In the past week, you have seen more movie trailers for the snowy holidays. You all know what that means: The 2016 Academy Awards are coming. There was a few trailers in particular that I found most compelling for an Oscar-winning performance.
1. Joy
Director David O. Russell brought you "Silver-Linings Playbook" and "American Hustle" (both of those pictures were Oscar award winners); now, on Christmas 2015, the new anticipated drama with a possible outcome as an award winner is "Joy".
The film "Joy" is about a young woman named Joy (played by Jennifer Lawrence). We see her progressive journey into becoming a woman. Under the right of her own destiny and willpower, she starts a business dynasty. Along with the pressures of family life and love comes betrayal and facing the world at full force. With her own imagination and self-determination, she carries her burdens on her shoulders and trudges through the storm of life.
Yes, I know everyone seems to love Jennifer Lawrence and I will say that I am a fan. I think she is a great actress in the works "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Winter's Bone," but I thought the "Hunger Games" franchise showcased some of her weaker performances until I saw "Mockingjay Part 1". With "Joy", I can tell she has progressed since her early acting career.
I found Lawrence’s acting very compelling. She seemed the most believable with her tone of fierceness when she says the lines at the end: “Never speak on my behalf--on my business...again.” Very compelling in my eyes. I am quite excited to witness this on the big screen.
"Joy" also features four-time Oscar nominated Bradley Cooper, two-time Oscar Winner Robert De Niro, and Oscar nominated Virginia Madsen.
2. Steve Jobs
Let’s be honest here, two words: Michael Fassbender.
He has filmed one work that is a contender for Oscars. In his new work "Steve Jobs", I believe that Fassbender will get an Oscar for his performance. Ashton Kutcher tried to act but fell short in his performance of "Jobs" in 2013. Fassbender has more experience under his belt when it comes to playing in a drama. His dramatic works include "12 Years A Slave", "Jane Eyre", and the new "Macbeth". With his experience, I believe that he will have a more compelling performance than Kutcher.
"Steve Jobs" is a biographical drama focused on the multi-billionaire Steve Jobs. We have all heard of his company but do we know the real story behind the man of Apple? For him to revolutionize the technology of the 21st century, he sacrificed part of his family life and his declining health. The film reveals his trials and his conquering spirit that shaped the digital age.
In the trailer, Seth Rogen asks: “Ten times a day I read that Steve Job’s is a genius, what do you do?”
Fassbender replies: “Musicians play their instruments, I play the orchestra.”
GENIUS.
"Steve Jobs" also features: Oscar winner Kate Winslet, Emmy nominated Seth Rogen, and four-time Golden Globe nominated Jeff Daniels.
3. The Revenant
We all knew this one was coming, because of this… Do you remember this?
YES. The never-ending story of Leonardo Dicaprio and his non-Oscar win. Every time he has been nominated he has been beat out by someone else. But this year, I believe he was determined to win that golden statue.
"The Revenant" is about a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, that sets out a path of redemption after individuals left him for dead in a bear attack. From what we can see from the trailer, "The Revenant" is going to be an action, adventure, and drama.
Leonardo Dicaprio has been in "The Wolf of Wall Street", "The Great Gatsby", "Django Unchained", "J. Edgar", "Inception", "Revolutionary Road", "The Departed", and "Titanic", to name a few. He has lots of acting under his belt but has not won any Oscars for his performances. I hope this year - for the sake of him and all of humanity - he will win.
This film also stars: Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Will Poulter.
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Let's be honest here. Around 95% of all Americans are excited for this film. This film broke the internet many times, and overall is the most highly anticipated movie of the year.
Although an actor or actress is not quite in the Oscar category (yet) except for Harrison Ford, the director and producer for this new "Star Wars" film is the acclaimed JJ Abrams.
JJ Abrams has filmed the works of: "The Talked" TV show, "LOST", "Mission Impossible III", "Super 8", and "Armageddon". It most likely will be in the all the special effects categories, sound mixing, and possibly best costume design.
If you have been living under a rock: the film is a continuation set 30 years after the last film "Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi" (1983).
This film stars: Mark Hamill, Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Simon Pegg, Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, and John Boyega.
5. Our Brand is Crisis
We all know her name from the prestigious and ongoing "Gravity" wins. Her name is Sandra Bullock. From her early career she was known as the funny woman, but then ended up making her debut in a serious role in "The Blind Side" that skyrocketed her career. In her new movie, "Our Brand is Crisis", she takes on another serious role.
"Our Brand is Crisis" is about an American woman, Jane, that helps with political campaigns is sent to South America to help a new leader rise up in the polls who is threatened by a long-term rival.
Bullock has won an Oscar for her performance in "The Blind Side" and was nominated for her role in "Gravity". She most likely will be nominated for her performance in this new movie but we will have to see the if her performance outweighs the others.
This film also stars Billy Bob Thorton.
6. The Danish Girl
Eddie Redmayne won Best Actor at the 2015 Oscars for his performance of Steven Hawking in "The Theory of Everything". He now stars in "The Danish Girl" as Einar Wegener.
This movie is set in the 1920s in Copenhagen. When Einar's wife wanted a model to paint, she asked her husband to put on women's clothing to portray the women in the painting. The painting gained popularity and ultimately he started to change his appearance into a woman.
Although he was not known for anything he did just a few years ago, Mr. Redmayne has set the bar high with his ability to portray other people in his films he works in. I loved his performance in "The Theory of Everything" and I thought he did a magnificent job. He has also starred in "Les Miserables" and "My Week with Marilyn", and will be in the new anticipated spin off of the Harry Potter films, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".
This film also stars Amber Heard, Alicia Vikander, and Ben Whishaw.
Are you ready for the Oscars? These movies seem to be.
