I know what you must be thinking. Didn't the Oscars just end. Who tries to predict the Oscars in April, 10 months in advance. Well, Movies keep coming throughout the year without a break and hence The Award Season never halts. Sundance is already over. Cannes and Tribecca are lined up in the next two months.
Trailers are coming out each day and it's time we try to separate the best from the good and try to predict which of these could land up at the Oscars 2017. Expect Martin Scorcese, Ang Lee, Michael Keaton, David Oyelowo, Jessica Chastain, Michelle Williams and a lot of familiar faces in addition to the breakout stars. Don't get Star Struck. Here are the films you can expect to see next year at Oscars 2017.
The Birth of A Nation
When this film premiered at Sundance earlier this year, it blew everyone away. Such was the acclaim that it went on to win the top prize and also clinched a historical deal with Fox SearchLight for $17.5 Mn. With the trailer which debuted yesterday, expect it to sweep the Oscars after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy gripping the Academy this year.
The film is written, produced, and directed by Nate Parker, who also stars as Nat Turner, a slave boy who learns the Bible and when given an opportunity of a preaching tour uses the Bible to start the biggest slave revolt in American History. (Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezWiUTXB11A)
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 9/10
Silence
Directed by Martin Scorcese, Need I Say more? His last 5 films have been The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo, Shutter Island, Departed and The Aviator. And with a December release consider this a lock for the Best Picture race. Set in Japan, the story is about two Jesuit priests from Portugal who face persecution when they travel to Japan to spread Christ’s message. The priests are played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, with Liam Neeson as their mentor.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 9/10
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
Ang Lee, an Oscar favourite, winning Best Director for both of his past two films Life of Pi and Brokeback Mountain is back with a war drama comedy based on Ben Fountain’s award-winning novel. It’s a story told from the point of view of 19 year old private Billy Lynn who along with a group of soldiers from the Iraq war reveal what actually happened in the Iraq battle featuring a Football game. Although the lead is a newcomer Joe Alwyn but the supporting cast has the likes of Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin and Vin Diesel. Steve martin is expected to finally win after his 3 hosting stints. Expect this to do well in technical categories as well and maybe this will even win Ang Lee his first Best Picture.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 8/10
The Founder
Both the 2015 and 2016 Oscar Best Picture films starred Michael Keaton (Birdman and Spotlight). In Founder, Keaton plays Ray Kroc, an Illinois salesman who meets the brothers Mac and Dick McDonald, operating a hamburger restaurant in southern California in the 1950s. Kroc subtly manoeuvres himself into a position to take control of their company, buys it and makes it one of the most famous brands in the world- McDonalds. Laura Dern plays Keaton’s wife. Directed by Jon Lee of The Blind Side.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 7/10
Sully
Clint Eastwood + Tom Hanks. Just give it the Oscar already. Tom Hanks plays American pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who saves 155 passengers abroad his plane by heroically landing on the Hudson River. No one expected American Sniper to win 6 nominations at the 2014 ceremony, similarly Sully should benefit from Clint Eastwood’s reputation and Tom Hank’s popularity.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 7/10
Manchester by the Sea
Another winner from Sundance, this one is a family drama which has been getting unprecedented acclaim for Casey Affleck, who has to return to Manchester by the Sea after the death of his brother. Michelle Williams also stars as Casey’s bitter, brittle ex-wife and Kyle Chandler as Casey’s brother. I am expecting a lot of acting nominations in addition to the Screenplay and Dialogue. If it can carry its momentum it could well get a Best Picture nod.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10
A United Kingdom
The film tells the epic love story of Prince Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo), heir to the throne of Botswana who shocked the world after marrying a white British Bank clerk Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) in the late 1940s. Forced to renounce the throne after marrying Rosamund, he returns back when the country’s economy falters. With powerful actors, expect this to get acting nominations and a Best pic nom isn’t outrageous.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10
The Light Between Oceans
Acclaimed director Derek Cianfrance, (Blue Valentine, A place beyond the Pines) is back with a tearjerker set after WW1 about love and sacrifice. An Australian lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Alicia Vikander) find a baby girl stranded near the beach and adopt the girl. Some years later their world turns upside down when they meet a woman (Rachel Weisz) who claims she lost her child at the same time when they found the girl. If the trailer is any indication, the cinematography, music and acting should see nominees. (Trailer- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7yw00a4fs)
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10
Promise
Helmed by the director of Hotel Rwanda, this is an epic love triangle between a medical student (Oscar Issac), an American journalist (Christian bale) based in Paris and a sophisticated woman. The story will take place in the final days of the Ottoman Empire, which was dissolved by the World War allies in 1922. Christian Bale is an Oscar favourite and after upsets in form of Inside Lewyn Davis, A most violent year and Ex-Machina, Will this be the film that finally gets Oscar Issac his nomination?
