Direct Hits Goes To The Oscars – Part 2

Feb 22
2012
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Continuing on from our previous post, we’re discussing this year’s Best Picture nominees. After DELVING (exploring) into the biggest contenders for the award, today we’re focusing on the remaining nominees.

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris is a WHIMSICAL (fanciful) tale about the powers of NOSTALGIA (wistful longing for the past). Gil (Owen Wilson), a modern screenwriter vacationing in France, YEARNS (strongly desires) to be a novelist during the Jazz Age, a particularly FECUND (intellectually productive) era for writers and artists in Paris. Gil is so NOSTALGIC for the past that he finds a way to magically step back in time. There he meets a MYRIAD (many) of figures from the 1920s, REVERED (greatly respected) literary and artistic icons like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Picasso, who come to life on the big screen in all their ECCENTRICITY (unconventional peculiarity).

Sports fans will really appreciate the excellent baseball movie Moneyball. Billy Bean (Brad Pitt), the manager of the struggling Oakland A’s, must recruit his players on a very tight budget. He CIRCUMVENTS (bypasses) the normal scouting process by hiring Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young economics graduate with AUDACIOUS (very bold) ideas. Peter uses an UNORTHODOX (unusual) method for choosing players, relying strictly on statistics and EMPIRICAL (factual) evidence to determine players’ ability.

The biggest surprise nominee this year is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a film that has POLARIZED (created contrary opinions among) critics and audiences. The film features an all-star cast in a drama that tries to provide CATHARSIS (release and relief of strong emotions) after the IMMENSE (huge, immeasurable) tragedy of 9/11. An INTREPIDLY (fearlessly, resolutely) INQUISITIVE (inquiring) young boy who loses his father on 9/11 sets out on a quest to find the lock that matches an ENIGMATIC (mysterious) key he found in his father’s closet.

Another nominee to receive DISCORDANT (contradictory) reviews is the poetic film The Tree of Life. The Tree of Life depicts Jack, a middle-aged man REMINISCING (recalling the past) about growing up in Texas in the 1950s. Interspersed throughout this MOSAIC (montage) of memories are INSCRUTABLE (baffling) scenes depicting the universe, the creation of the Earth, and dinosaurs roaming the planet. The Tree of Life may be too OPAQUE (difficult to understand) for many filmgoers, but it’s a CEREBRAL (intellectual) masterpiece for those who enjoy exploring PROVOCATIVE (thought-provoking) films.

Steven Spielberg, one of the most PROLIFIC (productive) directors in cinema, is back with his sweeping war EPIC (long narrative story) War Horse. Set against the backdrop of World War I, War Horse CHRONICLES (recounts) the remarkable friendship between a boy and his horse Joey. When Joey is CONSCRIPTED (drafted) to serve in the cavalry, the boy is devastated, but throughout the trials of the war, he never gives up hope that he will one day be reunited with his beloved horse.

So that’s the list! With such a DIVERSE (varied) collection of potential Best Picture winners, you’re certain to find one that you’ll be ENAMOURED with (captivated by)! Let us know what your Oscar picks are! Happy movie-watching!

Written by Direct Hits in: SAT Vocabulary |

Remembering the Music Icon Whitney Houston

Feb 17
2012
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On February 11 the music world was ARRESTED (halted) by the shocking news that 48-year-old Whitney Houston, the INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably) great pop music legend, had been found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills.  The VENERATED (greatly respected) vocalist, a PERENNIAL (enduring) star performer for decades, had been a PRODIGY (young person with extraordinary talent): she sang in her church as a child, sang backup for stars like Chaka Khan as a teen, and signed a contract with a major recording label at age 20.  Her first album was critically ACCLAIMED (praised), in addition to being a financial JUGGERNAUT (irresistible force that crushes everything in its path), setting a PRECEDENT (example) for her future albums.  Houston was masterfully ADEPT (skillful) at using her majestic voice to perform with emotional intensity and PANACHE (flamboyant, spirited elegance).

In the early 2000s Houston’s career effectively went on HIATUS (break), as her public image was BELEAGUERED (beset) by her strange and CAPRICIOUS (changeable, fickle) behavior, tumultuous marriage, and RAMPANT (unrestrained, out-of-control) drug use.  After several stays in rehab, she returned to music, hoping for a career RESURGENCE (rising again, rebound).  Unfortunately, her years of PERNICIOUS (destructive) drug use had been DELETERIOUS (injurious) to her health and voice.  The NOXIOUS (harmful) drugs had RENDERED (caused to be, made) her once MELLIFLUOUS (smooth and sweet) voice hoarse and raspy.  Nevertheless, she remained a REVERED (greatly respected) ICON (object of devotion) of the music industry.

