Celebrate Hollywood’s Finest With M-Net Movies Oscars Pop Up DStv Channel 109

Get the popcorn ready for a dazzling M-Net Movies Oscars pop-up treat on channel 109 on DStv.

Starting tomorrow, Thursday 1 February until Wednesday 28 February, this channel will air the most iconic movies that will transport viewers into the heart of their characters’ stories, desires, fears and wonders.

Friday, 2 February 2018

The English Patient at 20:00
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe
Director: Anthony Minghella

One of the most acclaimed films of all time – it won nine Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting actress, from 12 nominations – is a romantic tale told almost entirely in flashbacks. It is based on an equally successful novel by Michael Ondaatjie.

A nurse in Italy during World War II stays behind when her mobile medical unit is called upon to move to a new location. She vows to take care of a burnt and disfigured patient, who is not expected to live long. A new arrival casts doubt on the patient’s claim to be suffering from amnesia.

Saturday 3 February 2018

About Schmidt at 12:00
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Bates
Director: Alexander Payne

Jack Nicholson delivers a magnificent performance in a poignant tale of a man who finds meaning to a life he had deemed to be over after the trauma of losing his partner. Both Nicholson and Kathy Bates received Oscar nominations for their roles.

Warren Schmidt feels alone in this world after the death of his wife. He embarks on a rather challenging road trip to his estranged daughter’s wedding. It exposes the ideas has had about life to be way off the mark.

Up at 14:15
Cast: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Director: Pete Docter

In a daring move, animation giant Pixar let go of every proven ingredient of a winning formula: no heroes this time; no princesses; minimal action. A senior citizen is the main character. The result? A beautiful human drama that was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar!

Carl, a childless widower, rekindles a dream of a trip to the South American wild, which he abandoned at the death of Ellie, his long-time partner. By tying millions of balloons to his home, he takes to the air and discovers an uninvited travelling companion.

Arrival at 18:00
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Director: Denis Villeneuve

Eight Academy Award nominations for a science fiction thriller is unheard of, and underlines the power of a strong story told at a fast pace in any genre. The Oscar nominations included Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Spaceships from an unknown planet have landed on earth, and war appears to be unavoidable. A professor of linguistics must find a way to communicate with the invaders to stave off conflict.

Read the SAMDB review of Arrival.

Flight at 20:00
Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman
Director: Robert Zemeckis

Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington narrowly missed out on his third statuette for his performance in this acclaimed film about a man in a life-and-death battle with his addictions and his conscience.

Airline pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) saves the lives of 96 passengers and crew with a brilliant crash landing. Or so says the preliminary report. But then the evidence mounts that he was drunk in the cockpit and responsible for the six deaths that occurred.

Hell or High Water at 22:15
Cast: Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges
Director: David Mackenzie

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges stars in a dark modern-day Western crime thriller, for which he received an Academy Award nomination – one of four attracted by the film. It was one of the Top Ten films of 2016, on the American Film Institute’s list.

Two brothers, Toby and Tanner, resort to bank robbery to save the family farm. Tanner, wild by nature, takes chances that put the operation at risk, despite Toby’s efforts to restrain him. Two Texas Rangers believe they are on the verge of making an arrest.

Read the SAMDB review of Hell or High Water.

Sunday 4 February 2018

Gandhi at 11:00
Cast: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Candice Bergen
Director: Richard Attenborough

An epic that nearly swept the boards in the main categories at the 55th Academy Awards, winning in eight of the 11 categories for which it received nominations. This included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor (Ben Kingsley).

It is the year 1983. A young Indian in South Africa is made painfully aware of the injustice of society when he is forced to leave the first-class compartment of a train because he isn’t white. It sparks a life-long non-violent battle to eradicate prejudice and inequality.

Happy Feet at 14:15
Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman
Director: George Miller

An all-star voice cast that includes Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman adds spice to a jolly tale of a penguin with an unusual talent  that won Warner Brothers its first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Each male emperor penguin has a unique song, called a heartsong, with which to woo and conquer a female penguin. But Mumble is different, due to a little accident while he was still in his egg. He cannot sing at all, but his tap-dancing prowess might just yield  a surprisingly positive outcome.

Hidden Figures at 16:00
Cast: Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe
Director: Theodore Melfi

A biopic of three female African-American mathematicians who worked for NASA during the space race, making the computations that assured John Glenn’s safe launch into orbit. It receives three Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress.

Katherine Gobel, a black woman, surprises her NASA bosses with her astonishing mathematical skills, proving that their prejudices are baseless and unfounded. But many racial and gender barriers remain in place – until talent and determination break them down for good.

