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By Sandra Olmsted

With so many of the Oscar worthy films opening in December, filmgoers who yearn to see as all Oscar nominated films struggle with what to see. Since film is a collaborative art, the films in the race for Best Picture often also get nominations for Acting, Directing, and many of the creative/production Oscars, such as Screenplay, Score or Song, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, etc. The lists below focus on films that seem “sure things” for Best Picture nominations, films that are “hopeful” of nominations, and films that “maybe” will get nominations and provide information for what to catch this month, what opens in limited release in either NYC or LA to qualify for nomination and may open in St. Louis later, and what came out earlier this year and might be available elsewhere. Although there are always “red herring” films nominated, those fortunate enough to see all of these films will have many Oscar bases covered come the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22.

Best Picture Sure Things (in alphabetical order)

Having opened in the spring and being a comedy, The Grand Budapest Hotel (Streaming, DVD, Blu-Ray) has an uphill battle to win, but Ralph Fiennes’s Best Actor turn and Wes Anderson’s direction plus a host of creative/production nods seem likely for this delightful and stylish period farce. Tommy Lee Jones’s direction and lead role in the tragic, genre bending Western The Homesman (In Theaters), which was adapted from Glendon Swarthout’s novel, and Hilary Swank’s Best Actress performance plus Cinematography and Score seem bound for nods. In The Imitation Game (Dec 25), Benedict Cumberbatch’s brilliant turn as Alan Turing, who broke the Nazi’s code in WWII and saved counted allied lives but was ill treated because he was gay, Keira Knightley’s supporting role turn, Morten Tyldum’s direction, plus many creative/production departments have Oscar nom all over them.

According to the buzz, director Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner (Limited/Local Open TBD), a biopic covering the last years of the eccentric, British painter J.M.W. Turner, seems bound for directing, acting, and creative/productions nods. While the buzz is good for the Martin Luther King biopic Selma (Limited/Local Open TBD) , the hurry/delays in completing it may spell trouble for the production and director Ava DuVernay, an industry professional tackling her first major feature. The star-studded cast includes David Oyelowo, Tim Roth, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Giovanni Ribisi, and Martin Sheen. Director James Marsh’s adapted The Theory of Everything (In Theaters) explores the marriage of famed physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane (Felicity Jones), and gets good buzz to some degree for everything from direction and performances to all creative/production categories.

The buzz about director Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken (Dec 25), the Coen brothers-scripted biopic of Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), an Olympic runner taken prisoner by the Japanese during WWII, says that Oscar will show it lots of love for its female director, several of the actors, and many of the creative/production artists. Adapted from a memoir, Wild (Dec 12) stars Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed, who used a 1,100 mile solo hike to grieve and to kick a drug habit, and Witherspoon’s lead performance, Laura Dern’s supporting role, Jean-Marc Vallee’s direction plus Adapted Screenplay seem bound for Oscar love.

Best Picture Hopefuls

American Sniper (Limited/Local Open TBD), a true war story from director Clint Eastwood, also has Bradley Cooper’s stellar performance and high production values going for it. Micheal Kenton’s turn in Birdman (Closing In Local Theaters Soon) as a typecast actor and the unique way the story is told might garner some noms. While the dogged innovation of filming Boyhood (Digital HD Dec 9; Blu-Ray Jan 6) over 12 years with the cast aging naturally may get director Richard Linklater a nomination, the film lacks a riveting a story; however, the theme resonated strongly with male critics and may get love from the male-dominated Academy. Whiplash (Limited/Local Open TBD), another male coming of age film, has stronger performances and a more compelling story.

Big epics and adaptations, like Exodus: God and Kings (Dec 12) and Into the Woods (Dec 25), with many special effects, strong production design, and many fine actors star often rule the nominations. The dark thrillers Gone Girl (Closing In Local Theaters Soon) and Nightcrawler (Closing In Local Theaters Soon) both have great twists and performances but only a small chance against the period pieces and biopics that the Academy generally loves. Jake Gyllenhaal’s turn as Nightcrawler’s psychotic backpack journalist may, however, finally get this talented actor his much deserved Oscar. Meanwhile, serious Oscar buzz exists for Steve Carrell’s dramatic turn as the paranoid schizophrenic millionaire John du Pont and for Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum’s turns, respectively, as Olympic wrestlers David and Mark Schultz in the biopic Foxcatcher (Dec 19).

Best Picture Maybes      

Inherent Vice (Limited/Local Open TBD), adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, also has solid performances and good creative/production values going for it. Unfortunately for Interstellar (In Theaters), the love for epics, special effect, and strong production seldom includes sci-fi, even ones with a climate change message. Love is Strange (Unavailable) has John Lithgow and Alfred Molina’s strong performances as couple at a crossroads, but its August opening and limited release usually equals being forgotten by Oscar.

Magic in the Moonlight (Streaming, DVD, Blu-Ray) is not Woody Allen’s best work, but the Academy might want to honor the aging director. A Most Violent Year (Possibly Dec 31) is rumored to be in the acting noms line for performances by Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chartain, and Albert Brooks plus Original Screenplay. Rosewater (Closing In Local Theaters Soon), Jon Stewart’s heartfelt directorial debut, has the true story edge but isn’t the work of a seasoned director. The Tim Burton-directed Big Eyes (Dec 25) also has the true story edge and good buzz for performances and creative/production nods.

While the theme of the film can affect the nomination process and while period pieces, adaptations, and biopics often garner the bulk of nominations, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences often surprises filmgoers with those out-of-the-blue, “red herring” nominations because award descriptions includes “achievement” and, overwhelmingly, the art of filmmakers and performers which represents personal achievement and/or achievement which advances the film medium receive more nominations and Oscars. Fortunately, DVD, BluRay, and especially streaming releases of films make catching all the Oscar-nominated films much easier than ever before and maybe even make predicting the winners easier, too. Like predicting the winners on Academy Awards night, any list contains wishful thinking and personal taste, so, with that cautionary disclaimer, enjoy this list of Best Picture sure things, hopefuls, and maybes. Happy viewing! Happy Holidays!

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