Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a newly-restarted 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. Additionally, to make up for lost time, I’ll also be taking a look at the films released earlier in the year, two months at a time. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section. Also, if I’ve missed any films from the previous months, please say so!

Films released October 15, 2010


Hereafter
Clint Eastwood is a force to be reckoned film – and some reports state that his newest film is one of his best. Of his last seven films, only “Gran Torino” got shut out of the Oscar race, and star Matt Damon was an Eastwood Oscar nominee last year for “Invictus.” This probably isn’t a film that will earn acting nominations, and therefore it has a chance as a Best Picture/Best Director nominee if it fares well and attracts fans.

Conviction
This family/legal drama stars Hilary Swank, who, like Sally Field, has only ever been nominated for an Oscar twice and won both times. Her effort last year, “Amelia,” flopped, but it’s likely that this one will fare better. Swank may factor into the race, though hers is a competitive category. One actor who may have a better shot is not an Oscar nominee already – unlike Swank, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo, and Juliette Lewis – but Sam Rockwell, whose performance as a wrongly imprisoned miscreant who spends more than a decade in jail may earn him his first nomination. I think it’s acting only for this film, and Rockwell is a frontrunner in his category at this point.

Films released March & April 2010


Alice in Wonderland (March 5)
This movie should have been a strong contender, but it faltered upon release, receiving generally negative reviews. I think it will probably be shut out, but it could garner technical nominations, for Art Direction and Costume Design.

Mother (March 12)
This Korean film doesn’t actually stand a chance, though Hye-ja Kim may garner some critics awards for her fierce leading performance.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (March 19)
Because this film is not eligible (or either of its sequels) in the Best Foreign Film category, it probably won’t make a splash at the Oscars, though it is incredibly popular. Some have speculated that Noomi Rapace could be a Best Actress contender; I think not. There could more feasibly, however, be a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination in the cards. It would be awesome if the film somehow managed to score a Best Picture nod, but I don’t see that happening.

Greenberg (March 19)
I never got to see this dramedy, so I can’t say too much about it. Will Ben Stiller ever earn an Oscar nomination? Probably not, and probably not for this either.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (April 16)
This documentary earned rave reviews, and I really do wish I had gotten the chance to see it. Can it crack the Best Documentary field? You tell me.

Harry Brown (April 30)
This violent British film stars six-time nominee Michael Caine, who earned his last Oscar bid for a film that earned no other Oscar traction, so maybe Caine will be remembered by the end of the year since the Best Actor field is looking pretty weak at this point.

Come back next week for a look at new releases from September 22nd, as well as films from June and July!