Oscars Made Easy

It's OK to admit it -- you haven't gotten around to seeing all the Oscar-nominated movies, have you? In fact, no one would hold it against you if you hadn't even heard of most of them.

So now you're going to an Oscars party, and you have no idea what to say if someone asks you about any of the movies ... Well, don't hide in the corner with the Chex mix just yet.

Print out this handy Oscars Made Easy cheat sheet and carry it around with you (or better yet, memorize it!), and we guarantee you'll come off sounding like Roger Ebert -- even if you have no idea what you're talking about.

Just don't forget to thank us in your acceptance speech.

We're breaking down all the Oscars contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: the epic Oscar nominations leader 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'

What It's Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director (David Fincher), Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography

What It's About: Based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, the movie follows Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), a man who's an old soul -- literally -- living his life in reverse. With support from his family (namely his adoptive mother, played by Taraji P. Henson) and the woman he loves (an Oscar-snubbed performance by Cate Blanchett), Benjamin is able to live an epic life that is beautifully captured from start to finish.

Why You Should See It: With all the comedies and big blockbuster action flicks in theaters, very few grand, sweeping stories like 'Benjamin Button' are told on the big screen. Sure it's long (clocking in at just 15 minutes shy of three hours) -- and, yes, Brad Pitt is unfortunately wrinkly for a good portion of the movie -- but it employs all of the techniques of classic storytelling to perfection, with very few flashy Hollywood tricks. (Well, except for Brad Pitt.)

It's Kind of Like: 'Forrest Gump' meets 'Cocoon'

How You Can See It: In theaters now

We're breaking down all the Oscars contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: the moving Mickey Rourke comeback vehicle 'The Wrestler.'

Nominated For: Best Actor (Mickey Rourke), Best Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei)

What It's About: Rourke plays has-been '80s wrestling stud Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a once legendary star who now ekes out an existence in a New Jersey trailer park, brawling with third-rate opponents in high-school gyms and barely speaking to the daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) he basically abandoned. Shaken by a brush with mortality and boosted by his deepening relationship with a compassionate stripper (Tomei, sexier than ever at 44), Ram takes one last shot at redemption both inside and outside the ring.

Why You Should See It: The parallels to Rourke's own career trajectory are too striking to ignore. Twenty years ago, he was one of Hollywood's hottest commodities -- a sex symbol with serious acting chops -- but then he suddenly quit the biz to become a pro boxer and was relegated to what can only be described as C-grad late-night Cinemax fare upon his return. But his art-imitating-life turn in director Darren Aronofsky's ('Requiem for a Dream') Greek tragedy-esque flick is so devastating, such an emotional body slam that it has led to a career resurrection for Rourke and perhaps the year's best performance. As icing on the cake, Marisa Tomei proves two things: 1) her Oscar win for 'My Cousin Vinny' was surely no fluke and 2) hula-hooping to get in shape for nude scenes most definitely works.

It's Kind of Like: 'Raging Bull' meets 'No Holds Barred'

How You Can See It: In theaters now

We're breaking down all the Oscar contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Next up: 'Waltz With Bashir,' Ari Folman's innovative animated doc.

Nominated For: Best Foreign Film

What It's About: Having strange memory blockage surrounding his experience in the 1982 Lebanon War, an Israeli Army vet-turned-documentarian (Ari Folman) tracks down several men he served with to fill in the blanks, and then animates the results. The accounts build up to the tragic events of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, where thousands of Palestinians were killed.

Why You Should See It: Considering the Israeli import is a foreign animated documentary, it conceivably could've been nominated in three categories (and with glowing reviews across the board, many critics would probably champion that cause). Somber and admittedly slow-paced, the film is a thought-provoking examination of war and the human psyche's response to it. 'Bashir' is the clear frontrunner in the one category it is up for Oscar night.

It's Kind of Like: 'Persepolis' meets 'Jacob's Ladder' minus the humor and horned creatures

How You Can See It: In theaters now

We're breaking down all the Oscar contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: indie immigration drama 'The Visitor,' which was helmed by Tom McCarthy, acclaimed director of 'The Station Agent.'

Nominated for: Best Actor (Richard Jenkins)

What It's About: Walter (Jenkins) is a lonely widower and professor who one day discovers two illegal immigrants squatting in his vacant apartment. Reluctantly, he allows them to stay and eventually befriends them, especially Tarek, a Syrian musician who teaches Walter how to play the African drums. When Tarek is seized and faces deportation, Walter finds himself fighting to help his new friend with a passion he hasn't felt in years.

Why You Should See It: Jenkins is a character actor who's long flown under the radar; you may know him as either Dead Dad Nathaniel on 'Six Feet Under' or as the dad in his other movie of 2008, the comedy 'Step Brothers,' a movie that's exactly ... OK, not even remotely like this one. Here, Jenkins finally gets the chance to shine, and he's terrific as a man who's reserved, cranky and mostly dead inside until a stranger introduces him to the meaning of joy (via drumming). As a bonus, you'll be so moved by the complex situation of many U.S. immigrants that you just may run out and adopt one yourself.

It's Kind of Like: 'Drumline' meets 'Gran Torino'

How You Can See It: Available on DVD now

We're breaking down all the Oscar contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Next up: 'Revolutionary Road,' Kate and Leo's long-awaited reunion.

