Upcoming Movies: Academy Front-Runners

The end of the year is always my favorite time for movies, because it's the season of potential Academy Award Front-runners... These movies are the top-notch dramas of the year, backed by incredible screenplays, acting, scores, directing, etc... They are released at the end of the year, so as to remain most fresh in peoples mind come time for the voting... So here's a list of the upcoming films that have been on my radar and are sure to garner several Oscar noms...

• 127 Hours (Nov 5)

Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Actors: James Franco
Premise: Based on a true story, a mountain climber is trapped in a canyon and must survive for six days before he is able to free himself.
The Score: AR. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)

The Appeal: Leave it to the pairing of Danny Boyle and James Franco, to make such a simple story into an exhilarating drama-thriller. To add to this, is the fact that the entire thing is based on a true story, which always goes over well with crowds. Expect this film to receive high praise for it's dramatic presentation and powerful acting from James Franco, which will surely establish him as one of the leading-actors in Hollywood.

Oscar Predictions: Best Actor (James Franco), Best Director (Danny Boyle)

• The King's Speech (November 26)

Director: Tom Hopper (John Adams, The Damned United)
Actors: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush
Premise: King George VI, played by Colin Firth, must take the throne of England in 1936 after his brother abdicates. He has an immense fear of public speaking and must hire a professional therapist, played by Geoffrey Rush, to help him overcome his fear.
Score: Alexandre Desplat (Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Queen, The Painted Veil, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

The Appeal: A historic story with great acting!! Each of the three stars in the films have a very strong resume, and will surely establish memorable characters in this historic piece.

Oscar Predictions: Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter)

• Black Swan (Dec. 3)

Director: Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler)
Actors: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
Premise: The New York City ballet company is producing Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, and Natalie Portman plays the prima ballerina. She is suddenly challenged by another up-and-coming star ballerina played by Mila Kunis.
The Score: Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) There also better be lots of Tchaikovsky music
The Appeal: A psychological thriller, revolving around the masterful works of Tchaikovsky... Then of course there is Natalie Portman, who is one of today's best and most underrated actresses in the business. Also expect great performances from the up-and-comers, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel. I expect this one to be both visually and musically stimulating!
Oscar Predictions: Best Actress (Natalie Portman), Best Supporting Actress (Mila Kunis)

• The Fighter (Dec 10)

Director: David O Russell (Three Kings)
Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Premise: Centers on the true life of professional boxer, Irish Micky Ward, played by Mark Whalberg and his older brother Dickie Eklund, played by Christian Bale.

Score: Michael Brook (Into the Wild)

The Appeal: Seems like a Raging Bull yet with a Boston-Irish twist. To add to this are the incredible acting skills of Whalberg, Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. Expect high praise from Christian Bale's performance as the washed-up, drug-addicted brother of Micky Ward.

Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale)

• True Grit (Dec 22)

Director: Ethan and Joel Coen (Fargo, O Brother Where Art Tho, No Country for Old Men, A Serious Man)
Actors: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin

Premise: A young 14-year old girl, persuades a marshal played by Jeff Bridges, to track down and hunt the man who murdered her father.

Score: Carter Burwell (In Bruges, Where the Wild Things Are)

The Appeal: Looks like another Coen brothers Western masterpiece... Even though Westerns aren't my favorite genre, I can always count on the directing of the Coen brothers as well as the acting of Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin to keep my interest. I also have a feeling that Matt Damon may steal the show in this one as the Texan Ranger La Boeuf...
Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor (Matt Damon)

• Somewhere (Dec 22)

Director: Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette)
Actors: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning

Premise: An actor in his mid 30s, living the Hollywood-dream-life is suddenly visited by his 11 year old daughter, of which he must now take care of.

Score: Produced by Phoenix, as well as a catchy track by The Strokes

The Appeal: The artistic and original vision of Sofia Coppola, accompanied by her great taste in music. Although these two actors are somewhat unknown, I expect this film to be very intriguing with a strong story and some great directing from Sofia...

Oscar Predictions: Best Director (Sofia Coppola)

• The Way Back (Dec 29)

Director: Peter Weir (Witness, Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, Master and Commander: Far Side of the World)
Actors: Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong
Premise: Set during World War II, about a group of prisoners who escaped from a Soviet labor camp in Siberia, and their long passage into India.
Score: Burkhard Dallwitz
The Appeal: The sub-genre of WWII labor camps is one that never grows old to me, especially due to the fact that they are always based on true accounts. This film is a bit different in that it establishes the Soviets as the antagonists instead of the typical Nazis. With the respected directing of Peter Weir and an incredible ensemble cast, this film is without question one of the must-see dramas of the year.
Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor (Ed Harris)

• Biutiful (Dec 29)

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel)
Actor: Javier Bardem
Premise: An underworld figure and devoted dad, played by Javier Bardem, attempts to reconcile with his past.
Score: Gustavo Santaolalla (The Motorcycle Diaries, Brokeback Mountain, Babel)
The Appeal: In a collaboration that I am calling, "El Gran Tres", this film has brought together three of the biggest names in the Spanish/Latin film industry. Therefore I have no doubts that this film will guarantee masterful directing from Alejandro Inarritu, masterful acting from Javier Bardem, and a masterful score from Gustavo Santaolalla. After watching the preview I am quite convinced that it will be the best drama of the year.
Oscar Predictions: Best Picture, Best Directing (Alejandro Inarritu), Best Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Score (Gustavo Santaolalla)





Other Upcoming Films

• Made in Dagenham (Nov 19)
• White Material (Nov 19)
• I Love You Philip Morris (Dec 3)
• Night Catches Us (Dec 3)
• Another Year (Dec 29)
• Blue Valentine (Dec 31)

* Full Oscar Predictions to come in January