Feature: This Year's Oscar Contenders

Last year I got this all wrongI predicted Oscar joy for The Boys Are Back, Amelia and Where the Wild Things Are. This year I've done my research a little bit more and come up with a list of 15 films that I think you'll be hearing a lot of around the awards season.

Another Year 
Director: Mike Leigh 
What's it About?: A year in the life of a happily-married couple who have to deal with the less than happy lives of their friends and relatives.
What are its Oscar chances?: Oscar always loves Mike Leigh films and specifically Secrets and Lies which got a load of Oscar nods. This has been well recieved in the States and in particular the performances have been applauded.
What's it Likely to be nominated for?: Lesley Manville is the hot favourite to be one of the five ladies in this year's Best Actress race. The film itself may also make the top ten and Mike Leigh may be nominated for Best Director.
When Can I see it?: It's out on general release at the moment, your best bet is to check when your local arthouse cinema is showing it.


Black Swan
Director: Darren Aranofsky 
What's it about?: A ballerina who gets the lead in a performance of Swan Lake starts to feel like she is being upstaged by another dancer who may or may not be a figment of her imagination.
What are its Oscar chances?: Although Aranofsky does usually produce some fine work the premise seems a little off-the-wall for Oscar.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: This may be up for quite a bit thanks to rumoured top notch performances by Natalie Portman, Vincent Caselll and Barbara Hershey who could get Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respecitvely. It is likely it will also crop up in the Top 10 Best Picture list but I doubt Aranofsky will make Best Director.
When can I see it?: Unfortunately for us in the U.K. the release date is currently listed as the 11th February but these things are subject to change.

Blue Valentine 
Director: Derk Cianfrance
What's it about?: Looking at the life of a modern day couple from their first meeting to several years down the line.
What are its Oscar chances?: This is probably this year's quirky and offbeat entry although it may be a little too quirky for Oscar to take it seriously.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: This may be an actors film most likely Ryan Gosling will crop as one of the five Best Actors while Michelle Williams may also get into the Best Actress race.
When can I see it?: There is no official U.K. release date at the moment.

The Fighter 
Director: David O Russell
What's it about?: The real life story of boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward who rose up from an obscure competitor to a title winner with help from his brother
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly high thanks to the twinning of a real-life tale and a triumph against adversity plot.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Another big one I expect it will feature in the Best Picture and Director categories as well as Best Actor nod for Mark Walhberg and Best Supporting Actor for Christian Bale.
When can I see it?: Again it'll have to be a wait until February as its currently slated to be released on the 4th.

Inception 
Director: Christopher Nolan
What's it about?: Going into people's dreams, stealing information, kicks, totems and an ambigous ending. Come on we all saw this one!
What are its Oscar chances?: A couple of years ago it wouldn't have a shoe in but the changes to the Best Picture category are so blockbusters like Inception can be awarded the same recognition as arty films that no-one went to see.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Best Picture and Best Director the latter of which Nolan may actually get. It will also be nominated for all the techincal awards as well as Best Original Score. In terms of acting awards its best chance is with Marion Cotillard getting a Supporting Actress nod.
When can I see it?: If you didn't catch it over the summer or you just want to see it again its out on DVD on the 6th December.

The Kids are Alright 
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
What's it about?: A lesbian couple with two children are introduced to the man who was their sperm donor and their lives change forever.
What are its Oscar chances?: Again another quirky choice but it has great pedigree and some Oscar favourites among its cast ensuring that it will at least feature in one of the categories.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: The smart money is on Annette Bening to walk away with the Best Actress Oscar for playing the uptight Nic and she may well be up against her on-screen partner Julianne Moore for the award. Mark Ruffalo may also be nomianted in the supporting actor category and the film will most likely feature in the Top 10 Best Picture list. Cholodenko is likely to be nominated but for the film's screenplay rather than for her direction of it.
When can I see it?: Its still on general release at some places and some smaller arthouse cinemas will be screening it soon.

The King's Speech 
Director: Tom Hooper
What's it about?: George VI's surprise rise to the throne following his brother's abdication and his relationship with a speech therapist who helped to cure him of his stutter.
What are its Oscar chances?: Very good, we have real-life story combined with a prestigiuos British backdrop and a lot of recognisable British actors.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: At the moment this is the Bookie's favourite to win Best Picture but that may well change come Oscar time. Colin Firth is also favourite to win Best Actor for his performance as George VI with Geoffrey Rush tipped for a Supporting Actor nomination and Helena Bonham Carter for Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's set for release on the 7th January.

