Mid-Summer Oscar Watch

OK, it's still July, but I'm already getting excited for a handful of films that are on the horizon. The first batch come out in September. Some of these films are by critically acclaimed directors, some are certain to elicit acting Oscars, and others are simply original or adapted stories that are fascinating and compelling. I have chosen the 10 that I see as serious contenders, and of course there are more out there that will rise to the awards radar. With the Academy's new requirement for nomination, we will see between 5 and 10 films, which probably means 7 will get nods. Let's take a look in order of release.

September

Moneyball - Sports films typically have a hard time at the awards, but this one is a bit different, chronicling the paradigm shift in the way that baseball teams are assembled. Brad Pitt is Billy Beane, the Oakland A's general manager who uses statistical analysis to predict who will succeed, and determine with formulas how to win baseball games. Pretty cool. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the team's owner. It's directed by Bennett Miller, whose only other feature length film was Capote, that one that scored Hoffman his Oscar. Should be an entertaining Oscar film that will bridge the mainstream audience gap as well. Think last year's the Social Network.

the Debt - Three Mossad agents must dig through their past to uncover a spy. The film flashes back and forward between the real time team (Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds) and their younger selves hunting Nazi war criminals. The film is worth watching for the three older cast members alone, but the story seems compelling and intense. Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) it is one of the films that could really go either way, but with the cast, story, director, I am expecting big things.

October

the Ides of March I just saw the preview, and this is a heavy hitter. Clooney, Gosling, Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright (one of my favorites). It looks great from all angles, and is directed by Clooney, who is establishing himself as Mr. Hollywood (Actor, Producer, Writer, Director). What can't he do? The film follows a campaign manager of a presidential hopeful who finds himself torn between loyalty and ethics. Will be poignant to our current political climate, and should be a sharp acting clinic.

J. Edgar I am looking forward to this one in particular. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular infamous FBI director. It's still being shrouded in secrecy, so maybe there are post-production issues, but it's written by Dustin Lance Black (Milk), and has rumored gay love scenes, so brace yourself for a controversial, yet incredible film.

November

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - a Swedish director handles Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy in this Cold War political espionage thriller. Oldman is already getting rave reviews in his first leading role in who knows how long. It will surely be worth watching.

Carnage - Love him or hate him (let me clarify - if you can separate the personal from professional), Roman Polanski knows how to make a movie. Christopher Waltz and John C. Reilly are the husbands of Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster as they sit down for dinner to hash out their sons' schoolyard fight. Sounds fascinating, and I imagine two hours of the four of them eating and talking could be pure magic. Looking forward to this one very much.

the Descendants - Clooney again stars as a man coping with his wife's death and struggling to keep his family together during the aftermath. Directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election), it should be a character-based emotionally-charged experience.

December

the Iron Lady - Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. Need I say more?

the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - David Fincher takes on the Swedish best-selling trilogy with an unflinching attitude. Graphic sex and violence, and marketed as the feel bad movie of the year. It will be full of controversy and will get mixed reviews (I guarantee), but it is David Fincher, who is a master of cinema.

War Horse - Steven Spielberg returns after a brief hiatus to film this and Tin-Tin, which is a CGI endeavor. War Horse follows Joey, a stallion who is taken from his young owner and sent to the trenches of WWI Europe. His young owner takes on the mission of saving him, despite his young age. It will be a family drama to the extreme, and when there are animals involved, there will be tears. When there are tears and Spielberg, there are Oscars.

That's it for now, I hope you enjoy some of these films, and I'd love to hear what you think of this list.