2011 has some good reasons to go to the theatres and watch a couple of movies and I'm not talking about that Summer flicks for which ones we pay a ticket just "to see". In fact, 2011 seems to have a lot of "quality-movies", so here's my list of "potentitial-Oscar-quality-movies" (in alphabetical order):
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Synopsis: "Tintin and his friends discover directions to a sunken ship commanded by Capt. Haddock's ancestor and go off on a treasure hunt."
Release date: 28 December 2011 (USA)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish (based on "Le secret de la licorne" and "Le trésor de Rackham Le Rouge", comic books by Hergé)
Starring: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis and Simon Pegg
Oscar potential: It may be the chance to the Academy recognize Steven Spielberg's work once again, specially for this adaptation of such a legendary comic book masterpiece. I don't know if the movie will be considered an Animated Feature, but it doesn't look so, which may benefit the movie in the Best Visual Effects Oscar race and John Williams composed the score, so it has GREAT chances in the Best Original Score category and, who knows, in the Best Picture one if it will be so good as it seems it is!
Release date: 28 December 2011 (USA)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish (based on "Le secret de la licorne" and "Le trésor de Rackham Le Rouge", comic books by Hergé)
Starring: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis and Simon Pegg
Oscar potential: It may be the chance to the Academy recognize Steven Spielberg's work once again, specially for this adaptation of such a legendary comic book masterpiece. I don't know if the movie will be considered an Animated Feature, but it doesn't look so, which may benefit the movie in the Best Visual Effects Oscar race and John Williams composed the score, so it has GREAT chances in the Best Original Score category and, who knows, in the Best Picture one if it will be so good as it seems it is!
Albert Nobbs
Synopsis: "An Englishwoman disguises herself as a man and works as a butler in order to survive in male-dominated 19th-century Ireland."
Release date: (?-?-2011)
Director: Rodrgio García
Writers: Glenn Close and John Banville
Starring: Glenn Close, Aaron Johnson, Mia Wasikowska, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Brendan Gleeson;
Oscar potential: Glenn Close is one of the best living actresses that still working and she isn't nominated for an Oscar since the end of the 80's (Best Actress for Dangerous Liaisons, 1988) and she may get a nod and a win for portraying a woman who "plays" a man in a "Men's World" and Rodrigo García knows how to direct great actors (watch Mother and Child's actors performances). Plus, Abert Nobbs benefits from being a period piece, the kind of movies that get Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction and Best Makeup nominations from the Academy, and for having the golden girl of the moment (Mia Wasikowska), who seems to turn everything she touches into gold. I hope it will be great in order to see Glenn Close to take home the Oscar she deserves (5 nominations and no win until nowadays).
Release date: (?-?-2011)
Director: Rodrgio García
Writers: Glenn Close and John Banville
Starring: Glenn Close, Aaron Johnson, Mia Wasikowska, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Brendan Gleeson;
Oscar potential: Glenn Close is one of the best living actresses that still working and she isn't nominated for an Oscar since the end of the 80's (Best Actress for Dangerous Liaisons, 1988) and she may get a nod and a win for portraying a woman who "plays" a man in a "Men's World" and Rodrigo García knows how to direct great actors (watch Mother and Child's actors performances). Plus, Abert Nobbs benefits from being a period piece, the kind of movies that get Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction and Best Makeup nominations from the Academy, and for having the golden girl of the moment (Mia Wasikowska), who seems to turn everything she touches into gold. I hope it will be great in order to see Glenn Close to take home the Oscar she deserves (5 nominations and no win until nowadays).
A Dangerous Method
Synopsis: "A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gives birth to psychoanalysis."
Release date: (?-?-2011)
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: Christopher Hampton
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassel
Oscar potential: David Cronenberg has a great body of work and is one of the most respectful director working today, so every movie he does is always an Oscar contender before being seen, at least. Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud seems weird, but it may be different enough to get all the attentions and maybe an Oscar nomination for portraying such a legendary man and Michael Fassbender may have a chance of getting a nod in the Best Supporting Actor category, specially after being recognized for his work in Hunger and Inglorious Basterds. Knightley may get an Oscar nod too for portraying the "lony" Sabrina. In the end, A Dangerous Method can be seen as an Oscar contender in all the categories, including Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenlay and in Best Costume Design and Art Direction (the usual categories of a period piece).
