I don’t know about you, but award season might as well be another holiday for me. I’ve always been a HUGE cinephile, but I find the award shows to be almost as good as the movies themselves (almost)! The glitz. The glamour. The prestige. If one thing is for sure, it's that Hollywood knows how to put on an event.  

With the Oscars less than a month away, I figured it would nice to refresh our memories on the nominations for the category, “Best Motion Picture.” If you haven’t seen these movies, I encourage you to go see them because they are phenomenal! Okay, I’m being a bit biased, but they were nominated so they must be good, right? 

Without further ado, here are the nominations for Best Motion Picture:

WHIPLASH

This film stars Miles Teller (21 & Over) as the talented young drummer, Andrew Neiman, and J.K. Simmons (Law & Order) as firm music instructor, Terence Fletcher. The two embark on a journey together as Neiman is pushed and challenged by Fletcher at a prestigious music conservatory on the east coast. 

AMERICAN SNIPER

Directed by Clint Eastwood, this movie is based on the autobiography of American sniper, Chris Kyle (portrayed by Bradley Cooper). Kyle is a Navy SEAL sniper with a lethal shot, who saves countless lives during his time at war. However, after he returns home he can’t seem to leave things on the battlefield. I feel like this one has a pretty good shot at taking home the Oscar. Pun intended.

BIRDMAN

For those of you who grew up watching, “The Fairly-Odd Parents,” on Nickelodeon, this film is sure to flash you back to the character, TV's Adam West! Birdman stars Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) as washed up actor, Riggan Thomson, who is famous for his portrayal of the superhero, “Birdman.” Follow Thomson as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged family, and reclaim his former glory through a production of a Broadway play.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Starring he-who-must-not-be-named himself, Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a comedy that follows a concierge who teams up with a fellow employee to prove his innocence after being framed for murder. Where does this all take place you might ask? Spoiler alert – The Grand Budapest Hotel. 

THE IMITATION GAME

Set in Nazi Germany, this film features Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness) as mathematician and genius, Alan Turing, who helps to take down the Axis powers by cracking Germany’s Enigma Code. Alongside him are A-list celebrities Keira Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) and Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes). Is it any wonder this one was nominated? It is sure to make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about WWII. 

SELMA

My personal pick, Selma follows the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and his comrades as they march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery in protest of the voting rights of African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. An emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end, this film not only teaches younger generations about the importance of political involvement, but also beautifully captures the power of the human spirit. Bring tissues.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

Based on the memoir of Jane Hawking, this film stars Brits Eddie Redmayne (Les Misérables) and Felicity Jones (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), as Stephen and Jane Hawking. The pair do a superb job of accurately portraying their characters, so much so that Stephen Hawking lent his voice to the film! Revisit the early life of the acclaimed man as he fights through his motor neuron disease and make advancements in the field of physics.

BOYHOOD

Perhaps the most creatively shot film in history of cinema, Boyhood is a film that was shot over the duration of 12 years. Immerse yourself in the lives of a young boy and girl, as you watch them grow and mature from adolescence to adulthood. There is nothing else quite like it, setting it apart from its competitors. This one is definitely a frontrunner.