Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & IV • February 23, 2011 Oscar picks (continued from Entertainment page) acting, and a fascinating story. Hooper incorporates touches of humor in what is otherwise a serious drama, making the man who would become George VI human and vulnerable. All the actors in the film come off well under Hooper’s guidance. He should be writing his acceptance speech. Finally, for the second year, the academy is considering 10 films for Best Picture: “Black Swan,” “The Fighter,” “Inception,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “The King’s Speech,” “127 Hours,” “The Social Network,” “Toy Story 3,” “True Grit,” and “Winter’s Bone.” Since “Toy Story 3” has also been nominated in the Best Animated Feature category, which it will undoubtedly win, I don’t think it has a chance in this category against such formidable competition. “Inception” was visually striking, but has a confusing screenplay that overwhelmed many viewers. “The Kids Are All Right” and “The Fighter” are wonderful acting showcases, but don’t quite make it to the caliber of Best Picture. For all its suspense, “127 Hours” is restricted in its location and lack of visual variety, and thus lacks two important movie-making tools. “Winter’s Bone” is striking, but not in the league with stronger films this year. If there were only five nominees as in earlier years, this film would not have been among them. It comes down to “True Grit,” “The Social Network,” and “The King’s Speech.” The academy will present its final Oscar of the evening to “The King’s Speech.” Like previous Oscar Best Picture winners “Gandhi,” “Patton,” and “Lawrence of Arabia,” this film uses a real historical figure to tell a gripping tale and is the type of prestige film the academy loves to honor. the Valley of Tears,” and a look at artifacts from the plane crash. Filmed in the Sierra Madres in 1947, “Stallion Road” (Warner Archive) stars Ronald Reagan as California rancher/veterinarian Larry Hanrahan. Reagan spends plenty of screen time in the saddle as Larry contends with the attentions of two beautiful women (Alexis Smith and Peggy Knudsen), rivalry from his writer pal Stephen Purcell (Zachary Scott), and the terrors of an anthrax outbreak. Made during Reagan’s tenure as a contract player at Warner Brothers, “Stallion Road” has the earmarks of a script that Warner’s bigger stars passed on. This melodrama is a B picture with a B cast. The most interesting thing about it is seeing the young Reagan exercising his acting chops. This DVD is not available in stores, but may be ordered at www. by G.M. Smith wbshop.com. by G.M. Smith ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, in most cases, caution and attention to detail are the ways to go. However, this week you have free reign to be spontaneous and carefree. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, in most cases, caution and attention to detail are the ways to go. HowTAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 ever, this week you have free reign to There’s so much carefree. be spontaneous and going on, Taurus, that you don’t know where to focus. It’s best to start in the most obvious TAURUS - Apr 21/MayMake a list of place ... the beginning. 21 There’s so much going on, Taurus, all your tasks. DVDs that you don’t know where to focus. It’s best to- start in the most obvious GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 place ... theremarkable change of attiGemini, a beginning. Make a list of all your tasks. place that leaves even tude will take GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 on the changes, and you’ll enjoy the Gemini, a remarkable change of attiattention. tude will take place that leaves even you surprised. People will comment CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 on the changes, and you’ll enjoy the Cancer, attention. the status quo remains this (continued from Restaurant page) as they were driven to what would become headlinemaking acts of cannibalism in their struggle for life. The film presents a remarkable human survival saga through the first-person, on-camera account of survivor Nando Parrado, author of “Miracle in the Andes.” Parrado’s simple, evocative storytelling takes the viewer through the 72 days of heroism and tragedy. Accompanying Parrado’s account are high-resolution photos shot by the survivors throughout the ordeal, including rarely seen images of the crash site, and recreations of the crash and the passengers’ fight for survival. DVD bonuses include the featurettes “Nando FINLEY Parrado Today,” the making-of documentary “Return to FINLEY you surprised. People will comment You’re not Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER -interested in a lot of fanfare or excitement this week. It’s a this Cancer, the status quo remains good time and it’s just as week for some R&R. you’d have it. You’re not interested in a lot of fanfare or excitement this week. It’s a good LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 time for some R&R. If catching up on housework or home LEOwant to do, then go with your gut. you - Jul 23/Aug 23 If catching you’rehousework or home This week up on about adventure and projects seems like it’s the last thing trave, Leo. you want to do, then go with your gut. This week you’re about adventure and VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 trave, Leo. week and it’s just as you’d have it. projects seems like it’s the last thing A decision that you made quickly a few weeks ago comes back to haunt VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 you, Virgo. There’s made quickly a A decision that you no going back so you have to own up to back to haunt few weeks ago comes your choices. you, Virgo. There’s no going back so you have to own up to your choices. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, it’s time to open up the curtains and shed some light on a LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23new direction to take your career. You may curtains Libra, it’s time to open up the be afraid andthe change, light onstars indicate the of shed some but the a new direction to take your career. You may be afraid timing is right. of the change, but the stars indicate the timing is right. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 weren’t into a position that you really Scorpio, you’re about game face and ready for. Put on your to be thrust into a everyone that thinkreally weren’t lead position to you you’ve got it ready for. Put on your game face and covered. The rest will fall in place. lead everyone to think you’ve got it covered. The rest will fall in place. Scorpio, you’re about to be thrust SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Loose lips certainly sink ships, 21 SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec and with lips certainly been gossiping, Loosethe way you’ve sink ships, and Sagittarius, you’re taking down an enwith the way you’ve been gossiping, tire fleet. you’re taking down you’ll Sagittarius,Zip up this week or an enlose some respect. tire fleet. Zip up this week or you’ll lose some respect. Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Capricorn, closing your eyes to CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 what’s Capricorn, closingwill not make it go been happening your eyes to what’s been happening face not make it go away. Rather, will your problems away. Rather, facefind you problems head-on and you’ll your feel more head-on and you’ll find you feel more secure. secure. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, with all of the wrenches Aquarius, with all of the wrenches that have been thrown into your gears that have been thrown into your gears you’d think you’d be more frazzled. you’d think you’d be more frazzled. The funny thing is, you’re cool, calm The funny thing is, you’re cool, calm and collected. and collected. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 PISCES Feb 19/Mar 20 PISCES --Feb 19/Mar 20 There’s moment this week when you There’s aamoment this week when you think you have it all figured out. Then think you have it all figured out. Then you stop and realize you really don’t, you stop and realize you really don’t, Pisces. Pisces.