2014 boasted a wide variety of films with colorful and masterful stories. These films contained heartfelt performances and achieved greatness for the motion picture scene. On Feb. 22, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will select the best film from eight nominees; “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash.” The film “American Sniper” was a favorite for students on campus.

“‘American Sniper’ gave an accurate depiction of the war in the Middle East,” freshman Jake Talcott said. “The great acting, pacing and directing kept me engaged throughout the whole movie. I felt really attached to the characters. Every time something good or bad happened, I had a reaction. It told an incredible and important story that really stuck with me after it was over.”

“American Sniper” was originally released in select theaters, but was later released nationwide. The delay for its release in Texas caused the film to gain minimum popularity.

“At first, I didn’t have much interest in the movie because I tend to not like war movies,” Talcott said. “But all the positive press encouraged me to go see it. I had a feeling it would be good considering the reviews, but I was still blown away.”

Besides the Best Picture nomination, “American Sniper” also received five additional nominations, including Best Actor for Bradley Cooper.

“Honestly, Bradley Cooper nailed his role,” Talcott said. “I don’t think he’s replaceable. His Chris Kyle will be the best Chris Kyle. The casting as a whole was flawless. All the actors, especially Cooper, played their roles well. Each actor seemed to correlate with the real person.”

“American Sniper” is a favorite among movie goers across the nation, with the movie grossing over half a billion dollars.

“‘American Sniper’ was the clear winner,” Talcott said. “Nearly everything was golden compared to the other nominees. The ending seemed abrupt, but it also fit the actual event it portrayed.”

“American Sniper” is still playing in theaters, along with all the other nominees. The 87th annual Academy Awards air Feb. 22 at 6:30 central time on ABC.