Though Oscar Sunday is still three months away, movie critics and awards journalists (you can specialize in just about anything these days) are amping up their forecasts on who will take home the gold come February. Read more...

Photo:

“Les Miserables,” a musical drama set in 19th-century France, stars Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Russell Crowe as Javert and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette. Early screenings of the film have already gained Oscar buzz.

You may have missed it because it wasn't extensively publicized, but there was an election in America a couple of weeks ago. Read more...

Photo:

Ha Ha Tonka is a southern rock and folk-rock group originally from Missouri whose lyrics set it apart from many other bands. Their song “Death of a Decade” provides an example of poignant lyrics paired with majestic vocals.

(Courtesy of Todd Roeth)

November is the month when serious award hopefuls begin making themselves known. Variety magazine, for instance, released on Saturday a list of 30 films it considered to be the top contenders for the major categories at the Academy Awards. Read more...

Photo:

“Moonrise Kingdom,” directed by Wes Anderson and starring Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, tells the story of two penpals who fall in love and plot their runaway together. The movie was listed by Variety magazine as one of the top contenders at the upcoming Academy Awards.

As I wrote this column before the election, the polls were still open, and in between constant checking of CNN my mind was still reeling from a movie I saw the night before at the American Film Institute festival "“ the French film "Rust and Bone" starring Marion Cotillard. Read more...

Photo:

The British independent film “The King’s Speech” took home four Oscars in 2011, including Best Motion Picture of the Year.