At the start of the weekend, VanRamblings once again commences with an exploration of the 20 or so Oscar-contending films that January 10, 2013 will be announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as Oscar nominees, a precursor to what is sure to be an inventive, Seth McFarlane-hosted Sunday, February 23rd, 2013 Oscar gala ceremony.
What is one picture sure to be celebrated on Hollywood’s special night?
Silver Linings Playbook, director, David O. Russell, with Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Chris Tucker, Jackie Weaver, John Ortiz
Of all the pictures that’ll be released this fall, there is no film which comes with more attendant buzz than David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook. Hollywood Elsewhere’s Jeffrey Wells has already adopted the film as this year’s The Social Network, the season’s can’t miss Oscar bait — and all this despite the fact that it’s a comedy, a heart-tugging comedy, but a comedy nonetheless. Winner of the prestigious People’s Choice Award at the recent Toronto Film Festival, winner of the Audience Award at The Hampton International Film Festival — their picks the past two years, The King’s Speech and The Artist, both went on to win the Best Picture Oscar, as is the case with TIFF, critics are already suggesting the wins in Toronto and the Hampton’s a foretelling of a three-peat — with a great deal of buzz surrounding Jennifer Lawrence — who’s carrying The Hunger Games franchise, and was a Best Actress nominee two years ago for Winter’s Bone — being a lock for Best Actress, Robert DeNiro a lock for Best Supporting Oscar, the film a career re-starter for actor Chris Tucker, with David O. Russell solidifying his best director rep after last year’s The Fighter, this time around, though, doing what he does best — off-kilter comedy — and a lock for a Best Director Oscar nod.
Critics’ reviews are in, and just as is the case with the often beleaguered Mr. Wells, the reviews are downright enthusiastic. Some pictures you want to discover on your own. Opening wide on November 21st, Silver Linings Playbook is a Weinstein Company picture release which, if you know anything about Harvey Weinstein, means that the film is going to get an Oscar push the likes of which Hollywood has not previously experienced.
Heck, it’s the weekend, and because it’s the weekend, and you need a little down time — we know that you don’t want to be lollygagging around VanRamblings, you’d rather be outside — we’ll leave you with one more film in today’s post, perhaps not Oscar bait (you never know, tho), but a picture that’ll emerge this coming Christmas season as a box office winner.
If you were in any doubt, Tom Cruise is back, hot on the heels of last Christmas’ smash Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Although Jack Reacher may not hit the heights that the new James Bond thriller, Skyfall, will likely hit, as revved up Hollywood-style Christmas fare, there’s no question Christopher McQuarrie’s adaptation of the Lee Child best-selling novel series will be on your holiday season film radar. Due out the Friday before Christmas, December 21st. We’ll be seeing you at the movies.
