On January 1st I presented a list of the likeliest leading Best Picture contenders for 2012. Today Rope of Silicon's Brad Brevet came up with a list of 25 potential Best Picture contenders. I'm using his list to refine mine and to separate the highly favored or half-likelies from the outright kills.
HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE 2013 BEST PICTURE FINALISTS (for now):
1. Lincoln (mid to late December), d: Steven Spielberg, cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones. Why: The usual Spielberg-kowtow instinct (i.e., to show obeisance before power) plus the impact of Daniel Day Lewis's lead performance plus the instinct to show respect and allegiance for the legend of Abraham Lincoln. Classic historical chops. Will Spielberg try to hold back on his usual instincts? He may, I think, because of the Lewis influence.
2. The Master, d: Paul Thomas Anderson; cast: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern. Why: This project has felt chilly from the get-go, but if it's halfway focused and well-shaped it'll offer a chance for Hollywood to deliver a big "eff you" to Scientology, which, we've all been told, The Master is absolutely not about. Plus it's hard to imagine Hoffman's L. Ron...sorry, charismatic leader performance not emerging as a Best Actor standout.
3. The Great Gatsby (12.25), d: Baz Luhrman, cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher. Why: The usual instinct to honor an adaptation of a classic novel. As long as Luhrman doesn't screw it up, that is, by going all crazy and wackjobby like he did on Australia.
4. This is Forty (12.21), d: Judd Apatow. Why: Apatow has been getting better and better. One of these years he;s going to hit a long triple or a homer. Cast: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, Melissa McCarthy, Albert Brooks, Ryan Lee, John Lithgow and Charlyne Yi.
5. The Silver Linings Playbook (11.21), d: David O. Russell, cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles. Why: No clue, but Russell always delivers so I'm guessing/presuming here.
6. Gravity (11.21), d: Alfonso Cuaron; cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney. Why: The technical audacity of this film alone, described by Clooney as sort of 2001-ish, will surely attract respect and huzzahs.
7. Les Miserables (12.7), d: Tom Hooper, cast: Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway. Why: Classic musical in grand sweeping historical tradition plus direction by Hooper (The King's Speech) plus Crowe, Jackman, etc. And Hathaway finally sings.
8. Anna Karenina (November/early December), d: Joe Wright., w: Tom Stoppard. Cast: Keira Knightley.
To read the rest of this list and all the others: http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2012/03/2012_best_pictu.php
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