Release date: (?-?-2011)
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: Christopher Hampton
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassel
Oscar potential: David Cronenberg has a great body of work and is one of the most respectful director working today, so every movie he does is always an Oscar contender before being seen, at least. Viggo Mortensen as Sigmund Freud seems weird, but it may be different enough to get all the attentions and maybe an Oscar nomination for portraying such a legendary man and Michael Fassbender may have a chance of getting a nod in the Best Supporting Actor category, specially after being recognized for his work in Hunger and Inglorious Basterds. Knightley may get an Oscar nod too for portraying the "lony" Sabrina. In the end, A Dangerous Method can be seen as an Oscar contender in all the categories, including Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenlay and in Best Costume Design and Art Direction (the usual categories of a period piece).
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Synopsis: "A father's life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and tries to manage his relationship with his children."
Release date: 29 July 2011 (USA)
Directors: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Writer: Dan Fogelman
Starring: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Marisa Tomei
Oscar potential: Steve Carell has an amazing career, but there's something missing - an Oscar nomination. Crazy, Stupid, Love may be just a comedy movie, but it can also be a kind of The Kids Are All Right. Plus, Julianne Moore is overdue for an Oscar win and all the cast is composed by A-list actors and actresses, so, it seems that it will call some attentions for the acting and maybe for the screenplay (good performances are just good when the actors have something nice to say!). I would love to see a smart comedy with such a good cast and I would say the Academy shares my opinion!
Release date: 29 July 2011 (USA)
Directors: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Writer: Dan Fogelman
Starring: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Marisa Tomei
Oscar potential: Steve Carell has an amazing career, but there's something missing - an Oscar nomination. Crazy, Stupid, Love may be just a comedy movie, but it can also be a kind of The Kids Are All Right. Plus, Julianne Moore is overdue for an Oscar win and all the cast is composed by A-list actors and actresses, so, it seems that it will call some attentions for the acting and maybe for the screenplay (good performances are just good when the actors have something nice to say!). I would love to see a smart comedy with such a good cast and I would say the Academy shares my opinion!
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Synopsis: "A journalist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing - or dead - for forty years by a young female hacker." (synopsis of the Swedish adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
Release date: 21 December 2011 (USA)
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Steven Zaillian (based on the novel "Män som hatar kvinnor" by Stieg Larsson)
Starring: Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara
Oscar potential: Lisbeth Salander is a really juicy character and the Swedish actress received a lot of raves and nominations for her incredible and extremely believable performance, but she didn't received an Oscar nomination for such a work, maybe because the Academy may be waiting to see Rooney Mara, the actress who get the role, beating a huge list of respectful A-list actresses who wanted the role, so, the movie has great chances in the Best Actress category. The story of the movie is great and it may be turned into a catching piece of work, so it has great chances in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay categories too.
Release date: 21 December 2011 (USA)
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Steven Zaillian (based on the novel "Män som hatar kvinnor" by Stieg Larsson)
Starring: Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara
Oscar potential: Lisbeth Salander is a really juicy character and the Swedish actress received a lot of raves and nominations for her incredible and extremely believable performance, but she didn't received an Oscar nomination for such a work, maybe because the Academy may be waiting to see Rooney Mara, the actress who get the role, beating a huge list of respectful A-list actresses who wanted the role, so, the movie has great chances in the Best Actress category. The story of the movie is great and it may be turned into a catching piece of work, so it has great chances in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay categories too.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Synopsis: "The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemorts final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again."
Release date: 15 July 2011
Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves (adapted from the the novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J. K. Rowling)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter
Oscar potential: the Harry Potter movies have been nominated in a couple of technical categories during the years, but will the final chapter of the saga be recognized in a couple of major categories? Well, it may not happen, but every Harry Potter movie is always under consideration when we talk about cinematography, visual effects or sound categories, but the Academy may want to do something more for the whole saga: a kind of "nominate the last movie, nominate all the others before", which isn't silly at all if we look for the past, because we can state than all of the Potter movies are a lot above average action/fantasy movies.