Read the SAMDB review of Hidden Figures.

Toy Story 3 at 18:05
Cast:  Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
Director: Lee Unkrich

In this Oscar-winning third instalment of the series, the story takes a hilarious twist when a spot they see as a safe haven turns out to be a place where tiny tots cause havoc and toys with a reputation for kindness turn out to be violent maniacs.

Andy has gotten too old for his toys, and decides to store them in the attic while he attends college, but they accidentally end up in a box headed for the trash heap. They escape, and make their way to a day care centre, where a teddy bear rules with an, um, iron fist.

Manchester by the Sea at 20:00
Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler
Director: Kenneth Lonergan

An unforgettable tragedy, Shakespearian in its depth and reach, that earned Casey Affleck the Best Actor Oscar at the 89th Academy Awards. Director Kenneth Lonergan won for Best Original Screenplay.

Lee is a handyman who keeps to himself and shows no sign of needing company or friendship. He is rocked by news of his brother’s death – and the fact that he has been appointed guardian to his teenage nephew. Old wounds are ripped open to a heart that will never heal.

Read the SAMDB review of Manchester by the Sea.

Saturday 10 February 2018

Out of Africa at 12:08
Cast: Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Director: Sydney Pollack

A tale of romance and adventure that won no fewer than seven Academy Awards… and many observers felt leading lady Meryl Streep was unlucky not to be named Best Actress. It was the most successful film of legendary director Sydney Pollack’s career.

A Danish baroness is not only struggling to adapt to the unexpected troubles she encounters as a plantation owner and philanthropist in colonial Kenya, but is trapped in a loveless marriage. A big-game hunter turns her world upside down.

The King’s Speech at 14:54
Cast: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Director: Tom Hooper

A story built upon one man’s inner struggle defeated a host of action-packed cinematic rivals to claim four of the “Big Five” awards at the Oscars in 2012: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor (for Colin Firth) from 12 nominations.

Prince Albert becomes heir to the British throne when his brother, King Edward, abdicates to marry an American divorcee. Albert fears his stammer will make him the laughing stock of the Kingdom. His wife, Elizabeth, calls upon a famous speech therapist to tackle the problem head-on.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

Girl, Interrupted at 11:20
Cast: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall
Director: James Mangolded

Angelina Jolie stole the limelight and won an Oscar for her work in a film that appears to have been written for Winona Ryder, whose stellar performance in the lead was overlooked by members of the Academy. Jolie’s acclaim was universal – she picked up numerous other awards.

A young girl is admitted to a psychiatric hospital after swallowing a handful of pain tablets. She ends up in a ward filled with people who both repel and fascinate her – and none more so than an angry, mean-spirited girl with whom she forms a powerful bond.

Saturday 10 February 2018

La La Land at 16:52
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt
Director: Damien Chazelle

A musical romantic comedy for which its creator had nearly given up hope of finding financial backing. It was a hit at the box office and equalled the record for most Oscar nominations – 14 – of which it won six, including Best Director, making Damien Chazelle, at 32, its youngest recipient.

Los Angeles is a tough city, especially for those who dream of finding fame and fortune there. Two such people, a pianist and an actress, meet and fall in love. Now they must reconcile their dreams and their passion for each other.

Read the SAMDB review of La La Land.

Sunday 11 February 2018

Gone with the Wind at 13:30
Cast: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell
Director: Victor Fleming

The biggest box office hit in the history of cinema, when adjusted for monetary inflation, is also one of the most successful at the Academy Awards, winning ten from 13 nominations. Vivien Lee, chosen from 1 400 candidates for the role of Scarlett O’Hara, was named Best Actress.

A beautiful, strong-willed woman faces the challenges of life bravely, but her love of an unavailable man tears her apart. On the first day of the American Civil War, a stranger arrives unannounced. Nothing will remain the same.

Saturday 10, February 2018

Gravity at 19:00
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Director: Alfonso Cuarón

A collision in space like the one portrayed has not yet happened, but most certainly could, say the experts. Production was taxing: Sandra Bullock spent up to 10 hours per day in a gigantic mechanical rig.  It won seven Oscars, including Best Director and Best Original Score.

Flying debris from the explosion of a Russian satellite smashes into the space shuttle Explorer, leaving its surviving crew members, who had been out on a spacewalk, little chance of returning home safely. They have only each other to rely on.

Read the SAMDB review of Gravity.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

The Aviator at 17:10
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda
Director: Martin Scorsese

Director Martin Scorcese joins forces with two of the top-rated actors of recent times, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett, in a biopic of the Hollywood and aviation legend Howard Hughes. Blanchett won an Oscar; DiCaprio missed out, and had to console himself with a Golden Globe.