On the eve of the Grammy Awards, the news of Houston’s death caused PANDEMONIUM (tumult) in Hollywood.  The usually high-spirited pre-Grammy rehearsals and parties ASSUMED (took on) a LUGUBRIOUS (sad, mournful) mood.  The news of her DEMISE (death) PRECIPITATED (caused) a sudden change in the Grammys format, to include testimonials to the PROLIFIC (productive) singer.  Grammys host LL Cool J opened the night with a SOMBER (serious) prayer for Houston, and several artists gave shout-outs to her during their performances.  The ZENITH (highest point) of the tribute was Jennifer Hudson’s EARNEST (sincere) and stirring performance of Houston’s beloved hit, “I will Always Love You.”  The SOLEMN (serious) performance was the perfect tribute to the late songstress.  Overall, the Grammys took on an ELEGIAC (expressing sorrow and lamentation) tone, mourning Houston while celebrating her PRODIGIOUS (great, extraordinary) musical legacy.

Written by Direct Hits in: SAT Vocabulary |

Direct Hits Goes To The Oscars (With The Help Of SAT Vocabulary) – Part 1

Feb 09
2012
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Oscar nominations were revealed last week, presenting you with a SPATE (a large number) of movies to see before the Academy Awards on February 26. To help you decide which ones to see, Direct Hits is here to describe the nine Best Picture nominees. Whether you have a PENCHANT (preference) for tearjerkers, comedies, inspirational stories, or just highly- ACCLAIMED (praised) films, you will INDUBITABLY (certainly) find a great film among this year’s Best Picture nominees.

One of the most FORMIDABLE (strongest) contenders in this year’s Best Picture race is The Artist. Critics and audiences have been EFFUSIVE (gushing) in their praise of this SCINTILLATING (sparkling) EVOCATION (imaginative recreation) of old Hollywood. The Artist tells the story of silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) at the WATERSHED (turning point) event of the ADVENT (coming) of sound to the movies. The AUDACIOUS (very daring) gamble of producing a silent film in black and white in 2011is proving to be irresistibly charming to all audiences.

The PLAUDITS (enthusiastic expressions of approval) for The Artist do not PRECLUDE (rule out) the possibility of Hugo’s winning the COVETED (strongly desired) Best Picture title. Hugo has GARNERED (received) the most Oscar nominations of any film this year. Hugo seems an UNCONVENTIONAL (unusual) film for Martin Scorsese, as there are no goodfellas or mean streets here. Yet this 3D family-friendly movie is perhaps Scorsese’s most EARNEST (sincere) and personal film to date; it’s the result of his undying love for the movies and their history. Hugo is an imaginative adventure movie and an HOMAGE (tribute) to the early INNOVATORS (people who produce something new) of film, like the famous magician Georges Méliès. Hugo is a must-see for film-lovers.

Another top contender is the family drama The Descendants. Set in Hawaii, the film quickly reveals that life isn’t always IDYLLIC (charmingly carefree) or PLACID (serene) at the beach. PROTAGONIST (leading character) Matt King (George Clooney) loses his wife to a tragic boating accident and must bring his FRAGMENTED (broken) family back together. The TRAGICOMIC (containing elements of tragedy and comedy) film is a POIGNANT (moving) story of a family learning RESILIENCE (recovering from tragedy).

One of the most successful and LAUDED (praised) films of the summer, The Help is the only Best Picture nominee that was a box-office JUGGERNAUT (irresistible force that crushes everything in its path). Set in an AFFLUENT (wealthy) Mississippi community in the 1960s, The Help is an inspiring and PROVOCATIVE (stimulating controversy) story of aspiring author Skeeter (Emma Stone), who is INDIGNANT (outraged at injustice) about the poor treatment of the black maids in her town. So she begins conducting CLANDESTINE (secret) interviews with the women in order to publish a book documenting their experiences.

Coming soon is Part 2 of our discussion of the Best Picture nominees, where we will look at the WHIMSICAL (fanciful) Midnight in Paris, the inspiring Moneyball, the POIGNANT (touching) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the IDIOSYNCRATIC (unconventional, quirky) The Tree of Life, and the war EPIC (long narrative story) War Horse.

Written by Direct Hits in: SAT Vocabulary |