You know Oscar season is in earnest when the cinemas bring back films from last year because they've been nominated for various categories. This week, Fridae Movie Club welcomes back Beginners (nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Plummer), The Tree of Life (nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Achievement in Cinematography) and Drive (nominated for Best Achievement in Sound Editing) which will all be screened at the theatres again starting this Thursday.

Our pick of the week goes to a film snubbed by the Oscar panel, J. Edgar. Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by LGBT activist Dustin Lance Black (Milk), the biopic of FBI director J Edgar Hoover tells of how one very determined man created a national institution, and of his possibly homosexual relationship with his best friend and assistant director in the agency.

Nominated for multiple Oscars is Tinker Tailor Solder Spy, a film adaptation of the spy novel based on the real life espionage scandal involving the Cambridge Five. The game of spy vs spy taking place in the shadow of the Cold War makes for a gripping thriller.

Playing like a doublebill companion to The Social Network is Thai comedy The Billionaire, which recounts the true rags-to-riches story of a bored teen school drop-out who becomes Thailand’s youngest self-made multi-billionaire entrepreneur.

In the action thriller Safe House, Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds play a rogue CIA agent and the young rookie who has to bring him in...while both are victims of a larger conspiracy that dwarfs them both.

If ever there was a romantic comedy that you'd want to take a straight date to watch so they'll get the hint that it's never going to happen, it'll be The Wedding Diary. Malaysian singer Aniu stars in this almost-caper and definitely anti-romcom about a man who must think of a way to pay his wedding bills.

Till next week,

Vernon Chan