Django Unchained and four more Oscar movies to see this weekend

Django Unchained

You've heard—and heard and heard—about yesterday's Oscar nominations. (We have the full list here.) Seen the films yet, though? Some excellent ones actually made the cut. And now's the time to catch up, because most of January is a wasteland for new offerings.

Quentin Tarantino didn't quite sneak into the Best Director bracket for Django Unchained, but he should have: His new movie's got all the snappy dialogue you've come to expect from the director of Inglourious Basterds. Read our review

Chances are, you've already heard about the hysterical crying at screenings of Les Misérables. Why not go and see if that will be you? In any case, you'll be prepared when Anne Hathaway wins her Oscar next month (Feb 24). Read our review

RECOMMENDED: Full list of Oscar nominees

You haven't see Zero Dark Thirty yet? That officially makes you the last person on Earth without an opinion to share about it, informed or otherwise. We think Kathryn Bigelow's real-life CIA thriller is tops. Read our review

Leading the pack with 12 nominations, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln shouldn't be dismissed as mere awards bait—it's exactly the kind of intelligent, impassioned Hollywood drama that audiences need more of. Read our review

Fans of Michael Haneke were thrilled with yesterday's robust nomination love for Amour, which was included in five major categories: Best Director, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign-Language Film and Best Picture. Read our review

Finally—and this isn't even remotely Oscar-related, thank you—there's a terrific series currently unspooling at Film Forum, "New Yawk New Wave." Read our round-up