You Must Choose – which Oscar film should I go see?

I find this to be a tough time of year for movie watching.

On one hand, it’s an embarrassment of riches because the Oscar nominations usually mean that I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. I don’t see as many movies as I did long ago in my pathetically lonely bachelor days, but each year I scramble to see, at the very least, the five best picture contenders and ideally a few more of the nominated films and high-profile performances.

What makes it tricky, however, is that it’s wholly unlikely I’ll get to everything before Oscar night – and the truth is, if I don’t see it before the awards and a given film doesn’t win, my interest drops off faster than pancakes disappear at a fat guy convention. I know how completely unfair that is. If Michael Clayton, for example, completely gets the shaft from Academy voters, I won’t see it in the theater, despite the fact that it certainly seems to be worth it. But I know myself and I know the limitations of my movie-going time, and that’s the way it’ll shake out.

So I’m asking you to help me, kind readers, to prioritize my Oscar viewing. I’ll have the chance this week to get out to my local cineplex where I’ll see at least – and perhaps only – one of the contenders listed below before February 24th.

A few caveats: I didn’t include No Country For Old Men because I did get out to see that in December. I haven’t listed Juno or Atonement because this week I’ll be going solo and those are movies that my enravishing betrothed and I would want to watch together. You’re also welcome to choose “Other” in the poll below, but you have to leave a comment telling me which one you’d choose, and Norbit does not count.

UPDATE: You overwhelmingly chose There Will Be Blood, so that’s where I’m going! Big thanks to everyone who voted in the poll.

 Loading ...

I’m heading out to the movies in the next few days, so make your choice quick. I’ll report back afterwards and let you know if I agreed with you or if you’re completely out of your collective minds.