DVDizzy Forum

September usually marks the begining of "Oscar season". I am making this thread in preparation for the time of year when more of the higher quality films are released into theater. This thread can also be used as a discussion of these films and a prediction thread.

In my first post I will be posting links to trailers of the many of the major contenders for Best Picture and the other major awards. I'll first start with those few films that have already been released into theaters, then continue on to the films yet to be released. Films are listed by order of release date.

Major Contenders

3:10 to Yuma
Released on September 7th.
Directed by: James Mangold, who also directed Walk the Line.
Starring: Christian Bale, Academy Award winner Russel Crowe, Ben Foster, and Peter Fonda.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeroJ1BK6GQ
Rottentomatoes: 87%
Metacritic:76

Eastern Promises
Released on September 14th (limited) and September 21st (wide).
Directed by: David Cronenberg, director of A History of Violence.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq_M8EOC4zA
Rottentomatoes: 89%
Metacritic: 82

In the Valley of Elah
Released on September 14th (limited) and September 28th (wide).
Directed by Paul Haggis, director of Crash.
Starring: Academy Award winners Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theoren, and Susan Sarandon.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3OKyqDGaHo
Rottentomatoes: 69%
Metacritic: 65

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Released on September 21st (limited). (October 19th, wide?)
Directed by Andrew Dominik.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, and Mary Louise Parker.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp2ppYB9fDo
Rottentomatoes: 68%
Metacritic: 67

Into the Wild
Released on September 21st (limited). (wide?)
Directed by Sean Penn.
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, and Academy Award winner William Hurt.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LAuzT_x8Ek
Rottentomatoes: 79%
Metacritic: 73

Michael Clayton
Released October 5th, and wide on October 12th.
Directed by Tony Gilroy.
Starring: Academy Award winner George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, and Tilda Swinton.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l12IQe98vE
Rottentomatoes: 84%
Metacritic: 82

No Country for Old Men
Release Date: November 9
Directed by Academy Award Winning (for screenplay) the Coen Brothers, who directed Fargo, The Big Lebowski and many other films.
Starring Javier Bardem, Academy Award Winner Tommy Lee Jones, and Woody Harrelson.
Based off of the novel written by Pultizer-prize winning author Cormac McCarthy.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzRTujK1Qw4
Rottentomatoes: 88% (12 reviews)
Metacritic:

Atonement
Release Date: December 7
Directed by Joe Wright, director of Pride and Prejudice.
Starring Kiera Knightly, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, and Academy Award Winner Vanessa Redgrave.
Based off of the novel of the same name which is on Time Magazine's 100 best novels in the last century; written by Ian McEwan.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATtSfe_DaJU
Rottentomatoes: 100% (20 reviews)
Metacritic:

The Savages
Release Date: Dec 26
Directed by Tamara Jenkins.
Starring Laura Linney, Academy Award Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Philip Bosco.
Contending in all major categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-uGaF2qLyU
Rottentomatoes:
Metacritic:

There Will Be Blood
Release Date: Dec 26
Directed by P.T. Anderson, who also directed Boogie Nights and Magnolia.
Starring Academy Award Winner Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano.
A film adaptation of Pulitizer prize winning author Upton Sinclair's novel Oil.
Contending in all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB9yQ3dTwmM
Rottentomatoes:
Metacritic:

Minor Contenders

Zodiac
Released March 2
Directed by David Fichner, director of Panic Room, Seven, and Fight Club.
Starring Jake Gyllenhall, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.
Likely to contend for Best Cinematography, due to release date. However if release date is overlooked, the film could contend in all major categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJTC8iMQBGw
Rottentomatoes: 88%
Metacritic: 78

Away From Her
Released May 4, limited
Directed by Sarah Polley.
Starring Academy Award Winners Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis
Could contend for Best Actress for Julie Christie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct7eXP-ivAk
Rottentomatoes: 95%
Metacritic: 88

