Little
has changed in the Oscar hunt since the Toronto Film Festival ended roughly a
month ago. The films that played over Labor Day in Telluride, the week before
Toronto, really set the stage. As I outlined previously 12 Years a Slave is definitely playing as a front runner, McQueen’s
third feature has the performances and the script, amidst the fragile subject
matter, that could carry the film to a slew of awards come 2014. Its limited
release is October 18th however and the question will be can it
carry enough steam from September all the way to voting season in February to
stay in front.
There
were two films that showed in Telluride that I didn’t have the chance to screen
which have been released: Prisoners
and Gravity. Both were well received at
both Telluride and Toronto and my viewing hasn’t changed the outlook for both. Gravity is a slam dunk for
Cinematography, Screenplay, Sandra Bullock for Best Actress, and could get nods
in Directing for Alfonso Cuaron and Supporting Actor for George Clooney
(although an Academy favorite his screen time might not be extensive enough). Prisoners is one of those really good
films that does everything well but might not do anything at an elite level. Jake
Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman turn in great performances and the script moves the
two hour plus film along quite well with tension to spare. If I thought it had
a chance in one category Screenplay might be it, there might be more going for
the film come January considering it won 2nd runner up at Toronto
but there’s not much discussion on its chances.
Amongst
films that were released in the last four weeks or so, and didn’t play the
festival circuit, Captain Phillips
has stood out with chances in a few categories. Tom Hanks really does turn in
his best performance in years (to quote all the TV trailers) and already is a
virtual lock for a Best Actor nom. The Screenplay and Directing (Paul
Greengrass United 93) are best bets
as well. Barkhad Abdi, the Somalian-American actor who plays the lead Somalian
hijacker, has received buzz for Best Supporting Actor but it will come down to
how strong the field is.
Other
notable releases that have had strong critical reviews but most likely have
little chance of generating Oscar nominations are the Rom Com Don Jon (say that five times fast)
written and directed by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and The Ron Howard
effort Rush. Don Jon is a good writing and directing debut for Gordon-Levitt and
shows promise but the story is largely uneven, although Scarlett
Johansson is hilarious and has a shot at Best Supporting Actress (again
depending on field). I haven’t seen Rush
but unless the Directing field is weak and Howard sneaks in I haven’t heard any
Oscar worthy elements to the film.
Still to come in October is the Carrie reboot, Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, and the Cannes Film Fest winner Blue is the Warmest Color. Carrie doesn’t look too enticing but who knows, crazier things have happened, Blue will most likely compete in the Best Foreign Film category, and that leaves The Counselor as the last film this month that may catch Oscar’s eye. After month’s end we see Ender’s Game, The Wolf of Wall Street, Oldboy, Out of the Furnace, Her, The Monuments Men, Saving Mr. Banks, and American Hustle all being released in November and December. There’s still plenty of reel left on the spool, stay tuned.
