On January 23, 2018, the official list of nominees for the 90^th Academy Awards was released and it all brought back memories of past Academy Awards ceremonies that I previously viewed. The Academy Awards, according to Wikipedia.com, is a set of accolades for “artistic and technical quality” in the US’s “film industry” given on a yearly basis by the “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences” to note “excellence in “cinematic” endeavors as voted upon by the “Academy’s voting” board.

The films, celebrities, and songs I list below may have one or two elements that I have in common with hence the reason they have influenced or inspired me in some way. Have a great day!

1.The Sound of Music (1965)

Distributed by: 20^th Century Fox

Starring: Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer

Director: Robert Wise

Won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 38^th Academy Awards held on April 18, 1966, hosted by Bob Hope (Santa Monica, California)

This movie introduced me to and instilled in me the love for Hollywood’s musicals. From an early age, I sang along to its songs such as the title track, “I Have Confidence”, “My Favorite Things”, “Do-Re-Mi”, and “The Lonely Goatherd” among others.

2. Tom Hanks

Won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice for his roles in Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994) at the 66^th and 67^th Academy Awards ceremonies held on March 21, 1994, and March 27, 1995, both in Los Angeles, CA.

I was introduced to Tom Hanks via the 80s classic: Splash. That movie was my first viewing of the mythical creature, the mermaid. Anyway, Tom Hanks’ appealed more to me in the 90s when I was a teenager with his movies, A League of Their Own, Philadelphia, and Forrest Gump for which he won Oscars for the Best Actor category for the latter two. Tom Hanks’ endearing personality/movie personas made him the lead on my personal list of favorite Hollywood male stars.

3. Natalie Portman

Won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Black Swan (2010) at the 83^rd Academy Awards held on February 27, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA.

My knowledge of Natalie Portman is that she’s a very studious Hollywood actress. And that’s the main reason why I am inspired by her. Her humanitarian efforts over the years is another factor. Natalie’s role in Black Swan was one of the best performances I have ever witnessed so I believe she deserved her Oscar. If everything goes in my favor, one day I will do something for humanity just like Natalie.

4. Jennifer Hudson

Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dreamgirls (2006) at the 79^th Academy Awards held on February 25, 2007, in Los Angeles, CA.

Jennifer Hudson came from being a contestant on American Idol to winning an Oscar for her supporting role in Dreamgirls! That to me is one amazing accomplishment! Whenever I think of this I always tell myself to be determined and focus on whatever school assignment or personal project I am working on to complete it.

5. The Hours (2002)

Distributed by Paramount Pictures (in the US)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Julianne Moore

Director: Stephen Daldry

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director at the 75^th Academy Awards held on March 23, 2003, in Los Angeles, CA.

When I feel hopeless and/or despaired, I think of this movie and how the unfortunate outcomes of some of its characters could have been avoided. I draw inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s (played by Nicole Kidman) isolation from society and look at my own solitude as mostly a normal element of almost all notable writers and therefore in my eyes, it’s okay to be alone but learns from Virginia’s suicide not to do the same. To appreciate my family and my blessings (whatever they are) and to carry on, never to quit.

6. “When You Believe” (1998)

Performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey

Lyrics and music by Stephen Schwartz

Featured in the movie, The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 71^st Academy Awards held on March 21, 1999, in Los Angeles, CA.

This Oscar-winning song was featured in the much adored (well by me and my family) The Prince of Egypt movie and it was during a time when I was at my lowest. With this song’s two performers (who happen to be among my top ten most favorite music artists) and empowering Biblical lyrics, it was a victory for all of us who are their fans to see it win the Oscar in that category at that night.

I still remember this ceremony where they sang it onstage to where CNN reporters commented that it was a first time for Mariah to be singing at the Oscars. Additionally, I always think of Moses and his mission when I play this song on Spotify and I apply it to my own missions whether it was completing my Bachelor’s degree from here at SNHU to finding a job when I needed one. Such a great song!

7. M. Night Shyamalan

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the horror/suspenseful film The Sixth Sense (1999) at the 72^nd Academy Awards held on March 26, 2000, in Los Angeles, CA.

M. Night Shyamalan rose to prominence when I was just out of high school. His most successful film, the suspenseful horror, The Sixth Sense matched my teenage affinity for all things spooky and chilling. The fact that he is Indian-American also makes him such a fitting role model for me, who is a Pacific Islander.

His themes and subjects for his movies equate to my own interests which I am hopeful to attain one day while I am on this earth. That is if God wills it, I will pursue the same themes and elements if I decide to write fiction for publication in the near future.

8. Moana (2016)

Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures

Featuring the voices of Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho.

Directors: Ron Clements and John Musker

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 89^th Academy Awards held on February 26, 2017, in Los Angeles, CA.

I naturally enjoyed and related to this Disney animated feature that was released in 2016 because it’s based on a princess of my Polynesian heritage. My journey in life to achieve my lifelong goals and dreams is equivalent to her mission to make something of herself and to make her people proud of her. It is my own dream to someday make my Pacific Islander peoples, especially the Samoan people, proud of me. It is ultimately my goal to make my own mother and families proud of me one day hopefully if God wills it.

9. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Distributed by Universal Pictures (North America)

Starring: Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly

Director: Ron Howard

Won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 74^th Academy Awards held on March 24, 2002, in Los Angeles, CA.

I remember that I was all smiles when this film won the Best Picture Oscar back in its time because everything about the main character seems to mirror my own personal struggles. I cried and I cheered along to its comedic as well as tragic scenes, noting how the main character, John Nash did not let something negative about himself stop him from living a good, eventful life.

I also thought how loving and devoted his beautiful wife was for sticking by him through it all. She reminds me of my ever loving Mom who has always stuck with me and my siblings through the good and the bad, never failing in her duties as mother and advisor to us all. I am inspired by this movie to this day to go forward and attain dreams even if you have something limiting about yourself. What a great, brilliant story this is! Applause!

10. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Distributed by The Weinstein Company

Starring: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence

Director: David O. Russell

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 85^th Academy Awards held on February 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, CA.

And lastly, here is one movie I just recently discovered by way of Youtube that I feel I can relate to and am inspired by. It’s about two individuals with psychological disorders who meet and fall in love with each other after they constantly fight and put each other down.

I thought that Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s performances were so endearing and that their pairing is so cute it makes me smile to myself. It gives me hope that one day I will meet someone someday despite me having personal limitations. I did not know that this movie was nominated for the Best Picture until I read its entry on Wikipedia.com. Such a great movie for families and those pursuing mental wellness.