Oscar Run II
The Oscar Run is a weekly feature discussing how the Oscar race is shaping up.
October 15, 2013
The Oscar Run is a weekly feature discussing how the Oscar race is shaping up. This week, The Oscar Run marvels at the box office power of Gravity and Captain Phillips, gets anticipated for American Hustle and ponders how The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Enough Said will hold up in this competitive Oscar season.
Things have been getting pretty crazy for potential Academy Award nominees, with the massive box office of Gravity and Captain Phillips being the major topic of interest. Gravity has become nothing short of a phenomenon, making over $122 million in America alone so far, while earning rave reviews from everyone (although I’m seeing a backlack forming already, similar to what happened to beloved masterpieces like Avatar and Argo) Meanwhile, Captain Phillips hasn’t been a slouch either, making $25 million in it’s opening, surpassing expectations and performing extremely well, even with Gravity performing so strongly.
The successful box office runs of the two flicks confirms their prominence in the awards season conversation, not to mention sparking even more intense debate over who gets nominated for what. I’ve included my predictions for Best Director this week in order to give notice over the accomplished directing in both films that should be recognized (in spite of Greengrass’ incessant use of shaky-cam) but other than that, it’s all up in the air.
Believe it or not, there’s more than just those two films in the Oscar race this season; in fact, one in particular I believe is gonna make a big splash when it comes out Christmas day. American Hustle hasn’t screened at any movie festivals yet, but a new trailer that went out with Captain Phillips last week showed extreme promise, especially for all the actors who I think will be the film’s greatest asset for Oscar glory (the women in the film in particular will likely take advantage of a weak Best Supporting Actress field in order to obtain victory) Keep an eye on that one folks, as I have a feeling it’ll be a major contender come this Holiday season.
Finally, after seeing Enough Said this past weekend, I can firmly say it should have a major place this coming Oscar season, While I’ll save my thoughts for my full review, the film is expertly written, directed and held together by a superb performance by James Gandolfini. The Best Supporting Actor field is really competitive this year, so him getting in maybe a long shot, but I’m hoping he can get in. Meanwhile, another FOX Oscar hopeful screened recently to mixed responses. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, with it’s two fantastic trailers, has gotten on everybody’s radar for being a potential awards contender, but it seems to be a film that is dividing critics everywhere. Inspiring mixed doesn’t signal instant failure (just ask The Tree of Life!) but I’m fascinated to see where this one goes with critics once it’s actually released, and even more interested to see how general audiences react to it. If they really take to it, it just might guarantee it a place at the Oscar comes this March.
Best Picture:
* Gravity
* Lee Daniels’ The Butler
* Captain Phillips
* The Wolf of Wall Street
* Inside Llewyn Davis
* American Hustle
* The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
* 12 Years A Slave
* The Monuments Men
Best Director
* Alfonso Curaon (Gravity)
* Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips)
* Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave)
* David O. Russell (American Hustle)
* The Coen Brothers (Inside Llewyn Davis)
Best Actor:
* Forest Whitacker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)
* Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)
* Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave)
* Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)
* Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)
Best Actress:
* Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)
* Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
* Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks)
* Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
* Judi Dench (Philomena)
Best Supporting Actor:
* Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
* Will Forte (Nebraska)
* Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
* Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave)
* Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Best Supporting Actress
* Amy Adams (American Hustle)
* Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
* Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave)
* Naomie Harris (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom)
* Melissa Leo (Prisoners)
To see the first part of Doug’s Oscar predictions, click here.