Howard Hughes is regarded as a genius. He is not only a daring pilot, but has also created a cinematic masterpiece, Hell’s Angels. But as is so often the case, the brilliant mind is haunted by mental illness that threatens to push him over the edge.

Saturday, 10 February 2018

Schindler’s List at 20:30
Cast: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley
Director: Steven Spielberg

An epic historical drama, which is regarded as one of the best films ever made, earned Steven Spielberg his first Oscar for Best Director. It was nominated for a whopping 12 Academy Awards, and received seven, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Score.

A factory owner in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II is shocked by the plight of Jews, and sets out to intervene by offering them employment. He manages to save 1 200 lives.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

Fences at 20:00
Director: Denzel Washington

Cast: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson
Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington received his seventh nomination for his performance in a period drama that also received a Best Picture nomination. Veteran Viola Davis, playing Washington’s wife, garnered universal praise and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

A man whose dreams of football glory was crushed by racism allows his bitterness to deny his son the opportunities he had missed out on. It threatens to tear the family apart.

Saturday, 10 February 2018

Traffic at 23:50
Cast: Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Director: Steven Soderbergh

A political crime drama that exceeded everyone’s expectations – except that of director Steven Soderbergh, who knew he had a winner on his hands. It won four Oscars, including Best Director and Best Supporting Actor, the latter for Benicio del Toro.

A judge who vows to lead a crackdown on drug peddlers and users alike is shocked to find that his own daughter is addicted to crack cocaine. Meanwhile, a key informant has to flee for his life and the wife of a drug lord is drawn into his dirty business while he is serving time in prison.

Sunday, 11 February 2018

Precious at 22:20
Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton
Director: Lee Daniels

Actress Mo’Nique won more than an Oscar at the 82nd Academy Awards for her performance in a heart-rending tale about a family wracked by pain, betrayal and abuse: she earned the respect of her peers, who gave her a standing ovation as she walked to the podium to collect her statuette.

Fate has never been kind to Precious, a black American teen. She has repeatedly been raped by her otherwise absent father, twice becoming pregnant as a result. He mother holds her responsible and showers her with abuse. A gentle teacher sets out to help her recover from the traumas.

Friday 16 February 2017

An Officer and a Gentleman at 22:05
Cast: Richard Gere, Debra Winger, Louis Gossett Jr
Director: Taylor Hackford

A romantic drama that became a huge hit and earned Louis Gossett Jr his one and only Oscar. Richard Gere, in the lead as an officer-in-training, was the public’s darling at the time, but there is no denying that his charm was overshadowed by Gossett’s depiction of a gruff drill sergeant.
A navy brat who seems to lack the discipline to become and officer and aviator is swept off his feet by a beautiful girl. He will have to make tough decisions regarding his future, or risk losing both his paramour and his military career.

Saturday 17 February 2017

Ordinary People at 11:30
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton
Director: Robert Redford

Acting legend Robert Redford’s directorial debut showed beyond any doubt that that he was cut out for the job: It won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. Timothy Hutton was named Best Supporting Actor (in his first film) and Alvin Sargent won for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The death of the first-born son in a well-to-do family sends the lives of his family members – an embittered mother, a soft-hearted father and a guilt-ridden brother – to the brink of collapse.

All the President’s Men at 18:00
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden
Director: Alan J. Pakula

The political thriller based on the Watergate scandal, which brought down American President Richard Nixon, won three Academy Awards from eight nominations. It stars Hollywood legends Dustin Hoffmann and Robert Redford.

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein accidentally discover that what appears to be a minor break-in at the Democratic Party Headquarters is linked to an effort by the rival Republicans to cover up a massive unlawful conspiracy.

Little Miss Sunshine at 20:15
Cast: Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin
Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

A jewel of a family road trip comedy drama that earned 12 times its budget at the box office. The family in question is as dysfunctional as can be, and includes a heroin-snorting grandpa, a suicidal gay house guest and a teenager who has taken a vow of silence.

Olive is six years old and aspires to become a beauty queen. She is thrilled to learn she has qualified to take part in the Little Miss Sunshine contest. The only way to make it there on time, is to bundle the whole family into their VW van and hit the road. California, here we come!

Inglourious Basterds at 22:00
Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth
Director: Quentin Tarantino

Director Quentin Tarantino’s genius as an entertainer is in full bloom in a violent black comedy about a group of Jewish-American soldiers on a mission to hunt down and kill high-ranking Nazis. It received eight Oscar nominations among a host of other awards.

