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Oscars and Golden Globes contenders: November, December releases
What are the Academy Awards prospects for “Life of Pi,” “Anna Karenina,” “Rise of the Guardians,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Rust and Bone,” “The Hobbit,” “Quartet” et al?
The next seven weeks promise to keep cinephiles and avid awards-show addicts plenty busy at the theaters. Here’s a peek at some of the likeliest candidates to show up on Oscar and Golden Globes nomination mornings; catch them early to get in the awards-season groove.
For the latest Oscars coverage visit The Envelope.
By Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times
‘Lincoln’
Nov. 9
‘Anna Karenina’
Nov. 16
‘Rise of the Guardians’
Nov. 21
‘Silver Linings Playbook’
Nov. 21
‘Life of Pi’
Nov. 21
‘Hitchcock’
Nov. 23
‘Rust and Bone’
Nov. 23
‘Hyde Park on Hudson’
Dec. 7
‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’
Dec. 14
‘Amour’
Dec. 19
‘Zero Dark Thirty’
Dec. 19
‘The Impossible’
Dec. 21
‘Not Fade Away’
Dec. 21
‘On the Road’
Dec. 21
‘This Is 40’
Dec. 21
‘Django Unchained’
Dec. 25
‘Les Misérables’
Dec. 25
‘Quartet’
Dec. 28
‘Promised Land’
Dec. 28
‘Lincoln’
Premise: Intimate portrait of iconic president in epic production.
Promise: Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" follow-up figures to get out of the gate faster and enjoy a stronger finish. Nominations likely across the board, with stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and writer Tony Kushner enjoying the highest profile.
More coverage: 'Lincoln' was a tall order for Spielberg, Day-Lewis
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DreamWorks / Twentieth Century Fox |
‘Anna Karenina’
Premise: Tolstoy classic boiled down to love triangle between title character, aristocrat husband and the cavalry officer who comes between them.
Promise: Joe Wright's stylized adaptation split audiences at Toronto. Star Keira Knightley remains in play.
More coverage: 'Anna Karenina' at the Toronto Film Festival: Let the buzz and Oscar talk begin
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Focus Features |
‘Rise of the Guardians’
Premise: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy team to protect kiddos. It's "The Avengers" for youngsters via DreamWorks Animation.
Promise: Asking St. Nick for slot in animated feature race.
More coverage: Guillermo del Toro stumps for 'Rise of the Guardians'
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Paramount Pictures |
‘Silver Linings Playbook’
Premise: Man moves in with parents after leaving mental hospital, strikes up unusual friendship with young widow.
Promise: Toronto audience winner likely to score nods for picture, director David O. Russell, lead Jennifer Lawrence and the great support turn by Robert De Niro. Bradley Cooper a revelation as well.
More coverage: In 'Silver Linings Playbook,' a blueprint for a fall sleeper'
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The Weinstein Company |
‘Life of Pi’
Premise: After a shipwreck, young man struggles to survive on board a lifeboat alongside a hungry Bengal tiger.
Promise: Ang Lee’s CGI-heavy film won some ardent fans after N.Y. Film Fest premiere. Possible powerhouse if it catches on commercially.
More coverage: Mmmmm … ‘Pi’: Early reviews in for Ang Lee’s adaptation
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20th Century Fox |
‘Hitchcock’
Premise: Anthony Hopkins portrays the Master (of Suspense), depicted while making "Psycho."
Promise: Hopkins, certainly. With its inside Hollywood story line, the film could resonate strongly with academy members.
More coverage: Fox Searchlight unveils 'Hitchcock' trailer
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Fox Searchlight |
‘Rust and Bone’
Premise: Orca whale trainer hooks up with lunkhead street fighter after losing her leg in an accident.
Promise: Marion Cotillard again in running for lead actress.
More coverage: 'Rust and Bone': Marion Cotillard solidifies front-runner status
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Sony Pictures Classics |
‘Hyde Park on Hudson’
Premise: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) meets King George VI on the eve of World War II.
Promise: Picture is not winning raves, but Murray’s FDR still a prime attraction.
More coverage: Bill Murray plays the guy ‘on the dime’ in ‘Hyde Park’
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Focus Features |
‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’
Premise: Homebody hobbit Bilbo Baggins embarks on a quest for dragon treasure.
Promise: First entry of Peter Jackson's three-part saga might struggle to bag "Lord of the Rings" gold.
More coverage: 'Hobbit' trailer: Radagast, wargs, a lighter look at Middle-earth
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Warner Bros. |
‘Amour’
Premise: Elderly man (Jean-Louis Trintignant) cares for his wife (Emmanuelle Riva) as her life comes to an end.
Promise: Michael Haneke's intimate drama is a foreign-language shoo-in. Nominations for picture, director and its leads strong possibilities.
More coverage: Michael Haneke looks death square in the eye in 'Amour'
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Sony Pictures Classics |
‘Zero Dark Thirty’
Premise: "Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow chronicles the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
Promise: Immediacy of this historical tale could separate it from other epics in the pack.
More coverage: Documents provide new insight into Kathryn Bigelow's Bin Laden movie
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Columbia Pictures |
‘The Impossible’
Premise: Real-life story of family swept apart by tsunami struggles to reunite.
Promise: Naomi Watts’ wrenching turn as mother won raves at Toronto.
More coverage: Tsunami acting not ‘Impossible’ for Naomi Watts
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Summit Entertainment |
‘Not Fade Away’
Premise: David Chase's coming-of-age tale follows friends forming a rock band in 1964.
Promise: Could be sweet music for boomer academy members.
More coverage: David Chase recognizes value of perspiration in 'Not Fade Away'
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Paramount Vantage |
‘On the Road’
Premise: Jack Kerouac's autobiographical, Beat Generation novel finally lands, with a cast including Kristen Stewart.
Promise: Cannes premiere drew mixed reaction. Walter Salles recut it for Toronto, where it again drew love/hate response.
More coverage: Critic's Notebook: Kristen Stewart's acting shouldn't be eclipsed
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IFC Films |
‘This Is 40’
Premise: Judd Apatow catches up with Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's "Knocked Up" husband and wife characters a few years down the road.
Promise: Sounds great to us, but academy members might find a "This Is 60" more relatable.
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Universal Pictures |
‘Django Unchained’
Premise: Freed slave partners with bounty hunter to get medieval on the (behinds) of assorted evildoers, including the plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) holding Django's wife.
Promise: Quentin Tarantino's last gonzo period story, "Inglourious Basterds," scored a best pic nom, so who's to say academy voters won't go for this spaghetti western? DiCaprio looks goofy-great in trailer.
More coverage: Jamie Foxx says 'Django' will make us see slavery differently
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The Weinstein Company |
‘Les Misérables’
Premise: Revolution! Redemption! The popular musical finally comes to the screen!
Promise: If Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper delivers, it could easily score multiple nominations, including nods for leads Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe.
More coverage: 'Les Miz': Is this the face of this year's best picture winner?
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Universal Pictures |
‘Quartet’
Premise: Retired opera singers reunite in Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut.
Promise: Maggie Smith might be singing lead.
More coverage: Hollywood Film Awards: What are the odds of an 'I like you' back?
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The Weinstein Company |
‘Promised Land’
Premise: Corporate salespeople try to persuade small-town residents to sign over drilling rights in issue-oriented drama from Gus Van Sant.
Promise: When Van Sant ("Milk," "Good Will Hunting") plays it down the middle, voters have responded.
More coverage: Focus' new Oscar focus: Gus Van Sant's 'Promised Land'
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Focus Features |
