Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a returning 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. Additionally, to make up for lost time, I’ll also be taking a look at the films released earlier in the year, one 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 November 2nd, 2012

Flight
Director Robert Zemeckis has had a handful of brushes with Oscar in the past, and only “Forrest Gump” has resulted in a Best Picture and Best Director nod. His actors tend to fare better, and Denzel Washington, who already has two wins and five nominations to his name, has a great shot at a Best Actor bid. Among the supporting cast, John Goodman could end up a nominee, but, not having seen the film yet, I think Denzel will be it.

Wreck-It Ralph
This well-received animated film seems likeable and popular enough to make it into the Best Animated Feature race, which now officially contains twenty-one eligible films. It’s not a sure thing, but it’s about as good a bet as anything else.

Films released July 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift (July 13)
Only the first “Ice Age” movie was nominated for Best Animated Feature, but this one is officially eligible this year. I wouldn’t count it on, though, since the fourth entry in the series was also the worst-reviewed.

The Dark Knight Rises (July 20)
It’s hard to judge how this film will do with awards since its reception was entirely influenced by the tragic shooting which killed audience members in Colorado at a midnight screening. A Best Picture nod is going to be tough, and acting awards are unlikely. Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects look good, while Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup could happen too.