Release date: 15 July 2011
Director: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves (adapted from the the novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J. K. Rowling)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter
Oscar potential: the Harry Potter movies have been nominated in a couple of technical categories during the years, but will the final chapter of the saga be recognized in a couple of major categories? Well, it may not happen, but every Harry Potter movie is always under consideration when we talk about cinematography, visual effects or sound categories, but the Academy may want to do something more for the whole saga: a kind of "nominate the last movie, nominate all the others before", which isn't silly at all if we look for the past, because we can state than all of the Potter movies are a lot above average action/fantasy movies.
Hugo Cabret
Synopsis: "Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton."
Release date: 9 December 2011
Director: Martin Scorcese
Writer: John Logan (based on the book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick)
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Michael Pitt, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee
Oscar potential: if the movie will be so beautiful as the book, Hugo Cabret may be a contender for the Oscar of Best Picture. Martin Scorcese latest work, Shutter Island, was snubed by the Academy, but the Oscar voters love movies with the heart in the right place and well directed, so Scorcese may have a chance in the Best Director category. The ensemble cast is composed by some shining actors and maybe there will be some recognition for two or three of them (maybe the young Butterfield and Moretz or Jude Law). It has also chances in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and it seems to be the kind of movie that may have chances in some artistic and technical categories like Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score or Best Cinematography.
Release date: 9 December 2011
Director: Martin Scorcese
Writer: John Logan (based on the book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick)
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Michael Pitt, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee
Oscar potential: if the movie will be so beautiful as the book, Hugo Cabret may be a contender for the Oscar of Best Picture. Martin Scorcese latest work, Shutter Island, was snubed by the Academy, but the Oscar voters love movies with the heart in the right place and well directed, so Scorcese may have a chance in the Best Director category. The ensemble cast is composed by some shining actors and maybe there will be some recognition for two or three of them (maybe the young Butterfield and Moretz or Jude Law). It has also chances in the Best Adapted Screenplay category and it seems to be the kind of movie that may have chances in some artistic and technical categories like Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score or Best Cinematography.
The Ides of March
Synopsis: "An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. Based on the play by Beau Willimon."
Release date: (2011 or 2012)
Director: George Clooney
Writers: George Clooney and Grant Heslov (based on the play by Beau Willimon)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood
Oscar potential: a great cast, an actor/writer/director that everybody love and a story about politics may be strong factors to consider The Ides of March such a contender to have Oscar quality. George Clooney uses to give to the audiences good movies and The Ides of March may be a movie with some chances in the Best Picture category and, who knows, in the Best Director one. It would be difficult not to consider a couple of nominations in the acting categories. The Best Adapted Screenplay category may have the name of Clooney and Heslov between the nominees too and it is possible a nomination in a technical or artistic area.
Release date: (2011 or 2012)
Director: George Clooney
Writers: George Clooney and Grant Heslov (based on the play by Beau Willimon)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood
Oscar potential: a great cast, an actor/writer/director that everybody love and a story about politics may be strong factors to consider The Ides of March such a contender to have Oscar quality. George Clooney uses to give to the audiences good movies and The Ides of March may be a movie with some chances in the Best Picture category and, who knows, in the Best Director one. It would be difficult not to consider a couple of nominations in the acting categories. The Best Adapted Screenplay category may have the name of Clooney and Heslov between the nominees too and it is possible a nomination in a technical or artistic area.
On the Road
Synopsis: "A young man sets out to travel the roads and railways of America."
Release date: ?-?-2011 (USA)
Director: Walter Salles
Writer: Jose Rivera (adapted from the book "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac)
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Alice Braga and Steve Buscemi
Oscar potential: the movie may get a Best Picture nod if it will be a good cinematic adaptation. It benefits from having a good director, but what really makes On the Road shine even before being released is the fact of being an adaptation of a beloved book and its cast. While it may be able to grab some nods of Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and, who knows, Best Original Score and Best Editing, it's not hard to see Sam Riley getting an Oscar nod of Best Leading Actor and maybe some of the rest of the shinning supporting cast.
Release date: ?-?-2011 (USA)
Director: Walter Salles
Writer: Jose Rivera (adapted from the book "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac)
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Alice Braga and Steve Buscemi
Oscar potential: the movie may get a Best Picture nod if it will be a good cinematic adaptation. It benefits from having a good director, but what really makes On the Road shine even before being released is the fact of being an adaptation of a beloved book and its cast. While it may be able to grab some nods of Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and, who knows, Best Original Score and Best Editing, it's not hard to see Sam Riley getting an Oscar nod of Best Leading Actor and maybe some of the rest of the shinning supporting cast.
