Ive spent the last 2 hours nursing a bad cold. So no work done. Apart from showing everyone the Gangnam Style video I’ve gone through the whole (Yes whole) list of movies released in 2012 to at least find out which of them will be in the running for awards. Most of these movies release near the end of the year so there are assumptions involved; but some that have yet to be released have been screened in Festivals and have been critically acclaimed.
Just Movies. Actor and Actress thoughts within the text.
Movie –
1. The Hobbit – I don’t like anything to do with Lord of the Rings anymore. I am sick of them. Every fucking day some channel is showing one of the movies and with this (and two sequels) coming out in the next 3 years there will be 6 films that will be telecast on these channels. No i am not saying they suck; just that i am sick of them. My brother is a big fan and i just think it has been overdone. Now – I will obviously watch this; since the movies were pretty good and it is essentially the same cast. Just hope it isn’t good enough to win Best Picture. But it will be up there somewhere. Getting this out of the way as I go chronologically from now on.
2. Moonrise Kingdom – You have to wait till May to get a film which genuinely could be considered for Awards. Wes Anderson’s (The Royal Tenenbaums) film is about a summer camp and has a strong ensemble cast including Bruce Willis; Frances McDormand and Edward Norton. Since it deals with the nice things and is a ‘Nice’ film it will be nominated. The reception has been very good – universal acclaim. Will be available for download soon.
3. Rock of Ages – I just finished downloading this and while the reviews are not that great musicals tend to get nominated to make up the numbers. Big cast with Tom Cruise singing.
4. To Rome With Love – Woody Allen’s latest film stars him after 6 years. Another ensemble cast featuring the nerdy Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page and Penelope Cruz with Roberto Benignini; the reviews are that it is a typical Woody Allen movie. Typical Woody Allen movies get nominated.
5. Lawless – Now we enter the month of August and things get serious. Lawless has a very strong cast – Shia LeBouef and Mia Wasikowska supported by Tom Hardy; Guy Pearce; the lovely Jessica Chastain and Gary Oldman. It is a Gangster film and has done well. The acting is apparently good.
6. The Master – If you are not talking horror films; the ratings given by Roger Ebert and what i feel about a movie generally are the same. He was disappointed by The Master and that means I might be as well. But most of the other reviewers liked it and the acting is top notch – which is evident from the trailers. I however have liked all of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films – except Punch Drunk Love which i am yet to see. Still; this will definitely be in the running. Hoping Joaquin Phoenix hasn’t acted that well; for reasons i will get to.
7. Trouble With the Curve – Clint Eastwood acting in a film he did not direct for the first time since 1993. He might have seen some potential in this. Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake also star in the film – a sports drama about a baseball coach about to retire and his daughter. It has not received positive reviews from all quarters but I’ve heard Amy Adams is very good in this.
8. Looper – No this is not in contention for awards. Putting it here because of the overwhelming critical acclaim it has received for its use of time travel in a correct way. This is one film all of us might enjoy. Very highly rated – some reviewers say best Sci-fi film since Moon – which was brilliant. Great cast as well.
9. Argo – In recent years there have been a lot of political thrillers and they have been made by renowned directors and have got deserved nominations. This one is helmed by Ben Affleck and has a very interesting trailer – hence an interesting plot. Based on a hostage situation in the 1979-80 and the CIA’s plan to free them. Critical Acclaim – and Ben Affleck has always got critical acclaim.
10. Cloud Atlas – Brilliant trailer. 164 minutes long. A ten minute standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Wachowski brothers return with a stunning/epic film. From reviews – which are mixed tending to positive – it will be a film that divides opinion; maybe too smart for some. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry headline the trans-time film which also has Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run/ Perfume) directing with the Wachowskis.
11. Smashed – Smashed wont win Best Picture. Well maybe it wont as it too has been rated very highly. But Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a real chance at Best Actress. Simple plot – husband and wife like to have fun and get drunk.
12. The Sessions – John Hawkes is a fine actor. Nominated for Winter’s Bone; his performance in The Sessions received not one but two standing ovations at Sundance. Helen Hunt also stars in this film about a poet who is paralysed from the neck down and hires a sex surrogate so he can lose his virginity. This film is winning awards so a nomination is guaranteed.
