This past summer has brought us the big-budget blockbusters that we all know and mostly love, and now that the school year is looming if not already upon us, we now transition into the fall season. Traditionally, this time of year brings about a special season of its own in the movie industry: Oscar buzz season. While a movie released at any point in the year can gain the attention of the Academy (as Mad Max: Fury Road showed us last year), there is a tendency for the studios to release their most prized projects in the last months of the year since the nominations and such roll around in January. Keeping that in mind, with the release dates of the following films, the names involved in the projects, and the subject matter covered, here are 13 films to look out for this coming Oscars season.
1. The Light Between Oceans
This film brings to the screen two of my favorite actors working today with Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, and the fact that the two are a couple in real life does add an extra layer to the movie. Both were nominated for Oscars last year - Fassbender for Steve Jobs and Vikander (who won) for The Danish Girl, and this film could bring them a back-to-back appearance on the awards circuit.
2. The Birth of a Nation
With a story surrounded in racial tension, this film is going to spark a conversation no matter what. Focusing on the slave rebellion of Nat Turner, a literate preacher in the South, The Birth of a Nation is a swirling story that could either bring us closer or divide us even more. I’m hoping for the former.
3. Sully
Pairing two of the most iconic filmmakers in cinematic history in Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks, Sully is what I would call a juggernaut that will most likely do well in the box office and the critics’ opinions. In a fact that surprised me when I actually thought about it, Tom Hanks hasn’t been nominated for an Academy Award since 2001 for Cast Away. However, this film will almost certainly put him into position for a nomination.
4. Manchester by the Sea
This film from Amazon (yes, that Amazon) might just win one for the little guy. Starring talent like Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams and featuring what looks to be an emotionally rich story, this film might be our Cinderella story for this Oscar season.
5. Snowden
In the past 3 years, the topic of the government having the ability to survey our actions in even our most private moments has been a relatively hot topic, and that all began in 2013 when Edward Snowden leaked more than 9,000 highly classified documents. Director Oliver Stone, who was the name behind the controversial JFK, might just stir the pot once again, though not on nearly as big of a scale of course.
6. American Pastoral
Ewan McGregor stars and directs in this tale of an unstable family divided by their individual values and beliefs. Following a war, a father soon learns that his daughter has associated herself with a dangerous political affiliation, and the ensuing actions might just tear the family apart.
7. Hacksaw Ridge
This “based on a true story” movie combines one of the most promising young(ish) actors, Andrew Garfield, and acclaimed director Mel Gibson, who is looking for a comeback project following his controversial statements in the past five years or so. How can you make a war epic centered around a man who doesn’t believe in violence? This film has a chance to show us how.
8. Fences
In his directorial debut, Denzel Washington is swinging for the fences. (See what I did there? *wink*) Based on the play by the same name about the patriarch of a black family in the 1950s, Fences is said to be about the struggles of this time period, but as there are no trailers or really anything else, we’ll have to wait and see for more clues to what this film holds.
9. Loving
In yet another race-related story, this film takes us back to when the concept of an interracial marriage was against the law and shows us a couple that’s ready to put that to the test. Joel Edgerton, who is experiencing a revitalization in his career, is a heavy contender for a Best Actor Oscar, and his onscreen spouse Ruth Negga is also highly favored for a Best Actress win. As I watched this trailer even for the third time, I got chills just thinking about the deep emotions of this story, and I can’t wait to see it!
10. Allied
From the director that brought us Forrest Gump, the Back to the Future trilogy, Flight, and Cast Away comes this WWII-period drama about a US intelligence agent’s romantic relationship with a female member of the French Resistance. Thematically like the perennial Casablanca and boasting stars like Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard, Allied has a lot of awards potential.
11. Nocturnal Animals
Almost purely based on the cast list, this film has my attention. Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Michael Shannon, and Laura Linney are all featured in this movie about an art gallery owner haunted by the violent revenge novel that her ex-husband wrote. Jake Gyllenhaal is quickly growing into one of my personal favorites, and this film could get him more attention from the Academy.
12. La La Land
Two years after his rise to success with Whiplash, writer/director Damien Chazelle is back with another great project. Ryan Gosling plays a jazz pianist that is falling in love with a hopeful Hollywood actress, portrayed by Emma Stone, in this musical comedy/drama. I love musicals and the names involved in this film, so I’m really looking forward to this one.
13. Silence
Martin Scorsese, one of the best directors of all time, is back again with a great cast, an intriguing story, and a whole lot of buzz. Scorsese, who brought us sensational films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed, now takes us into 17th century Japan with two Jesuit priests. Featuring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield, and Adam Driver, Silence most likely will not live up to its name and become yet another success for the acclaimed director.
Now of course, this is not a definitive list, as there is always a few surprises each award season. However, in my opinion, these films will most likely be the ones we’ll be talking about in the awards circuit of late this year/early next year. Have you heard of any other films that you think will gain the attention of the awards voters? What do you think of these picks? I’d love it if you commented and joined the conversation or shared this post with your opinions on social media. I love movies and I hope you do, and I can’t wait for these coming months in movie theaters across the country!
