It’s October, so pretty much the start of Oscar season, yay!
With the recent release of Gone Girl, I suddenly remembered that, earlier this year, it was one of five films that I predicted to be making a splash across the awards circuit. I am still yet to see it, due to various time commitments, but I’m still pretty sure it will be a major player.
So what about the other four films? Interstellar’s buzz obviously continues to be strong, and Foxcatcher still looks to be a shoo-in for plenty of awards attention. Inherent Vice looks to be a little divisive after its screening at the New York Film Festival, but it’s still one of my most anticipated and the trailer is fantastic. The only one I’m not so sure about anymore is Big Eyes, which from early reactions seems to be a kind-of-ok-but-not-great film. As someone who loves Amy Adams and really wants Burton to bring his game up again, that’s a bummer.
Anyway, I always meant to choose another five films that I think will be the big cheeses this awards season, but never got round to it. So I’m doing it now. Voilà:
Birdman
After seriously impressing critics at the Venice Film Festival, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) looks to have firmly set itself amongst Best Picture predictions. In the film Michael Keaton, who made his name playing Batman, seems to be poking fun at himself by playing an actor trying to make his comeback after playing another superhero, Birdman. With Oscar-winning Emmanuel Lubezki in charge of cinematography, and a delightful looking cast including Edward Norton and Emma Stone, the film has a lot of pros. I am seriously hoping for a Norton nom in supporting. Love that guy.
Watch the trailer here.
The Imitation Game
Benedict Cumberbatch! World War II Drama! I Historical biopic! The Weinstein Company! Benedct Cumberbatch! There is so much going in this film’s favour. I can’t be cynical though, it does look pretty darn good and I am a big fan of man-of-the-moment Cumberbatch, and with a supporting cast including Charles Dance and Mark Strong, that’s enough to keep me happy. So will mathematician Alan Turing crack Nazi Germany’s Enigma code or is that a massive spoiler? Hmmmm.
Watch the trailer here.
The Theory of Everything
Another biopic, this time on physicist, cosmologist, author and wonderful man Stephen Hawking. The Theory of Everything stars Eddie Redmayne as Mr Hawking and deals with his years studying in Cambridge as well the difficulties in his life after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Based on a book written by wife Jane Hawking, their love story is at the centre of the film, and I am really interested to see the portrayal of their relationship from Redmayne and Felicity Jones (who, I am always proud to say, went to my school), I think Redmayne may be a very strong contender in the Best Actor race, and I really hope Jones gets some awards attention too.
Watch the trailer here.
Unbroken
Angelina Jolie’s war drama screams Oscar bait. This film is a potential awards contender for many reasons. It’s based on a true story, adapted from a much-loved, inspirational book, has the Coen brothers as screenplay writers, Roger Deakins bossing the cinematography, and Jolie beating out much competition to become the director. The story concerns Louis Zamperini, an olympic runner who survived a plane crash during WWII only to find himself taken into Japanese prisoner of war camps. This is a powerhouse, I just hope British star Jack O’Connell gets a piece of that awards season cake.
Watch the trailer here.
Boyhood
With the reception that this wonderful film has received, I will be very surprised if the film, and its Director, Richard Linklater, don’t get some awards recognition. This time-lapse study of a boy growing from 5 to 18 took 12 years to make and is so ambitious, and inspires so many feelings, that it has wowed many. Back in March, despite the film being on my radar, I wasn’t sure if it would be a bit too Indie for serious Oscar attention. I am hoping I will stand corrected.
Watch the trailer here.
The Silver Screen 