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design

What It's About: Call it an anti-romance. Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April (Kate Winslet) are a married couple in 1950s Connecticut so miserable in their union, their day-to-day routines (he's a suit, she's a housewife) and their picket-fenced surroundings, they decide the only way to happiness is to move to Paris. And that's when things get really thorny. Moral of the story: Being married in the suburbs sucks.

Why You Should See It: There's one major reason to see 'Revolutionary Road,' and that's the phenomenal acting. Though the film has to be considered a disappointment in view of its pre-release hype, it boasts three of the best performances of the year. Strangely only Shannon (as a family friend fresh out of the loony bin) earned an Oscar invite, despite the fact that Leo gives his best performance yet, and Winslet is better here than in 'The Reader.' But, be warned: as far as entertainment goes, it's a major downer (unless you consider spouses screaming at each other for two hours entertaining).

It's Kind of Like: 'War of the Roses' meets 'Mad Men'

How You Can See It: In theaters now

We're breaking down all the Oscar contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Next up: 'Man on a Wire,' the thrilling documentary that's been flying high with critics since its debut.

What It's Nominated for: Best Documentary, Features

What It's About: The docu chronicles French wire walker Philippe Petit as he prepares for and then acts on his outrageous plan, to traverse a high wire between the Twin Towers in 1974.

Why You Should See It: To find out what makes a man want to risk his life to complete a feat that will 1) possibly kill him, 2) not put any money in his pocket and 3) most probably get him arrested. The film blends present-day interviews with the team, re-creations of actual events and -- most compellingly -- footage from Petit's preparation that had been videotaped by one of his entourage. The story of Petit's ambitious trek to the top of the World Trade Center, and across a line stretched between the two buildings, is as inspiring as it is fascinating. Even the police can't bring the story crashing to the ground, with their terse notation on the arrest warrant from which the film takes its title.

It's Kind of Like: 'The Great Wallendas,' except for real

How You Can See It: Available now on DVD

We're breaking down all the Oscars contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: Woody Allen's intoxicating dramedy 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' featuring a tempestuous turn from Penelope Cruz.

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actress (Penelope Cruz)

What It's About: Two sexy young Americans -- one level-headed and engaged to be married (Rebecca Hall), the other free-spirited and sexually adventurous (Scarlett Johansson) -- visit Barcelona for a summer holiday and are swept up in a life-changing romantic quadrangle with a charismatic painter (Javier Bardem) and his emotionally volatile ex-wife (Cruz).

Why You Should See It: Writer-director Woody Allen abandons his recent fascination with the darker side of things (see 'Match Point' and 'Cassandra's Dream') to deliver a film that's rife with his trademark witty banter and infused with a zest for life, wine and love affairs. The gorgeous cast and breathtaking Spanish landscapes are intoxicating; Cruz's go-for-broke portrayal of super damaged, super passionate artist Maria Elena is utterly mesmerizing; and, if you still need more incentive, Penelope and Scarlett's foray into girl-on-girl action should do the trick.

It's Kind of Like: 'Wild Things' meets 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (or pretty much any other Woody Allen comedy)

How You Can See It: Available now on DVD

We're breaking down all the Oscars contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: The play-turned-film 'Doubt,' Oscar's leader in acting nominations.

Nominated for: Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Supporting Actor (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Best Adapted Screenplay (John Patrick Shanley)

What It's About: An icy, conservative nun (Streep) and younger, progressive priest (Hoffman) are the Hannity and Colmes of a Bronx Catholic church and school in 1964. But when she suspects him of molesting the school's first black student, their relationship transforms from one of passive difference to hostile opposition. Adams is a blithe Sister turning more cynical under Streep; Davis is the student's fraught mother.

Why You Should See It: Any time a film gets four Oscar nominations for acting, you know you're in for some dramatic screen magic. Leading the way is Streep's Sister Aloysius, the very last person you'd want to run into without a hall pass (talk about invoking the fear of God). And owning one of the year's most memorable scenes is Davis, so affecting in her mere 12 minutes on screen, she could very well walk away with an Oscar. Don't hold it against the film that its writer-director Shanley's last movie was 'Joe Versus the Volcano.' This is a much better conflict.

It's Kind of Like: 'Priest' meets 'Dead Man Walking'

How You Can See It: In theaters now

We're breaking down all the Oscars contenders for you, so that you can decide whether you want to see them -- or at the very least, hold your own at cocktail parties. Today: 'Frost/Nixon,' Ron Howard's adaptation of the Tony-nominated play.

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director (Ron Howard), Best Actor (Frank Langella), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing

What It's About: Three years after resigning the presidency, Richard Nixon (Langella) looks to restore his tarnished reputation via a series of interviews with British talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen). Though at first Nixon dominates the conversation, Frost shocks the media world when he gets Nixon to confess to his guilt in the Watergate affair. Based on the Broadway play -- and real life.

Why You Should See It: We know what you're thinking. A movie about an interview? Yawn! But Ron Howard's deft adaptation of the play is riveting, thanks in large part to Langella, who's spectacular in reprising the role that won him a Tony award. Fighting for his legacy with the ferocity of a pit bull, Langella's Nixon snarls, he jokes, he parries, he outmaneuvers Frost like some brilliant evil mastermind. (Well, it is Nixon, after all.) Sheen, too, is extraordinarily good as the easygoing reporter whom everyone overestimates; and it's a genuine pleasure to watch these two men slug it out in a political David vs. Goliath match for the ages.

It's Kind of Like: 'All the President's Men' meets 'Rocky'

How You Can See It: In theaters now