The Last Shot –

As the big night approaches only hours away, (The Oscars) I have to ask myself, of the nine nominated films for best picture that I have seen – six so far- if I could vote, which one would I pick?

The films I have seen are: Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained and Les Miserables –I have Beast of the Southern Wild from Netflix, but haven’t had a chance to watch it.  I doubt the viewing of it or the other two films, The Life of Pi or Amour will change my opinion much.

For the longest time my vote would have gone to Lincoln, but I think that has changed.  When I was in film school, I asked the professor what makes a good film, and he said, “The one that stays with you-can you remember the last shot?”  Another test is to ask yourself, did the filmmaker set out to do what he or she intended? 

Lincoln stayed with me and has stayed with me, but the last shot I remember the most is from Zero Dark Thirty.  This movie has real staying power- and works on so many levels it isn’t given credit for.  It is a mature, controlled layered movie with an exceptionally unconventional heroine, who is unknowable but compelling at the same time. Mini spoiler alert: the last shot of her says it all.

So my vote goes to Zero Dark Thirty – because the last shot, well, it stuck.