I'm Ready...

...for the Oscars.

American Sniper is based on the book American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle. Bradley Cooper plays Kyle and Sienna Miller plays his wife Taya. The film examines the impact that war has on soldiers and their families. Chris Kyle had skills that served him well in the execution of his duties while serving our country. His death was truly a senseless and avoidable tragedy. The movie was good.

Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall star in The Judge. The film is about a judge who is suspected of killing someone with his car and his estranged son, who happens to be a successful defense attorney offering to help him. The supporting players include Vera Farmiga and Billy Bob Thornton. It was a little predictable, but good.

Examining the political, racial and social issues of the time, Selma focuses on the marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama demonstrating for African American voting rights in the 1960s. David Oyelowo plays Martin Luther King, Jr. Tom Wilkerson plays Lyndon Johnson. Also starring are Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey. The acting was phenomenal and David Oyelowo was robbed - he should have been nominated for Best Actor. Some parts of the movie were hard to watch, but it was well acted and very good.

In French, with English subtitles, Two Days, One Night follows Sandra (Marion Cotillard) as she spends her weekend trying to convince each of her coworkers to vote for keeping her on the job instead of receiving a €1000 bonus. Cotillard's performance was spot on. The film, in typical French film fashion, was subtle, yet very good.

In Whiplash, an abusive band director (J.K. Simmons) pushes an aspiring jazz drummer student (Miles Teller) to the limit. The movie was riveting. One could feel the anxiety and humiliation the students in this prestigious music school had to endure under this person's tutelage. The acting was superb. I really liked this movie.

Tune in Sunday for my Oscar Picks.

MK out.