Director Peter Jackson has had enough of Hobbits and overgrown monkeys.
The Oscar winner turns his talents toward Alice Sebold’s haunting novel “The Lovely Bones” for one of the Fall’s most anticipated films.
It’s just one of several movies with “Oscar nomination” written all over it.
But that’s hardly a guarantee. Need we remember other promising films like “Pay it Forward” or, more recently, “The Soloist,” which also screamed Oscar contender but failed to deliver?
But one upcoming film comes with such Oscar bona fides it’s hard not to imagine the statuettes being engraved with its name as we speak.
Clint Eastwood’s transformation from “Dirty Harry” to Oscar darling is nearly as remarkable as his legendary film career. So seeing his name attached to “Invictus” (Dec. 11), the upcoming biopic of Nelson Mandela, feels like a perfect storm of critical love.
Add Oscar winner Morgan Freeman as the embattled civil rights icon and Matt Damon playing the rugby star Mandela pairs with to unite their country, and you have the film to beat this Oscar season.
Here’s a peek at other movies hoping to give Eastwood’s latest stiff competition:
- George Clooney teams with “Juno” director Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air” (release date TBD). The film follows a frequent flier (Clooney) whose hop-scotches across the country to fire people. Trailer Watch
- James Cameron’s “Titanic” follow-up, “Avatar” (Dec. 18), promises to crush the box office competition and potentially change the way we look at 3-D pictures. But given his track record Academy voters might want to throw a few nominations his way just to prevent arguments over stuffy films winning the day – again. The film follows a partially paralyzed soldier (Sam Worthington) who uses an avatar to explore a strange new civilization. Trailer Watch
- Hilary Swank owns two Oscars already, so it’s not wise to discount her latest film, “Amelia” (Oct. 23). Swank is Amelia Earhart, the flying wonder of the early 20th century. Oscar voters love biopics, and they’re clearly enthralled with Swank. Trailer Watch
- “A Serious Man” (Oct. 2) is the latest from the Coen brothers. Need we say more? All right, how’s this … the film is a star-free vehicle set in the ’60s about a very confused professor (Michael Stuhlbarg) juggling personal calamities. Had any other director been behind the project we’d be yawning by now. Not here. Trailer Watch
- Mo’Nique might be the last name you think of when talk turns to Oscar. Not this season. Buzz surrounding her role in “Precious,” a bleak story based on the novel by Sapphire, has been rumbling around Hollywood for months. Her acceptance speech could be one for the ages. Trailer Watch
- Hollywood fell out of love with musicals decades ago, but every now and then the industry delivers one that’s catnip to Oscar voters. This year’s entry is director Rob Marshall’s “Nine” (Nov. 25), based on the hit Broadway musical, When your cast includes Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman it’s hard to bet against a half dozen nominations – or more. Trailer Watch
- And let’s not forget these films which have an outside chance at Oscar nominations: “The Informant” (Sept. 18) teams Matt Damon and Steven Soderbergh in the true story of a whistle blower in action, and “Coco Before Chanel” (October TBD) finds Miss Amelie herself, Audrey Tautou, playing fashion icon Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
Next Up: 2009 Fall Preview Part II: Zombies, vampires and Megan Fox.
(Photo: Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan stars as Susie Salmon in DreamWorks Pictures’ drama “The Lovely Bones,” a Paramount Pictures release. Photo Credit: Dreamworks Studios)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Now that there 10 slots for Best Picture, virtually everything starring someone who once won an Oscar or that looks even remotely somber can qualify as Oscar bait!
Good point … holy watered down gravitas, Batman! The Oscars lose more and more relevancy each year, and that’s a crying shame.