The Academy Awards are this Sunday, and what better way to get ready than by watching some past winners on Netflix Instant Watch? Here are our picks for the best Oscar-winning movies on Netflix.
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” recommended by Rebecca Sedlak
Like romance, science and quirky psychological comedy-thrillers? Then you should give this cult classic a shot. 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” follows Joel (Jim Carrey) as he decides to undergo an experimental medical procedure to erase all the memories of his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet)@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/@@, who has already undergone the procedure. Halfway through the operation, however, Joel decides he doesn’t want to forget Clementine or their relationship, and he tries to hide her image in his memory. Written by Charlie Kaufman, the film uses nonlinear storytelling to explore ideas of memory and love, and because of that, it won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/awards@@. Besides featuring the ever-amazing Winslet and Carrey (in one of his best performances,) the film also stars Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood and Tom Wilkinson@@imdb link@@.
“Good Will Hunting,” recommended by Kaitie Todd
Winning several awards, including Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor, “Good Will Hunting” @@http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/160083/Good-Will-Hunting/details@@tells the story of Will Hunting@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/@@, a young but troubled mathematical genius who must choose between going to jail or seeing a therapist and studying mathematics with a famous MIT professor. Through this therapy, Will confronts his current and past relationships and also tries to decide what to do with his future. Starring Matt Damon as Will Hunting, Robin Williams as his therapist and Ben Affleck@@imdb link@@ as Will’s best friend, “Good Will Hunting” was nominated for nine Oscars in 1998@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/awards@@, including Best Picture, Best Director (Gus Van Sant) and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Matt Damon). The film follows a fairly predictable storyline, but the script, written by Damon and Affleck, is believable, intriguing and incredibly witty — everything a script for a drama should be. Add to that the creative directing by Van Sant (check out the slow-motion fight scene toward the beginning of the film) and the honest and absorbing performances by the entire cast (particularly Williams, who won the Best Supporting Actor for this role), and it’s no surprise this movie topped the 1998 nominations list.
“Philadelphia,” recommended by Alando Ballantyne
Tom Hanks stars as an up-and-coming lawyer at a conservative law firm who is fired when his associates discover he has AIDS. With the help of a homophobic lawyer (Denzel Washington), who is the only one willing to take the case, Hanks pursues a wrongful dismissal suit against his former employer. Over the course of this excellent film, the two are faced with challenges from society, the lawsuit and ultimately themselves. This classic drama comes from back in the day when Denzel actually used to act in good movies. @@training day!@@Also, if you want to see the usually rough and tough Antonio Banderas deliver a stunning performance as Hanks’ boyfriend, Miguel, this is your film. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Bruce Springsteen won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Watch this movie.
“The Fighter,” recommended by Ben Kendall
Christian Bale plays one hell of a crackhead in “The Fighter.” Marky Mark is in there too, sans The Funky Bunch@@http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/@@, but Bale is where it’s at. Bale won an Oscar for his role, and damn it all if he didn’t deserve it. They even did a good job making his teeth look gross  (as well they should). After watching it, I felt like I should check to see if my car stereo was still there, just in case Crackhead Bale had somehow come out of the film when I wasn’t looking and stolen it. It was that real. There’s a feel-good story here, but it doesn’t really hold a candle to the performances, and that’s where this film shines. Of course, if the plot sucked, there would be no reason to care about the performances at all. So there you go. “The Fighter” is awesome, and you could do far worse for watching a flick on a dark and stormy night with nothing else to do.