Oscar Season 2013 Preview Part 1 of 2

It’s been an eventful year so far and we’re looking forward to a crowded and possibly amazing end of 2013. Now, in October, we’ve passed the dog days of summer and the dumping ground of September and can start to see the first entries into the Oscar movie season, as well as attempts to cash in on Halloween. That and the coming glut of family films around the holidays and studio flicks pulling out all the stops to make some cash and create a blockbuster hit before the ball drops on 2013.

The end of the year is always an exciting time for film fans for very polarizing reasons. The blockbusters strive to be big, fun spectacle-filled affairs and the awards season films are character pieces which strive for moving moments, great performances and the elusive joy of critical praise. These two very different types of film make the end of the year box office bliss.

The end of the year in 2013 is full of pieces by filmmakers with great reputations, who usually do great work and almost always deliver stories worth talking about. From Academy Award darlings to big-budget, big-name directors, fall and winter of 2013 will have it all. Let’s take a quick look with some quick takes on a few honorable mention films.

Quick Takes Fall & Winter Blockbusters

Rush (September 27) – Ron Howard brings out the big guns and tries to get back in the Oscar “race” with this film about the (European) legendary rivalry of Niki Lauda and James Hunt staring Daniel Bruhl (Inglorious Basterds, The Bourne Ultimatum) and Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth

Machete Kills (October 11) – Robert Rodriguez returns to his roots with this sequel to Machete. Rodriguez takes the reins in earnest this time as he and star Danny Trejo look to recreate B-movie 90s magic.

Ender’s Game (November 1)—Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi classic Ender’s Game finally gets the big screen treatment and brings on board three actors under the age of 18 - who all have Oscar nods - Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld. Rounding out the cast will be Harrison Ford (!), Ben Kingsley, and Viola Davis; all helmed by X-Men Origins: Wolverine director Gavind Hood. Due to the director, the film possibly enters theaters with one strike already against it.  

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (December 13) – Peter Jackson makes another over-ly long film out of about three sentences of a book that should only have taken one film to cover. Need I say more? You care or you don’t. Most people’s minds are already made up. 

The Monuments Men (December 20) – George Clooney takes on the director’s chair, producer’s hat, writer’s pen, and actor’s smile again - and this time brings a star studded cast with him. Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville, Jean Dujardin and Bob Balaban go on a romp through WWII to save stolen art work from the Nazis. Part Argo, part Ocean’s 11, The Monuments Men has a chance to be the biggest film of the 2013 in terms of both money and accolades.

Anchorman 2: The Legend of Continues (December 20) – Did we need another trip to San Diego to hang out with Ron Burgundy? YES! Maybe… Who knows? We’re getting one! We love the first Anchorman, easily one of the best comedies of all time, but comedy sequels…? Eww, that a rough category. take Ghostbusters 2, Hangerover Part II, Caddyshack 2, Blues Brothers 2000…(this sounds like a future Nerd 5 list…). Things that are in Anchorman 2’s favor is that the entire original cast and director is returning, it’s been 9 years in the making, and the film is a passion project of Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and director Adam McKay rather than a studio begging for a payday.    

    

Quick Takes Oscar Contenders

Don Jon (September 27) – Joseph Gordon Levitt’s directorial debut stars himself, Scarlett Johansen, Julianne Moore and Tony Danza, and is the rare film that crosses both into blockbuster and award contention.

Captain Phillips ­(October 11) – Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks look for Oscar gold as both try to regain top form in Captain Phillips. They look at the true story of the Somali pirate hijacking of a couple of years ago.

The Counselor (October 25) – Ridley Scott and the KING OF BLEAK, Cormac McCarthy, team up to tell a story about a lawyer in over his head when he gets wrapped up in a drug trafficking scandal. Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt (the first of their two films together this fall) Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz (gulp), and Javier Bardem star in this film hoping for critical praise and golden glory.

Nebraska (November 22) – Director Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways, The Descendants) brings a small black & white film to the main stream. Bruce Dern gets the lead role he’s needed for a few decades and Will Forte is given a chance to shine in a rare dramatic turn. The good buzz from the Cannes Film Festival make this film one worth looking forward to.

Out of the Furnace (December 6) – Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) is back for his second film, and this could be the biggest sleeper of the awards season. Staring Christian Bale, Casey Asffleck, Zoe Saldana, Woody Harrelson, Forrest Whitaker, and Sam Shepard. Out of the Furnace will be a rough, bumpy ride - but maybe in the best way possible

American Hustle (December 25) – David O. Russell is doing his best Martin Scorsese impression with this film, and who knows? It could be good. Featuring a cast full that’s a mash up of The Fighter (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) and Silver Linings Playbook (Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro) but toss in Jeremy Renner and Louie C.K. for good measure, American Hustle drops Christmas day for your holiday enjoyment.

Her (December 27) – Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Where The Wild Things Are) tells the story of a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) who forms a romantic bond with a new computer operating system designed to meet his every need. It’s like Siri, except that he falls for Siri instead of using her to find a Jack in the Box at 1 am like the rest of us. These are the roles I would love to see Phoenix play more of, people who have feelings and actually show emotion. Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, and Rooney Mara round out the cast.

Those are our quick takes, come back next time for an in-depth breakdown of the blockbusters and Oscar bait that will really take over the season, including our favorite movie of the week, Gravity.