Eclectic Pop

Underneath the dim lights of a nocturnal Los Angeles, a hollow eyed creature claws out of the ether. He is a predator equipped with cunning, ambition and a chillingly calm demeanor. He is Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven man whose most dangerous weapon is his mind and it might be coming unhinged. Dan Gilroy’s directorial debut is a thrilling character study that plunges viewers into the seedy underworld of television journalism, alongside a strange, and engrossing character.

Brush up on Eclectic Pop’s movie reviews of the Oscar nominated films battling it out for glory by clicking the title you wish to read. Be sure to check back, as the list will be populated further as more reviews are published. The movies are listed in alphabetical order.

Predicted Winner: Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything"

This is the only suspenseful category in the acting portion of the Oscars. The competition between Michael Keaton and Redmayne has been intensely close. Ever since the release of “Birdman” at the Venice Film Festival, Keaton had been leading the pack. Then the SAGs took place and they proved to be a game changer. The edge is Redmayne’s coming into tonight.

Predicted Winner: Julianne Moore, "Still Alice"

This category is an absolute lock. Withstanding one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history, the four-time nominee should claim the prize on her fifth nod. Given Moore is a veteran and long-deserving recipient, none of her other competitors have really posed a viable threat throughout the season.

Her performance as a professor suffering from early on-set Alzheimer’s disease has been at the center of critical raves since the film’s debut. Curiously, Moore’s is the only nomination the film garnered. You would think a film containing the Best Actress winner would also be among the Best Picture contenders.

Predicted Winner: J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash"

This is another category that’s winner is a no brainer. Ever since “Whiplash” burst onto the scene at last year’s Sundance Film Festival it has been the buzz of awards observers with Simmons’ performance as a relentless and brutal music teacher, earning early raves. His winning momentum has only gotten stronger throughout the year.

Predicted Winner: Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood"

Arquette’s role as a single mom raising a boy who grows into young adulthood, has earned her every award she’s been in contention for. Her win is as inevitable as her Leading Actress counterpart, Julianne Moore.

Reign | Narcisse was a busy man in “The End of Mourning” as he made huge inroads into reclaiming his status by finagling a save for Antoine and an unwitting Conde, as the brothers stood accused of poisoning the king. It deserves reiterating that Craig Parker (Narcisse) is an absolute delight as the machinating Narcisse. He and Toby Regbo (Francis) played especially well off each other in the episode’s opening; as Francis entertainingly conveyed his irritation with his adversary.

Michael Keaton vs. Eddie Redmayne | It’s the only Oscar race still up for grabs and with Redmayne nabbing the Best Actor BAFTA the margin between the two has only got closer. Redmayne will come into the Oscars having won both the Best Actor Golden Globe in the drama category, the SAG and the BAFTA.…

“The Boy Next Door” is Jennifer Lopez’s latest starring vehicle, which features a gender reversal that sparks a refreshing take on the erotic thriller. Lopez stars as Claire, a mom weighing whether to reconcile with her cheating husband (John Corbett) from whom she is separated.

In the midst of her arduous journey, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) makes her entrance onto the screen in an opening scene that sums up the nearly 2 hours to come. Startlingly painful and cringe inducing, she must endure an agonizing side effect of her walkabout. Her screams of frustration zip the movie to a flashback, whisking the narrative back to where her voyage began.

Arrow | Making his most gallant move yet, the charming and demure Ray Palmer leaped into action to protect Felicity when assailants stormed a meeting of Starling City’s finest. It was a major Raylicity moment, though his heroism didn’t seem to get a proper notice from a preoccupied Felicity who is understandably still caught up in thoughts of a presumed dead Oliver.

Speaking of Oliver, he was slowly recovering from his unbelievably mortal wounds. Once again the choppy insertion of flashbacks proved the hour’s most annoying nuisance. Will they ever stop?

It’s hard to pinpoint where it all began. Some could argue it’s been building since Johnny Depp, a prominent art house darling transitioned from the heart of indie film to the star of Disney tent poles. After a showbiz career spanning more than 30 years, Depp has recently found himself amid a highly critical media storm.