Untitled David O. Russell Abscam Project
DIR. David O. Russell /TBA
I feel confident in saying about 95% of the films on this list will actually hit theaters this year, but of the 5% that might not, David O. Russell’s Abscam project is the least likely, but to not include it with a cast like this and such a compelling story would be an oversight. This is a film that looks as if it wouldn’t merely be pushed in hopes of getting an acting nomination or two, this looks like one hoping for 10-12 nominations.
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
CAST: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Louis C.K.
SYNOPSIS: Based on the true story of a notorious financial con artist (Bale) and his mistress/partner in crime (Adams), who were forced to work with an out of control federal agent (Cooper) to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters, and politicians. At the epicenter of the entire tale, is the passionate and volatile leader of the New Jersey state assembly (Renner) who is also the local hero and mayor of impoverished Camden.
The Way, Way Back
DIR. Nat Faxon & Jim Rash /July 5
Yet another Sundance 2013 favorite makes the list, this time The Way, Way Back from the Oscar-winning co-writers of The Descendants, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Starring top notch actors in the comedic world, we may be looking at the year’s best-loved dramedy. Whether or not that will translate into Oscar love who’s to say, but films such as Juno and Little Miss Sunshine did it recently, why can’t this one?
STUDIO: Fox Searchlight Pictures
CAST: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, AnnaSophia Robb, Amanda Peet and Liam James
SYNOPSIS: The Way, Way Back is the funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan’s (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin).
Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world – all during a summer he will never forget.
Winter’s Tale
DIR. Akiva Goldsman /TBA 2013
The chances of A Winter’s Tale hitting theaters in 2013 feels slim and Akiva Goldsman making his feature directorial debut doesn’t exactly give me a heaping amount of confidence. However, Goldsman has put together a solid cast, an intriguing story and some serious below-the-line talent. Should things work out, this one just might impress.
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
CAST: Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, William Hurt, Will Smith, Russell Crowe, Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths and Eva Marie Saint
SYNOPSIS: Set in New York at the beginning and the end of the twentieth century, Winter’s Tale unfolds with such great narrative force and beauty that a reader can feel that its world is more real than his own. Standing alone on the page before the book begins are the words, I have been to another world, and come back. Listen to me. In that world, both winter and the city of New York (old and new) have the strength and character of protagonists, and the protagonists themselves move as if in a vivid dream. Though immensely complicated, the story is centered upon Peter Lake (Farrell), a turn-of-the-century Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn (Brown Findlay), a young heiress whom he encounters in robbing her house, and who eventually will die young and in his arms. His love for her, and a gift of grace, will allow him after the most extraordinary and painful explorations and discoveries to stop time and bring back the dead. To follow him, his predecessors, his inheritors, and his companions is to experience one of the great stories of American literature.
The Wolf of Wall Street
DIR. Martin Scorsese /TBA 2013
If George Clooney’s The Monuments Men is my early year Oscar favorite, Marin Scorese‘s The Wolf of Wall Street is a very close second. As expected, Marty has assembled an amazing cast of names starting with Leonardo DiCaprio who is still looking for that first Best Actor win. Terence Winter (“Boadwalk Empire”, “The Sopranos”) adapted the screenplay, Howard Shore is handling the score, Thelma Schoonmaker is, of course, editing, Rodrigo Prieto (Argo) is behind the camera and three-time Oscar winner Sandy Powell is providing the costumes.
STUDIO: Paramount Pictures
CAST: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jean Dujardin, Rob Reiner, Julie Andrews, Jon Favreau, Matthew McConaughey and Shea Whigham
SYNOPSIS: Based on Jordan Belfort’s tell-all autobiography, The Wolf of Wall Street centers on Belfort (DiCaprio), a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 20 months in prison for refusing to cooperate in a massive 1990s securities fraud case that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including mob infiltration.
And there you have it, the end of the line. Below is the navigation to visit or re-visit any of the previous installments you may have missed. Or, you could wait until tomorrow when I’ll post the complete list of 40 in one massive post.
Next week predictions begin as I will start compiling an early list of which films I believe have the best shot at Oscar glory sight unseen.
2014 Oscar Preview Navigation
