
We’ve finally come to it: my ANNUAL POST for the OPENING SEASON! I’m talking about movies, of course. Here are listed (in no particular order) all the motion pictures that will play a role until the closing moment of the season, which will occur at the Oscars, on February 26th, 2012. There will be ups & downs, surprises, and more and more detailed buzz, but for now they’re all here, without exception. Included is also the current status of each movie’s buzz, as well as the categories it will potentially be in competition for…
Many things are to be noted this year; for example, it definitely is the return of big names, such as George Clooney (for directing, but also acting – in two different movies), Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Woody Allen, Brad Pitt, or even the awaited Leonardo DiCaprio in the role that could finally earn him his first Oscar. But I find it also interesting how several actors are part of several movies that will all end up being Oscar-nominated: it is the case for George Clooney (The Ides Of March + The Descendants), Ryan Gosling (Drive + The Ides Of March), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Ides Of March + Moneyball), Brad Pitt (The Tree Of Life + Moneyball), Judi Dench (J. Edgar + My Week With Marylin), Jessica Chastain (The Tree Of Life + The Help + Coriolanus), Viola Davis (The Help + Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), John C. Reilly (Carnage + We Need To Talk About Kevin), Michael Fassbender (Shame + A Dangerous Method), Tom Hardy (Warrior + Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Carey Mulligan (Drive + Shame).
It will sure be an interesting year… and I can’t wait to follow this very closely!
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THE IDES OF MARCH - dir. George Clooney, with George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood.
Why? George Clooney, simple as that. Awards hopes? Movie, Actors (George Clooney, Ryan Gosling - split with their other movies), Supporting Actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman & Paul Giamatti), Director, and Original Screenplay. TRAILER
J. EDGAR - dir. Clint Eastwood, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Naomi Watts, Ed Westwick.
Why? American history piece + Clint Eastwood + Leonardo DiCaprio. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio - could this be finally his?), Director, Supporting Actor (Armie Hammer), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Original Screenplay. TRAILER
THE ARTIST - dir. Michel Hazanavicius, with Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo.
Why? Huge buzz + Cannes + French touch + silent movie + Hollywood 20′s Era. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Jean Dujardin - top 4 contender!), Director, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Berenice Bejo). TRAILER
WAR HORSE - dir. Steven Spielberg, with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Neils Arestrup.
Why? The most famous director on Earth + adaptation of a Tony Award-winning play. Awards hopes? Movie (the one to beat), Director (the one to beat), Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Jeremy Irvine), and Supporting Actor (Neils Arestrup). TRAILER
MONEYBALL - dir. Bennet Miller, with Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Why? Great early reviews from the beloved director of Capote + great work from Brad Pitt. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Brad Pitt), and Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill). TRAILER
A DANGEROUS METHOD - dir. David Cronenberg, with Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel.
Why? Carl Jung & Sigmund Freud story. Awards hopes? Actress (Keira Knightley), Supporting Actor (Viggo Mortensen). TRAILER
THE TREE OF LIFE - dir. Terrence Malick, with Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain.
Why? Long-awaited movie + Cannes Film Festival. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain). TRAILER
THE DESCENDANTS - dir. Alexander Payne, with George Clooney, Robert Foster, Shaileen Woodley.
Why? Might be Payne’s best work + George Clooney. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (George Clooney - top 3), Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Robert Forster) and Supporting Actress (Shaileen Woodley). TRAILER
MY WEEK WITH MARYLIN - dir. Simon Curtis, with Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Watson, Dominic Cooper, Judi Dench.
Why? Michelle Williams as Marylin Monroe. Awards hopes? Director, Actress (Michelle Williams), Supporting Actor (Kenneth Branagh), possibly Movie. TRAILER
THE HELP - dir. Tate Taylor, with Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard.
Why? Adaptation of a successful book + huge box office numbers with good reviews = The Blind Side syndrome. Awards hopes? Movie, Actress (Viola Davis - top 3), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer - top 2), possibly Director, and Adapted Screenplay. TRAILER
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE - dir. Stephen Daldry, with Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, James Gandolfini, Thomas Horn.
Why? Post 9/11 movie on the anniversary year + star-studded cast & nominated director. Awards hopes? Movie, Director, Supporting Actress (Sandra Bullock), Adapted Screenplay, possibly Actor (Thomas Horn).
MELANCHOLIA - dir. Lars Von Trier, with Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, John Hurt.
Why? Lars Von Trier + Cannes – scandal. Awards hopes? Possibly Actress (Kirsten Dunst), but the scandal killed its chances. TRAILER
CARNAGE - dir. Roman Polanski, with Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Christoph Waltz.