A Nazi war hero takes an interest in Shosanna Dreyfus, a Jewish refugee whose family was killed before her eyes. She sees an opportunity for revenge and arranges a screening at her movie theatre that will be attended by Nazi leaders. Then the Inglourious Basterds step in.

Sunday 18 February 2017

Scent of a Woman at 13:00
Cast: Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, James Rebhorn
Director: Martin Brest

Al Pacino delivered the performance of his life in a drama that became the most talked-about film of 1992. It has lost none of it force or charm. Pacino was named Best Actor at the Academy Awards – his only win from seven nominations.

A teenager from a poor neighbourhood faces a moral dilemma: he must either snitch on his fellow students or face an abrupt end to his dreams of gaining entry to Harvard. An unexpected trip to New York with an irascible blind former soldier confirms that his morals are indiputable.

Crazy Heart at 18:05
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell
Director: Scott Cooper

One of the most popular Hollywood actors in recent decades, Jeff Bridges, finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a country music drama that also featured the Best Original song. Not bad for a film originally slated for direct-to-video release! Now it’s called an instant classic.

Bad Blake’s days as a country music hero are long gone and now he struggles to eke out an existence. On top of that, he has given up on love. A young journalist encourages him to take a long, hard look at the man he has become.

Training Day at 20:00
Cast:  Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Tom Berenger, Scott Glenn
Director:  Antoine Fuqua

Denzel Washington delivers another Oscar-winning performance as a corrupt cop in a thriller set in the crime-ridden shadowy sections of Los Angeles. The film drew rave reviews from leading critics and was a huge box office success as well. Ethan Hawke was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Rookie cop Jake Hoyt is keen to join the elite narcotics squad of the LAPD, but during a day-long trial alongside a seasoned veteran, Sergeant Alonzo Harris, he sees he is being set up by his crooked would-be mentor to take the blame for a heinous crime.

Sunday, 18 February 2018

The Colour of Money at 11:00
Cast: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Director: Martin Scorsese

Paul Newman finally won at Oscar on his eighth nomination – in a reprise of the role of “Fast Eddie” Felson he played in The Hustler 25 years earlier! Novelist Walter Tevis wrote a screenplay based on his book of the same name, but only the title survived in the final version.

Eddie Felson’s pool hustling days are over. When he meets a flamboyant amateur, who works in a toy store, he persuades him and his girlfriend to join him on the road and make some serious money as a pool hustler.

Ray at 15:35
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington
Director: Taylor Hackford

Jamie Fox became only the second person to win a Best Actor Oscar, a BAFTA, a Critics’ Choice award, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award when he delivered a masterful portrayal of blues music legend Ray Charles, at the same time putting his prowess as a singer on display.

Ray Charles’s life was a struggle from the start. He was raised on a sharecropping plantation and went blind shortly after witnessing his brother’s death. His progress in the music industry was hampered by heroin addiction before he developed the style that rocketed him to world fame.

The Revenant at 22:00
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson
Director: Alejandro G Iñárritu

A gripping historical survival drama that shone at the Academy Awards with three major winners:  for Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio finally bagging a long-overdue Oscar), Best Director and Best Cinematography.

Frontiersman Hugh Glass survives an ambush by an Indian tribe as well as an attack by a grizzly. Members of his hunting expedition leave him for dead, and he must find his way back to safety on his own – and track down the man who betrayed him.

Saturday 24 February 2018

As Good as it Gets at 12:15
Cast:  Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
Director: James L Brooks

Playing grumpy old men comes naturally to Jack Nicholson. The Oscar winner is regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and the sparks fly when his character encounters a feisty waitress, played by Helen Hunt, who has to put up with his eccentric behaviour every day.

Melvin is a great novelist who hates more or less everybody and suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder.  His perfectly structured life is turned on its head by a shocking incident… and then Carol, the only person who can tolerate his behaviour, has to move away to take care of her son.

Sunday 25 February 2018

All About Eve at 12:35
Cast: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

The only film in the history of cinema to have received four female acting nominations (from a total of 14, which has been matched but never beaten). It won six, and nearly seven decades on is still regarded as one of the best films ever made.

A young aspiring actress befriends her idol, becomes part of her circle of friends, and slowly but surely starts making moves to replace her in a stage play. Only the director sees through her evil plot.

Sunday 25 February 2018

The Artist at 15:00
Cast: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
Director: Michel Hazanavicius

The first mainly silent film since 1927 and the first French Production to win the Academy Award for Best Picture is a sparkling comedy about the transition from silent films to “talkies” in 1920s Hollywood. Jean Dujardin became the first Frenchman to take the Oscar for Best Actor.