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 6/10
The Zookeeper’s Wife
Schindler’s list won the Best Picture for Schindler’s efforts to save the Jews from the Nazi army. This one tells the true story of Antonina Żabińska, the wife of the Warsaw Zookeeper in the late 1930s who saved the lives of Jews fleeing the Nazis by hiding them in animal cages. Jessica Chastain plays the titular role and we can safely presume a Best Actress nod for her.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 5/10
Loving
This drama from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter (2011), Mud (2012) and Midnight Special (2016)) is the most talked about film at Cannes this year.The story is about the interracial marriage of Mildred and Richard Loving, following which the couple was sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958. This landmark 1967 civil rights case Loving v. Virginia resulted in the legalization of interracial marriages in America.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 5/10
La-La Land
This one can go any way as past musicals have done and its Summer release isn’t making a case for it either. But Damien Chazelle’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated “Whiplash cnnot be out of the race completely. The story is about a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) who falls for an aspiring actress (Emma Stone).
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 4/10
Jackie
In an election year, Natalie Portman plays Jackie Kennedy, wife of ex President John F Kennedy. The film will recount the days of Jackie right after the assassination of JFK in 1963. After Naomi Watts failed to win any applause for Diana and Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco opened to bad reviews, I doubt if this will reach Best Picture, but if it’s any good, expect a best Actress Nomination for Natalie.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 3/10
Lion
This Harvey Weinstein backed film tells the story of an Indian kid (Dev Patel) who searches for his parents after being adopted by an Australian couple. Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara also star in this film.
Chances of Best Picture nomination- 3/10
The list doesn't end here. There are more films like
Passengers
The romantic space thriller starring Chris Pratt and Jlaw. Blockbusters usually don't get the Oscar acclaim.
Weightless
Terrence Malik directs this romantic thriller starring Christian Bale and Natalie Portman. The film has voice overs by Ryan Gosling, Cate blanchett, Rooney Mara, Michael fassbender. But there are concerns if this will release in 2016.
Queen of Katwe
David Oyelowo also co-stars in this biopic of Ugandan-born world chess champion Harriet Mutesi, played by LupitaNyong’o, Oscar winner for “12 Years a Slave.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Meryl Streep is playing the alleged worst singer of all time. Maybe a nomination for Streep, but no way Best Picture. Directed by Stephen Frears and co-starring Hugh Grant.
Nocturnal Animals – A drama starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kim Basinger, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon, Isla Fisher, and Armie Hammer.
Collateral Beauty
An amazing cast led by Will Smith, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Peña, and Naomie Harris. But again it will be more of a box office wonder than awards darling
Hacksaw Ridge
A world war drama directed by Mel Gibson. Given the hate for Mel gibson currently in Hollywood, the film looks like a hard sell to the Academy.
Snowden
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays ex- CIA agent Edward Snowden.
The Girl on the Train
Helmed by Tate Taylor who directed The Help back in 2011, this has potential. But, not every film can be Gone Girl.
Looking at all the expected frontrunners, the Oscars next year again seem to be heavily skewed toward drama, wars, biographies and emotional films. One thing that's certain we shall many faces of color walking the red carpet next year. This list shall obviously be altered when smaller indies get noticed at the various film festivals throughout the rest of the year. There will be more films like Precious, Selma and Beasts of the Southern Wild which have not been noticed yet. And there shall be some in this list which will open to awful reviews at and shall lose the steam off in the race. The Award season shall officially begin in September. Until then keep a lookout for more Oscary stuff. See you at the movies!
