Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a seasonal 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. I’ve tabled this feature for the last few weeks, so here’s a look back at all of December thus far. 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 December 7th-14th, 2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
It’s difficult to judge how this new entry in the “Lord of the Rings” saga will fare. The first two films performed well, with thirteen nominations and four wins, and six nominations and two wins, respectively. The third movie won all the trophies for the whole trilogy, taking home awards for all of its eleven nominations. Many will likely feel that the series has been rewarded, and mixed reviews won’t help. A Best Picture nomination isn’t out of the question because of the expanded field, and technical nominations like Best Makeup and Best Visual Effects are all but guaranteed. This is a wild card to be sure.

Hyde Park on Hudson
Bill Murray isn’t the type of actor who can play a renowned President of the United States and have everyone talking. While Daniel Day-Lewis is getting all the attention for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, and will almost definitely win the Best Actor Oscar, Murray is being cited mainly for a surprisingly strong performance. A Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical bid is probably as far as he’ll go.

Quartet
In theory, this directorial debut from Oscar favorite actor Dustin Hoffman should be a good threat to earn some nominations, but one single Golden Globe nomination for star Maggie Smith, who will likely earn more buzz for “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” suggests that it won’t ultimately contend. A screenplay based on his own play by Ronald Harwood, who won an Oscar for penning “The Pianist,” may earn some votes, but I’m not sure this can crack a crowded race this year. That said, it is definitely the kind of movie made for Oscar voters.