13. Lincoln – A third Oscar for a non American? Possible? Speilberg’s Lincoln will be a front runner at most awards. It is a performance driven film and Daniel Day Lewis revels in them. A fantastic cast that includes Sally Field; Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Tommy Lee Jones; Jackie Earle Hailey and potential Oscar hopefuls in Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Hawkes; I hope Speilberg delivers this time. The 65 year old hasn’t directed a live action film I would have wanted to see since Munich in 2005 (War Horse seems so boring and Indiana Jones is a part of a series) and he has not made a great film in 10 years. This could be it.
14. Life of Pi – Ang Lee films get nominations. This has an entirely foreign cast (Tabu; Irfan Khan and Gerard Depardieu) and is based on Yann Martel’s novel. The trailer seems nice but since i have not read the book or have any idea I really do not know what to expect.
15. Silver Linings Playbook – 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and in many critics eyes a front runner for Best Picture and strong cases for acting nods. This is a comedy Drama directed by David O’Russell (The Fighter). Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star and are supported by a cast that includes Robert De Niro. That Jennifer Lawrence can act everyone knows but if people are saying in a film this good she is the main reason to watch then she must be a favourite for the acting awards.
16. Killing Them Softly – This just released in India – limited shows in theatres far away for me – but is releasing in the end of November in America. Weird. Because of competition from The Master it says. An all male cast headed by Brad Pitt supported by people who have played bad-asses somewhere or the other in James Gandolfini; Ray Liotta; Richard Jenkins and more this is a testosterone filled film that has been received favourably.
17. Les Miserables – Fresh from winning Best Director for The King’s Speech; Tom Hooper returns with a musical based on the famous novel by Victor Hugo. A tremendous cast in this one; which will be released right at the end of the year to keep it fresh in the minds of the voters for the awards. Hugh Jackman; Russel Crowe; Amanda Seyfried (how she has grown from her Mean Girls days); Anne Hathaway (who cut her hair for his – but she does not look cute/prettier) and Helena Bonham Carter who somehow seems to be in almost half the movies I’ve seen.
18. Promised Land – Gus Van Sant teams up with Matt Damon in this drama about sales people trying to buy rights to drill in a rural area. Also in this are Frances McDormand and John (Jim) Krasinski (with roles like this and a few more during the year no wonder he has no time for The Office). The film has a limited release just before the year ends so it qualifies for the awards. With the competition I wonder why?
19. Zero Dark Thirty – How many films this year will be directed by people who have won Best Director? Kathryn Bigelow (I saw Strange Days recently and liked it though Ralph Fiennes speaking in an American accent was hard to accept – still easier than watching Coriolanus which i have parked after fifteen minutes) directs this film about the mission to capture Osama Bin Laden. Shrouded in controversy this will make news and with Jessica Chastain as the main lead (Oscar?) I cant wait.
20. Django Unchained – Like with Daniel Day Lewis and Lincoln; i know where my loyalties lie. No matter how good any of the above movies are; I want this to win. So many Oscar winning directors this year and my favourite of the lot has not won. I think with the content this will not give him that accolade and with the general content of Tarantino movies he wont be a favourite ever. Cool cast. Christoph Waltz; Leonardo Di Caprio; Samuel L Jackson (fixture) and Jamie Foxx as Django; this will be one hell of a ride.
There are some seriously good films coming this year. Big hitters.
Quentin Tarantino; Steven Spielberg; Tom Hooper; Kathryn Bigelow; David O’Russell; Ang Lee; Van Sant; Robert Zemeckis (Flight); Sam Mendes (Skyfall); Tykwer and the Wachowskis; Paul Thomas Anderson; Peter Jackson all have movies yet to come.
Christopher Nolan released the third of his brilliant Batman trilogy this year. Hell; even Genndy Tartakovsky (the guy who created Dexter’s Laboratory) directed his first film in Hotel Transylvania. That reminds me that i have not considered any animated films; and there surely will be one among the ten nominees.
For Best Actor you have Daniel Day-Lewis; John Hawkes; Brad Pitt; Tom Hanks; Joaquin Phoenix leading the race but someone will get nominated from the others; maybe Waltz in Django? Maybe even Bradley Cooper?
For Best Actress Amy Adams could pick from two films; maybe supporting for The Master. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jennifer Lawrence have a lot of support (both are so young – fantastic) and Jessica Chastain could get one as well. Maybe Anne Hathaway for her role in Les Miserables or Sally Field as Lincoln’s wife?
So much more to see before the awards season.
So much to look forward to.