Silent film hero George Valentin’s popularity is slipping while his protégé, Peppy Miller, rises to superstardom. George simply cannot understand why directors no longer cast him as romantic lead. Everyone around him has a pretty good idea, but no one says a word.

Saturday 24 February 2018

Erin Brockovich at 16:40
Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, David Brisbin
Director: Steven Soderbergh

A drama based on a true-life David vs Goliath story of a woman who took on a huge gas and electric company – and won. Julia Roberts, by far the most popular actress of the 90s, delivered the best performance of her career in the title role, for which she was rewarded with an Oscar.

A legal secretary with no formal legal training becomes aware of an energy company’s disregard for the environment, dumping toxic waste with impunity. Almost single-handedly, she brings them to book.

Saturday 24 February 2018

Silver Linings Playbook at 14:35
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Director: David O Russell

One of the most successful romantic comedies of recent times not only took in $236-million at the box office – 11 times its budget – but also became the first film in 31 years to be nominated for all four Academy Awards for acting, with Jennifer Lawrence named Best Actress.

Pat, a teacher, returns after eight months of treatment for bipolar disorder. He wants to win back his wife, even though she had cheated on him, thus sparking an attack on her lover, which resulted in his confinement. Then a young widow enters his life and promises to help him in his quest.

Sunday, 25 February 2018

The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King at 16:40
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett
Director: Peter Jackson

The only film in history to win 11 Oscars from 11 nominations – and the first and so far the only fantasy film to nab the Best Picture award. Not surprisingly, it was a box office smash as well, raking in more than $1.2-billion.

The end is in sight for Frodo and Sam’s treacherous journey to Mount Doom, the only place where the One Ring can be destroyed. Meanwhile, dark lord Sauron is forging a plan to claim Minas Tirath, the capital of Gondor. War is imminent.

Saturday, 24 February 2018

The Blind Side at 18:50
Cast: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw
Director: John Lee Hancock

A feel-good sports drama based on real-life events that earned Sandra Bullock her first Oscar. It is a film that exceeded Director John Lee Hancock’s expectations, earning more than $300-million at the box office and receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Homeless youngster Michael Oher seems to face a life of hardship. But he has grit and determination, and the belief of a caring family helps him overcome his difficult childhood and become a football star.

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Argo at 20:00
Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Director: Ben Affleck

Argo’s Director Ben Affleck and writer Chris Terrio were among the most celebrated winners at the 2013 Academy awards, with Oscars for Best Film and Best Adapted screenplay, and veteran Alan Arkin was regarded unlucky not to receive an acting award.

Iranian militants invade the American Embassy in their country and take several hostages. Some escape and find refuge in the Canadian Embassy, but they remain in mortal danger. Then a film crew pretending to shoot a sci-fi film enters the country with the purpose of staging a great escape.

Saturday, 24 February 2018

Black Swan at 21:00
Cast: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Director: Darren Aronofsky

Multiple-award-winning actress Natalie Portman finally received full recognition for her talents with a Best Actress Oscar for a striking performance in a low-budget horror which was initially relegated to limited release in theatres – and went on to bag an astonishing $330-million at the box office.

Nina is a dancer who lives her dream when she becomes a contender for a leading role in Swan Lake. She forms a startling connection with her main competitor, as each seems to embody the disparate traits of the White Swan and the Black Swan. Has she met her evil twin?

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Gladiator at 22:00
Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed
Director: Ridley Scott

A stellar cast led by Russell Crowe launched this historical epic to victory in no fewer than five categories at the Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture. It marked Oliver Reed’s final screen appearance.

Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is a general in the Roman army who is betrayed by the emperor’s son and condemned to be a slave. The only way he can regain his honour and freedom, and take revenge on his conqueror, is by becoming the greatest gladiator of them all.

Saturday,24 February 2018

Room at 22:50
Cast: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers
Director: Lenny Abrahamson

A chilling psychological drama that earned universal praise and received four Academy Award nominations. Brie Larson was named Best Actress – one of numerous accolades she received for her performance.

Jack is a five-year-old boy held captive along with his loving mother in a single room, which he believes is the only life there is.  His perceptions are changed irrevocably, and his mom devises a risky escape.

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Shakespeare in Love at 00:35
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush
Director: John Madden

An inventive make-believe love story featuring the greatest writer in the history of the English language – about whom we know virtually nothing!  It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow), Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), and Best Original Screenplay.

William Shakespeare is suffering from writer’s block – and a deadline is looming. Then he meets a beautiful young woman and is instantly smitten. The words start gushing forth.

See the complete list of Oscar Nominees.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb