Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. It’s a bit early to be able to accurately predict the eventual Oscar nominees, but around this time, plenty of likely contenders are being released. I’ll be looking every Wednesday at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Until I begin my official predictions, I’ll be adding and removing contenders as their popularity, buzz, or reviews rise and fall. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section.

Where the Wild Things Are
This adaptation of a beloved children’s book opened to mostly enthusiastic raves, and while it’s only achieved a score of 71 on Metacritic, it’s definitely won a whole host of people over with its unique vision and charm. It could well turn out to be a Best Picture contender if it’s likeable enough to please almost everyone, and if not, it’s probably has a shot at the Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay races. Otherwise, look for it to place as a runner-up or nominee in the Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and maybe Best Visual Effects (though it’s unlikely) categories. It will likely end up with one sole nomination, for Best Art Direction, but it’s certainly the strongest film of the week and one of the likeliest contenders at this point.

WTWTA is probably the only film with any kind of chance from this week. If the much more favorably-reviewed “Paris, Je T’Aime” didn’t stir up any Oscar traction, then its sequel New York, I Love You definitely won’t. Despite positive reception, The Maid and Black Dynamite are way too small for Oscar, and the same goes for The Ministers. Tiny documentary Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution doesn't stand much of a chance either. Two other movies from this week received expected dismal notices, and were never going to be Oscar contenders: The Stepfather and Law Abiding Citizen.

This wasn’t a big week for Oscar releases, but we’re getting closer to the time when everything starts to come out! Be sure to come back next Wednesday for a look at this Friday’s theatrical releases and their Oscar chances. And remember to offer your thoughts on the chances for these films in the comments!