Why? Star-studded cast + adaptation of the acclaimed play by Yasmina Reza. Awards hopes? Movie, Actress (Jodie Foster, possibly Kate Winslet), possibly Actor (Christoph Waltz), Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), Adapted Screenplay, and Director. TRAILER
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN - dir. Lynne Ramsey, with Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller.
Why? A psychotic Tilda Swinton + Cannes + huge buzz. Awards hopes? Actress (Tilda Swinton), possibly Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly), and Director. TRAILER
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE - dir. Sean Durkin, with Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes.
Why? Newcomer of the year Elizabeth Olsen = the unknown Olsen sister. Awards hopes? Actress (Elizabeth Olsen), Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), possibly Best Movie. TRAILER
CORIOLANUS - dir. Ralph Fiennes, with Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave.
Why? From the screenwriter of Gladiator + adaptation of a Shakespeare play. Awards hopes? Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave - the one to beat at the moment), possibly Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Supporting Actor (Gerard Butler), and Best Movie. TRAILER
LIKE CRAZY - dir. Drake Doremus, with Felicity Jones, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence.
Why? Best Picture & Actress at Sundance + indie movie of the year. Awards hopes? Actress (Felicity Jones), Original Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Anton Yelchin). TRAILER
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY - dir. Tomas Alfredson, with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt.
Why? Long overdue recognition for Gary Oldman. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Gary Oldman - top 2 contenders), Director, Adapted Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy). TRAILER
SHAME - dir. Steve McQueen, with Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan.
Why? Good Venice buzz, especially for the acting – might be too dark for awards. Awards hopes? Actor (Michael Fassbender), Supporting Actress (Carey Mulligan), possibly Director.
THE IRON LADY - dir. Phyllila Lloyd, with Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent.
Why? Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. Simple as that. Awards hopes? Actress (Meryl Streep - please let her have it!), Supporting Actor (Jim Broadbent), possibly Movie, and Original Screenplay. TRAILER
WE BOUGHT A ZOO - dir. Cameron Crowe, with Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson.
Why? Family movie with A-List stars + good buzz. Awards hopes? Probably none… but possibly Movie, Actor (Matt Damon), Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson). TRAILER
HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART II - dir. David Yates, with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.
Why? End of an Era, à la Lord Of The Rings. Awards hopes? Possibly Movie. TRAILER
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS - dir. Woody Allen, with Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard.
Why? Woody Allen‘s most commercially successful movie + great reviews. Awards hopes? Movie, Original Screenplay, possibly Director, and Supporting Actress (Marion Cotillard). TRAILER
WARRIOR - dir. Gavin O’Connor, with Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton.
Why? Great reviews for boxing/martial arts movie (Oscars love that). Awards hopes? Actor (Tom Hardy), possibly Supporting Actor (Nick Nolte). TRAILER
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN - dir. Steven Spielberg, with Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Gad Elmaleh.
Why? Huge Hollywood production for a famous character + Steven Spielberg (again). Awards hopes? Special Effects and Technicals. TRAILER
DRIVE - dir. Nicolas Winding Refn, with Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston.
Why? Long-lasting early buzz + Cannes. Awards hopes? Movie, Actor (Ryan Gosling), Director, Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), possibly Supporting Actress (Carey Mulligan) and Adapted Screenplay. TRAILER
ALBERT NOBBS - dir. Rodrigo Garcia, with Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brendan Gleeson.
Why? 19th C. drama + adaptation of a play + Glenn Close pretending to be a man = the role of her career. Awards hopes? Actress (the one to beat), possibly Supporting Actress (Mia Wasikowska).
BEGINNERS - dir. Mike Mills, with Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, Christopher Plummer.
Why? Very early release, but Plummer still has it. Awards hopes? Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer - the one to beat). TRAILER
BRIDESMAIDS - dir. Paul Feig, with Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy.
Why? Huge audience & critic success for the comedy of the year. Awards hopes? Original Screenplay, possibly Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy). TRAILER
RAMPART - dir. Oren Moverman, with Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Robin Wright, Ben Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Cynthia Nixon, Anne Heche, Ice Cube.
Why? For now, huge buzz for Woody Harrelson, with no trailer or footage. Awards hopes? Actor (Woody Harrelson).
WIN WIN - dir. Thomas McCarthy, with Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Margo Martindale.
Why? Awards darling Paul Giamatti, well-written « indie » type comedy. Awards hopes? Original Screenplay, possibly Actor (Paul Giamatti). TRAILER
50/50 - dir. Jonathan Levine, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston.
Why? Comedy/drama inspired by a true story, with heavy topic. Awards hopes? Possibly Actor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). TRAILER