With the 82nd annual Academy Awards coming up on March 7, it isnāt too late for moviegoers who have been procrastinating about watching all the nominated films and performances. Although titles and show times are subject to change, hereās a rundown of whatās now playing in the metro area.
Best picture nominees
āAvatar.ā James Cameronās sci-fi blockbuster is playing in wide release in other formats, but if youāre keen to see it in state-of-the-art IMAX 3-D, youāll need to visit AMC Barrett Commons 24, Regal Mall of Georgia 20 or AMC Southlake Pavilion. Other major nomination: director. Total nominations: nine.
āThe Blind Side.ā Filmed here and featuring several local actors in small parts, Sandra Bullockās football blockbuster is playing at metro theaters, too ā the biggest thing to hit Atlanta since āDriving Miss Daisy.ā Other major nomination: actress. Total nominations: two.
āAn Education.ā For those with less commercial tastes, this intimate British character study is playing at Landmark Midtown, Barret Commons and Regal Hollywood. Other major nomination: actress (Carey Mulligan). Total nominations: three.
āThe Hurt Locker.ā The Barrett Commons and Landmark Midtown theaters are showing last summerās low-budget Iraq war drama, widely considered a front runner with āAvatarā for top Oscar honors. The film is also available on DVD. Other major nominations: actor (Jeremy Renner), director (Kathryn Bigelow). Total nominations: nine.
āPrecious: Based on the Novel āPushā by Sapphire.ā This urban drama is playing at metro theaters. Other major nominations: actress (Gabourey Sidibe), supporting actress (MoāNique), director (Lee Daniels). Total nominations: six.
āUp in the Air.ā A star vehicle for George Clooney as a corporate hatchet man, this sophisticated comedy-drama is playing at metro theaters. Other major nominations: actor, supporting actress (Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick), director (Jason Reitman). Total nods: six.
Rounding out this yearās list of 10 nominees are four films no longer in regular theatrical release. But all of them are out on DVD: the sci-fi hit āDistrict 9ā (with four nominations); Quentin Tarantinoās World War II caper āInglourious Basterdsā (six); the Coen Brothersā allegorical āA Serious Manā (two); and the popular Pixar animated movie āUpā (five).
Better yet, three theaters in the AMC chain ā Phipps Plaza 14, Colonial 18 and Fork & Screen Buckhead 6 ā will showcase all 10 of the best picture nominees in two day-long programs (Saturday and March 6). Passes are available online (amcentertainment.com) or at the respective box offices. A one-day pass is $30; a two-day pass is $50 (at the box office) or $60 (if ordered online).
Saturday (Phipps Plaza and Colonial): āAvatar 3-Dā (10:30 a.m.); āUp in the Airā (1:45 p.m.); āPreciousā (4 p.m.); āThe Blind Sideā (6:45 p.m.); āInglourious Basterdsā (9:15 p.m.).
Saturday (Buckhead): āAvatar 3-Dā (10:30 a.m.); āUpā (1:45 p.m.); āA Serious Manā (3:45 p.m.); āPreciousā (6:30 p.m.); āDistrict 9ā (8:45 p.m.).
March 6 (Phipps Plaza and Colonial): āUpā (10:30 a.m.); āA Serious Manā (12:45 p.m.); āThe Hurt Lockerā (2:45 p.m.); āAn Educationā (6 p.m.); āDistrict 9ā (8 p.m.).
March 6 (Buckhead): āAn Educationā (10:30 a.m.); āThe Hurt Lockerā (12:45 p.m.); āUp in the Airā (3:15 p.m.); āThe Blind Sideā (6 p.m.); āInglourious Basterdsā (8:30 p.m.).
Acting nominees
āCrazy Heart.ā This romantic drama about a down-and-out country crooner earned actor and supporting actress nominations for Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal. At metro theaters.
āInvictus.ā Actor and supporting actor nominees Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon star in a true story set during a rugby World Cup in post-apartheid South Africa. At Barrett Commons and Town Center Value.
āJulie & Julia.ā For her delicious turn as French chef Julia Child, Meryl Streep received her 16th Oscar nomination. Available on DVD.
āThe Last Station.ā Supporting actor nominee Christopher Plummer plays Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy opposite actress nominee Helen Mirren as his wife. At Lefont Sandy Springs, Regal Tara and Barrett Commons.
āThe Lovely Bones.ā Stanley Tucci received a supporting actor nomination as a child murderer. Playing at At Snellville Oaks, Barrett Commons and Regal Stadium 22.
āThe Messenger.ā As an official with the militaryās casualty notification department, Woody Harrelson is a supporting actor nominee. At Plaza Theatre.
āNine.ā In this star-studded musical, Penelope Cruz has been singled out with a supporting actress nod. At Barrett Commons, Town Center Value and Picture Show.
āA Single Man.ā Colin Firth is a best actor nominee for his role as a gay college professor mourning the death of his lover. At Plaza Theatre, Lefont Sandy Springs, Barrett Commons.
Other notable films
Foreign language nominee āThe White Ribbonā(Germany) is at Regal Tara.
Nominees for best animated feature include āCoralineā (on DVD), āFantastic Mr. Foxā (Plaza Theatre) and āThe Princess and the Frogā (at Picture Show and Town Center Value).
Best documentary feature nominees āThe Coveā and āFood, Inc.ā are available on DVD.
Six of this yearās Academy Award best picture nominees are still playing in theaters around the metro area. āAvatarā (clockwise from top left) is showing in several formats, including IMAX 3-D. Also playing are āThe Blind Side,ā filmed around Atlanta; āThe Hurt Locker;ā āUp in the Air;ā āPrecious: Based on the novel āPushā by Sapphireā and āAn Education.ā Twentieth Century Fox; Warner Bros.; Paramount; Paramount; Lionsgate Films; Sony Pictures Classics
Rounding out the list of 10 movies competing for the Academy Awardsā highest honor are āDistrict 9ā (from left), āUp,ā āInglourious Basterdsā and āA Serious Man.ā These films are no longer showing in metro theaters (except in AMCās Best Picture Showcase) but are available on DVD. Sony Pictures; Disney/Pixar; The Weinstein Co.; Focus Features
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