La Vie In Rose
Released June 8, limited
Directed by Olivier Dahan.
Starring Marion Cotillard.
French film could contend for Best Actress. Not eligible for Best Foreign Film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzEJ7NV_g98
Rottentomatoes: 75%
Metacritic: 66

Sicko
Released June 22 (limited) and July 3rd (wide).
Directed by Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine and Farenheit 9/11).
Could contend for Best Documentary Feature.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaS5Ml2V-aA
Rottentomatoes: 92%
Metacritic: 74

Ratatouille
Released June 29
Directed by Brad Bird, the director of The Iron Giant and The Incredibles.
Pixar's latest film most likely contending for best score, animated film, and possibly screenplay and picture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyrhfVspN3Y
Rottentomatoes: 96%
Metacritic: 96

Rescue Dawn
Released July 4 limited, wide July 27.
Directed by Werner Herzog, director of The Grizzly Man and many others.
Starring Christian Bale and Steve Zahn.
Contending for all categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COChXCeME6I
Rottentomatoes: 90%
Metacritic: 78

The Brave One
Released September 14th.
Directed by Neil Jordan, director of The Crying Game, Breakfast on Pluto, and others.
Starring Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and Terrance Howard.
Contending for Best Actress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xIEHMHRZmM
Rottentomatoes: 46%
Metacritic: 56

Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Release Date: October 12
Directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Starring Academy Award Winner Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Academy Award Winner Geoffrey Rush, and Abbie Cornish.
Sequel to the film Elizabeth.
Contending in all minor categories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFojixOc8Hc
Rottentomatoes: 33%
Metacritic:


Films that Could Surprise, Reviews on the Horizon

Sleuth

Redacted

Love in the Time of Cholera

Juno

I'm Not There

Sweeny Todd

Charlie Wilson's War

Lions for Lambs

American Gangster

The Kite Runner

Rendition

Reservation Road

Gone Baby Gone

Lust, Caution

Youth Without Youth

Margot at the Wedding

Cassandra's Dream

The Darjeeling Unlimited

Jimmy Carter Man from Plain

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead[/url]

castleinthesky, do you think Meet the Robinsons has a good chance of being nominated for the Best Animated Feature category? I haven't yet seen Ratatouille as it will be some time until it's released here, so I can't judge that. I really really really wish MTR would get a nomination, even if it doesn't win. I just want to see a Disney film at the Oscars again.

To put it bluntly, no. Between Seinfeld's Bee Movie, The Simpson's Movie, and Ratatouille, Meet the Robinsons doesn't have a very good chance of being remembered at all come voting time.

I highly doubt Ratatouille will win Best Picture, but it may definitely win Best Animated Feature.

Julian Carter wrote:castleinthesky, do you think Meet the Robinsons has a good chance of being nominated for the Best Animated Feature category? I haven't yet seen Ratatouille as it will be some time until it's released here, so I can't judge that. I really really really wish MTR would get a nomination, even if it doesn't win. I just want to see a Disney film at the Oscars again.

I really do believe Meet the Robinsons has a shot at being nominated. Right now I have MtR, Ratatouille, and Surf's Up being nominated. Outside shots include The Bee Movie, Perseopolis, and Fly Me to the Moon. I don't think Shrek or the Simpson's have any chance.

I won't be including most animated movies with trailers in my original post, pirmarily for the sake of keeping the list somewhat managed. Ratatouille however is an exception, because it could break-out.

Well, as far as the Animated Film race goes, I think we've seen the peak for the year. As far as I know, there is no other big animated movies coming in 2007 aside from The Simpsons Movie and Bee Movie. Depending on the amount of animation it has, Enchanted may be added to the list (but it may be inelgible {just like last year's Arthur and the Invisibles}, according to Academy rules a film must have at least 60% animation in it to compete in the Best Animated Feature category) so we'll have to wait and see on that one.

There also appears to be a slate of less than 15 animated films being released in 2007, so that means the Academy will only be nominating 3 films (for there to be a full slate of 5 nominees there must be 16 or more animated films released in the calendar year). So with that, I predict that the nominees will be:

Bee Movie
Ratatouille
Surf's Up
(possible that Enchanted may take Surf's Up spot if it qualifies)

With Ratatouille, of course, winning.

