Yes, so I got a bit lazy/busy. With my trip to Ottawa last week and the decision to move out of my parent's house this week, I got behind, but alas, here is the final section of my Oscar preview. In Part 3, I will look at The Hurt Locker, Amelia, The Informant!, and Precious.
The Hurt Locker (directed by Kathryn Bigelow, released on June 26th, 2009)
Premiering at smaller film festivals last fall, The Hurt Locker was a movie that wasn't really pegged to be an Oscar favourite. As of today, there is little to no doubt the movie will secure one of the ten Best Picture nominee slots at the 82nd Academy Awards, which is an noteworthy achievement for a movie released amid a sea of money-gobbling blockbusters. The movie, directed by Point Break helm Kathryn Bigelow, centers on an elite bomb-defusing team in the middle of the action in the Iraq War. After Sergeant Matt Thompson (Guy Pearce) is killed in an explosion, Bravo Company receives a new Team Leader in the form of Staff Sergeant William James, played by Jeremy Renner, who was briefly seen on television this spring in the failed cop drama The Unusuals. Renner immediately captures audiences as the confident and brash James, who seems incapable of losing his cool or his cocky wit, much to the chagrin of Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie). Led by James, Bravo Company embark on dangerous missions in the streets of Baghdad, as The Hurt Locker plunges the viewer into a world of constant tension, with no knowledge to who will be the next victim to the hostile environment. Featuring amazing direction by Bigelow, outstanding acting chemistry between Renner and Mackie and a long-awaited feature on the Iraq War that stays true to its billing, The Hurt Locker is a not just a great movie that captures the terrifying aspects of war, it is a movie that flat out brings you to the edge of your seat.
Amelia (directed by Mira Nair, in theatres October 23rd, 2009)
With all of the fanfare that surrounds the famous pilot Amelia Earhart and her mysterious disappearance, it is a bit of a surprise that it has taken this long to get a major modern film about her life to get to the big screen. While there have been many History Channel specials and a few made-for-TV movies, a true look at the wonder pilot's life will take flight in October. The movie will be directed by Mira Nair, who is best known for directing 2006's The Namesake. While successful in her directing career this will definitely be Nair's biggest film to date. Amelia will star the renowned Hilary Swank in the titular role, as well as Richard Gere, who will be playing George Putnam, Amelia Earhart's husband. If biopics on historical figures of recent memory are any indication, Swank will be taking home her third Academy Award this coming Spring, as three out the last four Best Actor and Actress winners have taken home the Oscar for portraying a character based on a real life person. The movie will carry an aura of mystery, as to this day, there has been no evidence leading to the answer to what happened to Amelia Earhart as she disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean on July 2nd, 1937. Expected to feature her rocky relationship with husband Putnam, Amelia is set to be a triumph which not only chronicles the history of one of the greatest pilots to take to the skies, but pays tribute to a true heroine in a world dominated by men. Also starring Ewan McGregor and Virginia Madsen, Amelia hits screens October 23rd, 2009.
The Informant! (directed by Steven Soderbergh, in theatres September 18th, 2009)
Almost every year at the Oscars, a dark-comedy/dramedy is guaranteed a spot among the Famous Five just so the Academy can prove to everyone they enjoy laughing too. While one was left out at last year's awards, with ten nominees this year it is almost a guarantee we will see a movie that is laugh-driven. I think that movie will be The Informant!, which is actually based on the true story that surfaced in the 1990's with Archer Daniels Midland and the price-fixing scandle, which was brought to light by high-ranking executive Mark Whitacre (portrayed by Matt Damon). In reality, Mark Whitacre became a Dark Knight and was actually punished more severely for his involvement than the conspirators he helped bring to justice, The Informant! is a movie that focuses on Whitacre's ability (or lack thereof) to cope with being an informant for the FBI and the stress it brings him, on top the fact that he suffers from bipolar disorder. Featuring hilarious turns by Damon and the rest of the cast, Steven Soderbergh looks to follow up on the epic biopic of Che Guevera with a bouncy but dark comedy that is yet another classic among the corporate/business film genre. The Informant! sees limited release starting on September 18th.
Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire (directed by Lee Daniels, in theatres November 6th, 2009)
Originally titled Push but efficiently changed as to not confuse it with the sci-fi film of the same name that came out this February, Precious is no fairytale. The movie focuses on young Clareece 'Precious' Jones, a destitute teen growing up in Harlem. Coming from a world of terrible abuse, Jones is illiterate, poor, angry, and overweight, and most importantly, unloved. Pregnant with her second child, Precious is offered the chance of a lifetime as she is invited to enroll in an alternative school, where she is challenged to not only become educated of her surroundings, but about herself as well. Precious is played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, while other cast members include Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, and Sherri Shephard. A champion at this years' Sundance Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize, Precious is a movie that is set to be a true darkhorse in the Oscar race but one that could do a lot of damage when awards night arrives. After all, isn't that what happened with Slumdog Millionaire? Catch Precious in theatres on November 6th.
So that's it. Those are your ten heavyweights. Other hopefuls will pop up and possibly spoil the race, but these are the true leaders of the pack.
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