The Tree of Life
Synopsis: "The story centers around a family with three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence."
Release date: 27 May 2011 (USA)
Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick
Starring: Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain
Oscar potential: Terrence Malick has already directed wonderful pieces of art and he have been without making any movie since a couple of years and The Tree of Life seems an wonderful movie after watching the trailer. It seems a kind of heartbreaking one, a movie made by a heart, so it has big chances in the Best Picture race and in the Best Director category. Brad Pitt may grab his third Oscar nod, but I don't know if he is a leading or a supporting character. Sean Penn is always in consideration since the day he is one of the best actors working today and Jessica Chastain may also have a chance in the Best (Supporting) Actress race. The young actor who plays the young Jack (Sean Penn's character) may also have an Oscar-quality role. The Tree of Life may also have great chances in the Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Visual Effects categories, being already a strong contender for the title of "the movie of 2011" without being seen.
Release date: 27 May 2011 (USA)
Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick
Starring: Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain
Oscar potential: Terrence Malick has already directed wonderful pieces of art and he have been without making any movie since a couple of years and The Tree of Life seems an wonderful movie after watching the trailer. It seems a kind of heartbreaking one, a movie made by a heart, so it has big chances in the Best Picture race and in the Best Director category. Brad Pitt may grab his third Oscar nod, but I don't know if he is a leading or a supporting character. Sean Penn is always in consideration since the day he is one of the best actors working today and Jessica Chastain may also have a chance in the Best (Supporting) Actress race. The young actor who plays the young Jack (Sean Penn's character) may also have an Oscar-quality role. The Tree of Life may also have great chances in the Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Visual Effects categories, being already a strong contender for the title of "the movie of 2011" without being seen.
We Bought a Zoo
Synopsis: "A father moves his family to the English countryside to own and operate a zoo."
Release date: 23 December 2011
Director: Cameron Crowe
Writers: Cameron Crowe and Aline Brosh McKenna (adapted from the memoir "We Bought a Zoo" by Benjamin Mee)
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit and Elle Fanning
Oscar potential: Matt Damon most recent performances have been raved and have been getting some award recognition, so the role of a man who buys a zoo when his wife is suffering from brain cancer may give an Oscar nomination of Best Actor to Damon. Scarlett Johansson may also see some gold due to the fact that the Academy loves people who suffer from a disease and some reports that she will portray the wife of Damon's character, so she may have a chance in the Best (Supporting) Actress category, specially after being one of the major Oscar snubs of the last decade in 2003. Cameron Crowe brought to the big screen awesome movies like Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous, and We Bought the Zoo may become another sucess from its director/writer, being nominated for the Academy Award of Best Picture (if it won't be another Elizabethtown). It may also have chances in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
Well, it may seem silly "predicting" which movies will get Academy's love and for which categories they will be loved, but, well, we already know what kind of movies the Academy usually likes and that some categories nominate some aspects of a certain kind of movie.
I hope you agree with me...
Release date: 23 December 2011
Director: Cameron Crowe
Writers: Cameron Crowe and Aline Brosh McKenna (adapted from the memoir "We Bought a Zoo" by Benjamin Mee)
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Patrick Fugit and Elle Fanning
Oscar potential: Matt Damon most recent performances have been raved and have been getting some award recognition, so the role of a man who buys a zoo when his wife is suffering from brain cancer may give an Oscar nomination of Best Actor to Damon. Scarlett Johansson may also see some gold due to the fact that the Academy loves people who suffer from a disease and some reports that she will portray the wife of Damon's character, so she may have a chance in the Best (Supporting) Actress category, specially after being one of the major Oscar snubs of the last decade in 2003. Cameron Crowe brought to the big screen awesome movies like Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous, and We Bought the Zoo may become another sucess from its director/writer, being nominated for the Academy Award of Best Picture (if it won't be another Elizabethtown). It may also have chances in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
Well, it may seem silly "predicting" which movies will get Academy's love and for which categories they will be loved, but, well, we already know what kind of movies the Academy usually likes and that some categories nominate some aspects of a certain kind of movie.
I hope you agree with me...
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