But Anthony, don't you think it's rather premature to be considering "The Bee Movie" an Academy Award nominee seeing it's not yet been released? For all we know, critics might slam the film. Of course, that doesn't mean the film is to be deprived of a nomination, as DreamWorks' Shark Tale, despite being one of the worst reviewed animated films in recent memory, still managed to secure a place at the Academy Awards. I cannot personally comment on the latter, as I haven't seen it. Nor do I plan to do so.

As for Surf's Up - I haven't seen that either (it hasn't even been released here yet) but frankly, I'm not too interested. At the moment I'm suffering from the all too common I'm-sick-of-CG-animals disease. The film may have been positively met by critics, but I simply can't bear seeing more animated penguins and cute creatures on the silver screen. (Consider Disney's upcoming Bolt an exception, but then I am a Disney fanatic and a Disney-biased traitor).

At least so far this year, animation has been of a high quality. Rataouille was an instant critical darling. Surf's Up has been acclaimed. Meet the Robinsons had two thirds of the critics on its side, certainly qualifying it as a success from a critical standpoint. Only Shrek the Third has been critically flubbed, as far as I know. Oh ... that and Happily N'Ever After, which I don't think ever came to theatres in Malta.

I'm not interested in seeing Shrek 3 or Surf's Up. My to-see-animation list this year consists of Meet the Robinsons (fulfilled), Ratatouille (not yet released), The Bee Movie (I might be removing this one), and perhaps Persepolis, because it looks very interesting. I don't know if it's going to be released in Malta though. It's not a major Hollywood film after all. I think it's a French production ... please correct me if I'm wrong.

Oh well...

As dvdjunkie would say:

That's look like a fairly accurate prediction list Castleinthesky. I can't wait for Atonement, hopefully it's as good as the trailer looks. Maybe Keira Knightley will even win Best Actress. I doubt it, but she could be nominated.
-James

Julian Carter wrote:But Anthony, don't you think it's rather premature to be considering "The Bee Movie" an Academy Award nominee seeing it's not yet been released? For all we know, critics might slam the film. Of course, that doesn't mean the film is to be deprived of a nomination, as DreamWorks' Shark Tale, despite being one of the worst reviewed animated films in recent memory, still managed to secure a place at the Academy Awards. I cannot personally comment on the latter, as I haven't seen it. Nor do I plan to do so.

You're right about Shark Tale, it was a pretty crappy film and still got a nomination. That's why I'm so sure, bad or not, that The Bee Movie will get a nom too. Dreamworks has a lot of industry clout with the Academy, plus the movie has major star power (Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Chris Rock, among others) that almost guarantees a spot.

Julian wrote:As for Surf's Up - I haven't seen that either (it hasn't even been released here yet) but frankly, I'm not too interested. At the moment I'm suffering from the all too common I'm-sick-of-CG-animals disease. The film may have been positively met by critics, but I simply can't bear seeing more animated penguins and cute creatures on the silver screen.

Surf's Up is a really great movie. You should give it a try.

It may not have the box office bucks behind it, but with Happy Feet winning the award in this category last year and March of the Penguins winning Best Doc in 2005, the Academy loves penguins!! I think this is a safe bet.

Jon Stewart is next year's host of the Academy Awards!

From IMDB.com:

Stewart To Host the Oscars


TV funnyman Jon Stewart is set to return to the Oscars stage to host the 80th Academy Awards in February. The host of America's The Daily Show took charge of the Oscars for the first time when he presented the 78th Academy Awards. Telecast producer Gilbert Cates says, "Jon was a terrific host for the 78th Awards. He is smart, quick, funny, loves movies and is a great guy. What else could one ask for?" Stewart adds, "I'm thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time's a charm!" Stewart, who hosted the Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002, has another major TV honor to look forward to - an upcoming role in The Simpsons. The 80th Academy Awards will be held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on February 24.

