See trailers of the Oscar nominees for best picture

Oscar season is officially upon us. Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the glitzy event for first time on Feb. 22, so there will be plenty to talk about. Did you miss the best picture nominees? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

'Boyhood'

One of the most extraordinary films in decades, this family drama is also one of the most ambitious in scope, having taken 12 years to shoot. Yet it comes across as effortless and unassuming. Boyhood is an epic masterpiece that seems wholly unconcerned with trying to be one. (**** out of four)

'Selma'

This film should be required viewing for anyone who casts a ballot. Deeply moving, it's a powerful reminder of a time not so long ago when, for a large group of Americans, attempting to register to vote could result in a serious threat to their lives. (*** 1/2 out of four).

'The Imitation Game'

Norwegian director Morten Tyldum doesn't approach Alan Turing's story as a tragedy in The Imitation Game. Based on the biography by Andrew Hodges, Imitation illuminates Turing's brilliance in an engrossing and moving film that features a standout, Oscar-worthy performance by Benedict Cumberbatch. (*** out of four)

'The Theory of Everything'

Capturing the essence of genius is surely one of the toughest assignments a filmmaker or actor can undertake. In the movie, Eddie Redmayne does a superb job of bringing astrophysicist Stephen Hawking to life, from his days as a college student through middle age. (*** out of four)

'Birdman'

If the suit still fits, wear it. Twenty-five years after donning the cape and cowl of the Dark Knight in Batman, Michael Keaton again plays an on-screen superhero — well, sort of — in writer/director Alejandro González Iñárritu's dark, comic fable. (**** out of four)

'The Grand Budapest Hotel'

Director Wes Anderson is the uncontested master of films that artfully blend whimsy and emotion. Hotel falls happily into that category. It's a mature, intricately layered visual delight. (*** ½ out of four)

'American Sniper'

The war film takes a direct approach to a Navy SEAL marksman's experiences on the battlefield. But Chris Kyle's (Bradley Cooper) life loses focus after he returns stateside. After four tours of duty in Iraq, he's more comfortable behind a scope on a rooftop in Fallujah than at home with his family. Kyle is battle-scarred, alternately remote and lashing out. (*** out of four)

'Whiplash'

Music instruction and combat are rarely linked in movies, and particularly not in the singularly riveting way they come together in Whiplash. The relationship between pupil and teacher is akin to psychological warfare in this film-festival favorite that approaches musical excellence as a life or death proposition. (**** out of four)