lil’ Sunday matinee film.

Simply put: A deadpan-funny, storybook tale for adults

Award potential: Should do well in all the comedy categories at the Golden Globes. Quirky comedies don't usually perform for Oscar nominations unless they are connected to Woody Allen, but this film could rally for Best Picture, Original Screenplay or Original Score. 

Bill Murray's performance here will be bonus points to his potential nomination for playing FDR in Hyde Park On The Hudson.

The ten buck review: Worth your ten bucks. Khaki Scouts honor.

The Master

A cult is forming around the new film by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood), and followers are already calling it an Oscar contender and one of the year’s best films. But I’m not a believer.

The Master stars a fiery Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled war veteran and a flawless Philip Seymour Hoffman as a charismatic leader of a movement clearly inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. 

Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, this movie never fully explores the man behind Scientology, choosing to focus on themes of masculinity and the extremes of human behavior. Maybe. Or perhaps it was a piece about ego. Or maybe it was all just a bromance. I forget after all the dream sequences. 

The first half of the movie will pull most viewers in, but ultimately the story is too elusive and too ambiguous to satisfy.

Simply put: There Will Be Confusion.

Award potential: This film may ultimately be remembered for its two Oscar caliber performances. Bet on Joaquin Phoenix for his memorable character. Expect Philip Seymour Hoffman too.

Contender for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenwriting, Best Original Score and more, but I expect that full list will lose momentum by February.

The ten buck review: Perhaps in another life. Not worth ten bucks

The Bourne Legacy

The Bourne Legacy is the fourth installment in the action franchise and the first without Matt Damon. Jeremy Renner takes the lead as Aaron Cross, an operative caught up in life-or-death stakes connected to the events of the first three films. Renner and co-star Rachel Weisz serve up an entertaining espionage thriller that is a lot of fun.

The film’s only fault is that it’s not as stellar as the previous three Paul Greengrass films — yet it shares their name.

Simply put: Solid, entertaining action film in a summer that needed a good thriller. But hopefully this is not Bourne’s legacy

Award potential: None.

The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks

The Watch

Years from now, if DVDs still exist, you might walk past a dump bin of predictable comedies that provide a few laughs (plus the token over-the-top-tasteless bit.) You know, films that do just fine for hang time with the guys. The Watch will fall somewhere in the bottom of that bin. It’s a predictable, lazy comedy. But every so often, Jonah Hill delivers a few nice moments.

Simply put: The story is hard to watch, but Jonah Hill provides some laughs.

Award potential: 2012 Nomination for the Raspberry Award seems likely.

The ten buck review: Not worth ten bucks

Need more Olympics? 5 golden movies worth downloading:

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Ready for the Olympics? Here are some flicks that are not only some pretty solid films (sorry American Anthem) but also capture the Olympic spirit (sorry Munich).

GOLD

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Racing, in slo-mo, to the top of the list is the film that won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Worth another visit just to hear the somehow-timeless, electronic score by Vangelis. Extra points this year for being a British film.

SILVER

Miracle (2004)

Miracle gives me goose bumps every time. The story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, of course, who took home gold medals after defeating the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team. And no, it doesn’t matter if you know how it ends. 

BRONZE

Blades of Glory (2007)

The comedic team of Will Ferrell and Jon “Napolean Dynomite” Heder are somehow not that much sillier than actual Olympic synchronized swimming or men’s gymnastics, but the duo find comic Gold in Olympic 

ice dancing.

Qualifiers

Without Limits (1998) Based on the life of Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine. Rent this over the Jared Leto version.

The Jesse Owens Story (1984) Biopic of the most profoundly successful athlete at the pre-WWII Summer Olympics of 1936.