While
the Academy is busy judging and choosing the nominees for the 2014 awards
ceremony, we can go see these films and make our own Oscar predictions. If you are a huge film fanatic like myself,
you probably already have scheduled when you are making your cinematic
pilgrimages for each of these films.
CATCHING
FIRE. Although not likely to be
nominated for the most prestigious Oscars, this film is making intense waves in
the box office, and shouldn’t be left out.
Premiering on November 22 comes the second film adaptation in Suzanne
Collin’s series “The Hunger Games.” This
film resurrects Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and Liam
Hemsworth as Gale. Additions to the cast
include Woody Harrelson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Definitely going to see for any die-hard
Hunger Game fans, along with anyone seeking an intense film this holiday
season.
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS. The Coen Brothers’ latest film hits theaters December
6. It takes its audience back in time to
1961, as they follow a folk music singer-songwriter in New York. As far as the storyline
goes, according to Joel Coen, "The film doesn't really have a plot. That
concerned us at one point; that's why we threw the cat in." The cast features the talents of Carey
Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake and Oscar Isaac as the titular
character. “Inside
Llewyn Davis” made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival with its winning the
Grand Prix. With the Coen Brothers
directing it, all film fanatics will be expecting something great (which seems
to be the case).
OUT OF THE FURNACE. Christian Bale’s first film this holiday
season comes out December 6. Directed by
Scott Cooper and produced by Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio, the crime
drama has a predictable story line. Two
brothers, Russell and Rodney (Bale and Casey Affleck), wish to escape their
run-down town in search of better lives.
However, things take a turn for them, as Russell (Bale) winds up in
prison. Now, Rodney must make the decision
of whether seeking freedom or justice for his brother is the path to take. Even though the people in and working to put
this film together are rather notable, I would pass on seeing this film in
theaters.
SAVING MR. BANKS. Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson star in this
film, premiering December 20. It is has a good chance of being one of the most lucrative
films this holiday season, as it is directed by John Lee Hancock (“The Blind
Side”). This autobiographical film
follows Pamela Travers (Thompson), the author of the novel “Mary Poppins.” The film takes place in Los Angeles, as
Travers visits Walt Disney (Hanks), looking for the rights to adapt her novel
to the silver screen. Throughout the
film, Travers also revisits her difficult childhood and recalls her father, who
was her inspiration for the character Mr. Banks. Collin Farrell, Paul Giamatti and B. J. Novak
also star in this picture. Hanks and
Thompson certainly did their homework, intensely researching the characters
they were to portray. According to
Rotten Tomatoes, the fantastic reviews coming in definitely move this film up
on my must-see film list.
AMERICAN
HUSTLE. This film is by far my biggest
must-see coming out (hopefully my high hopes aren’t disappointing, but the
people involved in “American Hustle” explain my excitement). Directed by David O. Russell, the man who
brought us the feel-good film of 2012 (“Silver Linings Playbook”), the crime
drama “American Hustle” brings together another phenomenal cast. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in
this motion picture, alongside Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender and Amy
Adams. The FBI ABSCAM operation of the
1970-80’s becomes the central plot, as Rosenfeld (Bale) and Prosser (Adams) are
pushed into its dark yet mesmerizing nature.
I’ll be counting the days till I can see “American Hustle,” and I wish I
was kidding. Mark your calendars---this
one comes out December 20.
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET. Adapted from Jordan Belfort’s book comes
Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s fifth cinematic collaboration. Anyone who has read the novel and loved it as
much as I have is pretty pumped for its Christmas day premiere. The film follows Belfort (DiCaprio)
throughout his time moving up on Wall Street, laced with drugs, illegal
dealings and more excess than you can imagine. The memoir was such a page-turner; I can only
imagine how excellent the film would be.
Even though the Academy doesn’t seem to favor Leo, there is a good
chance that this movie could let him finally get his well-deserved Oscar. With a star-studded cast and the talents of
the brilliant Martin Scorsese, who could ask for anything more?
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. The leading roles in this cast are estrogen
laced in this film coming out December 27.
Directed by John Wells and produced by George Clooney is the film
adaptation of Tracy Letts's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Juliette Lewis
star in this drama about a group of confident women who reunite in their
childhood Oklahoma house. Here, they
stay with their entire family (which includes Abigail Breslin and Benedict
Cumberbatch), and like all family reunions, it turns into utter chaos. It has already won the Hollywood Film Award
of Ensemble of the Year, and Best Supporting Actress (Roberts), so we can only
expect it will be a big contender this February.
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY. Ben Stiller
stars in this film and directs it too, coming out December 27. This film is adapted from the 1939 short
story and the second film adaptation (the first being in 1947). “The Secret
Life of Walter Mitty” follows a man (Stiller) who escapes his mundane lifestyle
through daydreaming in exchange for romance, heroism, and all things
fantastical. However, when his real job requires he go on a real adventure, he
must take action, real action. Kristen
Wigg, Sean Penn and Adam Scott are part of the cast. Provided the adaptation is adequate, this
adventure comedy shows some signs of surefire potential.
