By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Best Picture
BEST PICTURE
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Picture
|
Studio
|
Director
|
Stars |
Comment
|
|
The Frontrunners (in alphabetical order) | |||||
Nov 14
|
Australia |
Fox
|
Luhrmann
|
Kidman
Jackman |
Baz’ shot at the “Out of Africa” thang |
Oct 10
|
Body of Lies |
WB
|
Scott
|
DiCaprio
Crowe |
Channeling The Departed… Monaghan script….Ridley’s year? |
Dec 19
|
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button |
Par
|
Fincher
|
Pitt
|
Fincher with a heart… a real shot with a screnplay that eluded many before this group |
Dec 12
|
Defiance |
ParV
|
Zwick
|
Craig
|
Jews Fight Nazis! |
Dec 12
|
Doubt |
Mir
|
Shanley
|
Streep
PS Hoffman |
A mighty drama… a mighty cast |
Dec 5
|
Frost/Nixon |
U
|
Howard
|
Langella
Sheen |
Brilliant stage piece, will nostalgia be strong for voters? Two presidential noms year? |
Dec
|
Gran Torino |
WB
|
Eastwood
|
Eastwood
|
Who knows? Clint’s late entry is always the one to watch. |
Nov 26
|
Milk |
Focus
|
Van Sant
|
Penn
Brolin |
Another great story that has taken years to happen…. a political Brokeback? |
Dec 26
|
Revolutionary Road |
ParV
|
Mendes
|
Winslet
DiCaprio |
Pedigree rocks. |
Nov 11
|
The Road |
TWC/
MGM |
Hillcoat
|
Theron
Mortensen |
Cormac McCarthy again… from the brillaint director of The Proposition |
Nov 21
|
The Soloist |
DW
|
Wright
|
Downey, Jr
Foxx |
Another Skid-Row-Bum-Becomes-Concert-Soloist Flick… Can Wright lay off the schmaltz enough to make keep audiences from getting diabetes? |
Oct 17
|
W. |
LGF
|
Stone
|
Brolin
Burstyn |
The dark horse, thrown-together-at-the-last-minute movie that feels so much light it is Stone’s water after a long trip to the desert |
And The Films O’ Potential | |||||
Sept 26
|
Blindness |
Mir
|
Meirelles
|
J Moore
Ruffalo |
Will find some champions, but chafed audiences even at Cannes |
Sept 12
|
Burn After Reading |
Focus
|
Coens
|
Pitt
McDormand |
How can The Coens not get on the list for potential? |
Oct 24
|
The Changeling |
U
|
Eastwood
|
Jolie
|
Said to be more commercial than award-y |
? | Che |
?
|
Soderbergh
|
Del Toro
|
Heading to NYFF… but will anyone buy the thing… and will the producers lower the asking price to avoid a Goya’s Ghosts? |
Sept 19
|
The Duchess |
ParVan
|
Dibb
|
Knightley
|
Rip That Bodice! |
Oct 10 | Happy Go Lucky |
Mir
|
Leigh
|
Hawkins
|
Leigh always brings some magic and has a lot of Academy appeal |
xDec?
|
Nothing But the Truth |
Yari
|
Lurie
|
Beckinsale
|
A political thriller coming out after the election. Huh? |
Oct 3
|
Rachel Getting Married |
SPC
|
Demme
|
Hathaway
Winger |
Demme does wonderful stuff… but wonderful enough to Oscar notions? |
Oct 17
|
The Secret Life of Bees |
FoxS
|
Prince-Bythewood
|
Latifah
Fanning |
So… Dakota gets trained for a spelling bee by Queen Latifah? |
Dec 12
|
Seven Pounds |
Sony
|
Muccino
|
Smith
|
A Will Smith feel-good and warm and box office friendly.. but Oscar? |