My Insanely Early Oscar Pick For Best Picture Is…
Inherent Vice
I was right on the money last year with 12 Years a Slave, but admittedly that was a no brainer, even back in September. This year is a little tougher. While I think movies like Foxcathcer and Whiplash have a chance, they feel too small. The Academy always needs that layer of grandiose with its Best Picture winner, which is why movies like Her and Good Will Hunting lose out. Gone Girl might be a contender here, but I think it’s going to disappoint. I know there hasn’t even been a trailer, but Inherent Vice seems to have the right mix – a director who’s been close before, an Oscar friendly cast, and the crime element gives it that little bit of epicness that is needed. Like I said, it’s insanely early, but I’m going with Paul Thomas Anderson.
Other Quick Oscar Potentials To Be Aware Of:
Fury (October 17th): Brad Pitt World War II drama. Looks completely forgettable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OGvZoIrXpg
Nightcrawler (October 31st): Most notably for Jake Gyllenhaal.
Wild (December 5th, limited): Reese Witherspoon potential.
Unbroken (December 25th): World War II drama directed by Angelina Jolie and co-written by the Coen Brothers. Trailer looked surprisingly generic and vanilla. I got a real Monuments Men vibe from this one.
Selma (December 25th, limited): A movie about Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights marches, co-produced by Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey. Based on the fact that a film with similar subject matter won last year, this would have to be pretty damn incredible.
The Movie I’m Not Getting Suckered Into:
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Release Date: December 12th
Cast: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley
Directed By: Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus)
Its got a dream cast, including one of my favorites in Christian Bale. On paper, I could have talked myself into this. After watching that trailer though, I’m officially out. After seeing the abomination that was The Counselor, I want nothing to do with Ridley Scott right now. The Counselor had a great cast too, but he still managed to ruin every performance in that film. The music selection in the trailer is atrocious, and it just looks awful. This is a looming disaster.