I'm Not There should be a contender as well. That's the biopic of Boby Dylan, with Heath Ledger, and Cate Blanchett, among others playing the starring role. Cate Blanchett is reportedly the frontrunner in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for this role, but apparently Kate Winslet is set to win an Oscar, I hear, for a role that I forget. Maybe it's that one with Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road? I dunno, sorry guys.
-James

James wrote:I'm Not There should be a contender as well. That's the biopic of Boby Dylan, with Heath Ledger, and Cate Blanchett, among others playing the starring role. Cate Blanchett is reportedly the frontrunner in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for this role, but apparently Kate Winslet is set to win an Oscar, I hear, for a role that I forget. Maybe it's that one with Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road? I dunno, sorry guys.
-James

Yes, it is definately a contender. If I get time I'll try to update this page.

Blanchett will be supporting, while Revolutionary Road will come out next year.

Oh okay, I was a bit off, cool.
-James

Castleinthesky, I honestly thing that we should see 3:10 to Yuma and The Brave One should be in the list of those in the Oscar race this year. "Yuma" is probably the best western to come out since Eastwood's "Unforgiven".

castleinthesky wrote:

Julian Carter wrote:castleinthesky, do you think Meet the Robinsons has a good chance of being nominated for the Best Animated Feature category? I haven't yet seen Ratatouille as it will be some time until it's released here, so I can't judge that. I really really really wish MTR would get a nomination, even if it doesn't win. I just want to see a Disney film at the Oscars again.

I really do believe Meet the Robinsons has a shot at being nominated. Right now I have MtR, Ratatouille, and Surf's Up being nominated. Outside shots include The Bee Movie, Perseopolis, and Fly Me to the Moon. I don't think Shrek or the Simpson's have any chance.

I won't be including most animated movies with trailers in my original post, pirmarily for the sake of keeping the list somewhat managed. Ratatouille however is an exception, because it could break-out.

It seems like there has been a lot of animated releases this year. What is the cut off for number of releases that makes it 5 nominations instead of 3. I know last year they missed by one only because a Japanese movie was withdrawn from release at the last moment.

For the record I think Castle has the three most deserving of a nomination.

Mr. Toad wrote:What is the cut off for number of releases that makes it 5 nominations instead of 3.

The answer, already discussed earlier:

On July 20, 2007, I wrote:There also appears to be a slate of less than 15 animated films being released in 2007, so that means the Academy will only be nominating 3 films (for there to be a full slate of 5 nominees there must be 16 or more animated films released in the calendar year).

The Academy also has the option every year to vote not having the category at all if they feel that the animated films are not worthy enough.

Anthony wrote:The Academy also has the option every year to vote not having the category at all if they feel that the animated films are not worthy enough.

Geez! Now that's generous. Demote an already demoted art form into pure obscurity.

I really think Zodiac will be overlooked at this year's awards because it came out too early in the year, and the person that the movie is about could still be alive and they don't want to have any more killings in San Francisco by this guy.

I am still holding onto the fact that there are probably ten movies coming out between now and the end of the year that will more than qualify for Academy Award nominations.

I still would nominate "The Brave One" and Jodie Foster for Best Actress, and Terrence Howard for Best Supporting Actor.

Just saw Margot at the Wedding and I'm Not There over the weekend at a local film festival. The first was wonderful, but audaciously dark, with awards worthy performances by everyone--including Black. The second is the best film of the year so far, and I'd be surprised if anything tops it (for myself, at least).

Unless some wildly amazing performance comes up soon, Cate Blanchett will win Best Supporting Actress. If not, I'll lose all faith in the Academy. Again.

TLM you need to make room in your list for the film that I personally think is going to be the center of attention come Oscar time. In The Valley of Elah, in my opinion looks to be the odds-on contender for Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Haggis), Best Actor (Tommy Lee Jones), and Best Supporting Actress (Charlize Theron). This is a remarkable movie, and if you haven't seen, please do. It is really a very good movie.