The Oscar nominations are one of the most exciting events in the movie calendar as we see which movies and performances will battle it out for this industry's biggest prize.
Yesterday saw the nominations announced and now we are going to take a closer look at those that find themselves in the running for gongs.
We start with the blue ribbon category as we put the nine Best Film nominations under the spotlight.
- Lincoln had been the favourite to dominate the Oscar nominations and it turned out to be so as it received twelve nods.
The movie marks the return of Steven Spielberg to the director's chair and is based on the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Lincoln follows the 16th President of the United States as he tries to end the U.S. Civil War and abolish slavery.
The movie has been lauded by the critics and the film has picked up a whole host of awards and nominations.
- Zero Dark Thirty is another award's circuit favourite as Kathryn Bigelow is back in the director's chair for the first time since the success of The Hurt Locker.
Zero Dark Thirty sees Bigelow return to the war genre as it follows the decade long search for Osama Bin Laden.
There is a great central performance from Jessica Chastain and the movie has been the toast of the awards's circuit this year as it has won Best Picture at Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association and the Nation Board of Review.
- It isn't all that often that we see a musical battling it out for Best Picture but this year is an exception to that rule as Les Miserables is well and truly in the running.
It is already being considered as one of the greatest movies in this genre of all time and it has been a huge success already at the global box office.
The movie is set during the French Revolution and follows Jean Valjean as he tries to escape his past.
Director Tom Hooper had his cast sing live on set so the film is packed with raw and emotional performances that set the film apart from others in the genre.
- Beasts of the Southern Wild was like no other movie that hit the big screen last year and it is fantastic that it has been recognised in such a way.
The movie marked the directorial debut of Benh Zeitlin and it follows the character of Hushpuppy and the difficult life that she has in the southern Louisiana bayou.
Beasts of the Southern Wild lit up the festival circuit at the back end of last year and had the critics raving.
This is a moving, heartwarming and funny movie all rolled into one as Zeitlin announces himself as an incredibly exciting filmmaker who is not afraid to push the boundaries and break conventions.
- Silver Linings Playbook saw Matthew Quick's novel of the same name adapted for the big screen with David O'Russell in the director's chair.
It was the first film for Russell since The Fighter and he brought together a great cast that included Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro.
The movie follows Pat who, after a stint in a mental institution tries to rebuild his life and win back his wife.
Silver Linings Playbook is a real twist on the romantic drama and it is touching and heart-warming at every turn.
Silver Linings Playbook is a movie that just has that extra bit of magic that elevates it to something special.
- Life of Pi was one of the most visually adventurous movies of 2012 and director Ang Lee called it the biggest challenge of his directing career to date.
The movie is a big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Yann Martel and follows Pi as he is lost at sea when the ship he is sailing on sinks.
There is something otherworldly about the movie from start to finish and it really is a landmark in visual mastery.
Bringing Martel's novel to life was a huge challenge and Ang Lee has delivered a bold and beautiful movie that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.
- A Quentin Tarantino movie is not to be missed and Django Unchained is his latest project as he tackles the Western for the very first time.
Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio are on the cast list while the film sees Tarantino reunite with Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson.
The movie follows slave turned bounty hunter Django as he sets out to save his wife from a brutal plantation owner with the help of his mentor.
This is the first movie for Tarantino since Inglourious Basterds and it follows in that film's footsteps by bagging another Best Picture nod
- Now I love a good political thriller and there was no better film in this genre in 2012 than Ben Affleck's Argo.
Affleck seems to grow as a filmmaker with every movie that he makes and he made it a hat-trick of success with his latest offering.
The movie followed the true story of Tony Mendez (Affleck) who is given the task of getting a group of Americans out of Tehran after the U.S. embassy is stormed.
Affleck infuses and mixes drama, suspense and comedy into what is practically a flawless movie.
He builds the tension with every frame and for someone like me who was aware of the original story or the outcome it is an incredibly tense and exciting film.
Argo is a corker of a movie and deserves all of the praise that has been coming its way.
- Amour was one of the big surprises of the Best Picture category as the French film has had a very good week awards wise having picked up some Bafta nods as well.
The movie if the latest from Michael Haneke and follows an elderly couple whose relationship is tested when Anne suffers a stroke.
Emmanuelle Riva was recognised for her work in the lead role as she bagged a Best Actress nomination - which was also a bit of a surprise.
The winners will be revealed 24th February
Tagged in Les Miserables Lincoln Zero Dark Thirty