Love and Other Drugs 
Director: Edward Zwick
What's it about?: The relationship between a charming viagra salesman and a girl with a free spirit and a big secret.
What are its Oscar chances?: This is the contender which has the token 'character with an illness' in it, it did have big buzz a few months ago but other films have since overtaken it.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: If anything Best Actress for Anne Hathaway as the kooky Maggie we may also see an adapted screenplay nod.
When Can I see it?: Its out on the 27th December.

127 Hours 
Director: Danny Boyle
What's it about?: A mountain climber who gets trapped under a boulder for the amount of time alluded to in the title.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its got an Oscar winning director behind however the subject matter is a little strange and the academy might not like the more extreme moments of the plot.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It'll probably make the Best Picture Top 10 elsewhere Danny Boyle might get a look in for Best Director and James Franco is likely to occupy one of the five Best Actor slots.
When Can I see it?: Its out on the 7th January.

Shutter Island 
Director: Martin Scorsese
What's it about?: An troubled FBI agent goes to a secluded mental instiution to investigate the disappearance of a patient.
What are its Oscar chances?: It was hoped that Scorsese's picture would be in last year's shortlist but after its release date was changed it opened earlier this year that means that it may not be as fresh in people's minds as some of the other films. Saying that it is directed by academy favourite Scorsese.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It may sneak into Best Picture but its more likely that it will get a lone Best Director nomination and maybe Best Score.
When can I see it?: You can watch it on DVD now.

The Social Network 
Director: David Fincher
What's it about?: How Facebook came to be created and how its founder Mark Zuckerberg came to be sued by two different parties at the same time.
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly good thanks in part to Fincher's direction and Aaron Sorkin's masterful script.
What's it likely to be nomianted for?: I would say that a screenplay win would likely be its best chance but then Fincher may win Best Director and it will probably also be in the Best Picture category. In terms of acting it may be Andrew Garfield who gets a Best Supporting Actor nomination rather than Jesse Eisenberg as Best Actor.
When can I see it?: Its currently showing in most cinemas.

Toy Story 3
Director: Lee Unkrich
What's it about?: The final installment in the popular animated franchise which sees Woody, Buzz and the gang having to seperate from Andy once and for all.
What are its Oscar chances?: Very good. Like with Inception, it will most likely find itself in the Best Picture category because of the opening of the field from five to ten, Up was in there last year and Toy Story 3 is a superior tale.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: I wouldn't be surprised if this was the shock Best Picture winner making it the first animated film ever to win the award. Elsewhere I think it may get nominated or even win Best Original Screenplay written by former Oscar winner Michael Arndt.
When can I see it?: Its out on DVD next Monday.

True Grit 
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
What's it about?: The Coen Brothers remake of John Ford's classic western concerning the story of a young girl who hires the toughest marshall she can find to help her do the job.
What are its Oscar chances?: The Coen brothers had success a few years ago with No Country for Old Men, this film sees them team with last years Best Actor winner Jeff Bridges so it may do well.
What's it likely to be nomianted for?: Probably Best Director, Picture and perhaps screenplay although acting wise I'm not sure if Bridges will be able to do the double although the suprise candidate might be young Hailee Steinfeld as a Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's slated for a U.K. release on the 14th January.

The Way Back 
Director: Peter Weir
What's it about?: A group of soldiers who escape from a Serbian prison in the 1940s and have to find their own way home are aided by a young girl
What are its Oscar chances?: Another true story/triumph against adveristy tale this time with added war and sweeping exterior shots its bound to be there somewhere.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Weir will no doubt add to his stack of Best Director nominations and it'll likely pop up in the Best Picture category. Ed Harris is the most likely of the actors to get a nomination most likely for Best Supporting Actor.
When can I see it?: Its out on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day depending on when your cinema opens/shuts.

Winter's Bone 
Director: Debra Granick
What's it about?: A teenage girl in the Ozark mountains needs to track down her father in order to keep the home she shares with her younger siblings.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its probably has a middling chance but there are some strong performances and some stunning camera work.
What will it be nominated for?: Most likely Jennifer Lawrence will be up for Best Actress and it'll probably get a cinematography nod also
When can I see it?: Its just finished playing at the cinemas so you'll have to wait till the 31st January to watch it on DVD.

There are many more titles that could possibly sneak into the list such as the Australian indie flick Animal Kingdom, Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, Clint Eastwood's paranormal film Hereafter, the British feel-good flick Made in Dagenham, the British feel-bad flick Never Let Me Go, the Robert Duvall-starring Get Low and the low budget Nicole Kidman film Rabbit Hole. However the 15 films above are the ones I would most stick my money on come awards time.