Warner Bros.’ recent decision to move “The Great Gatsby” from Christmas Day 2012 to Summer 2013 was a surprise for movie fans, especially considering that there was plenty of buzz for the film as a possible Best Picture Oscar contender. So now that “Gatsby” is out of the picture who are the new Oscar favorites? Here’s my list of ten movies, in order of release date:
“Trouble with the Curve” – Clint Eastwood stars in this year’s Baseball drama. In fact, it opens right around when “Moneyball” opened last year. Co-stars three-time nominee Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, Matthew Lillard and John Goodman. (Sept. 21)
“Won’t Back Down” – Past nominees Viola Davis and Maggie Ghyllenhaal team-up as to mothers who want to take over their children’s school system. Possible nominations for both actresses, and Oscar winner Holly Hunter co-stars. (Sept. 28)
“Argo” – Ben Affleck directs and stars in this drama based on a true story about a group of men who plan a fake movie in order to rescue six Americans kidnapped in Iran in 1979. Goodman also co-stars in this film (like he did last year with nominee “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” and winner “The Artist”). Alan Arkin and the go-to guy of 2012 Bryan Cranston are also in the cast. (Oct. 12)
“Flight” – Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”, “Cast Away”) is the director, and two-time winner Denzel Washington stars as an airplane pilot caught up in a scandal. 2010 Sup. Actress winner Melissa Leo, Don Cheadle and yes, John Goodman again…co-star (Nov. 2)
“Lincoln” – It’s a Steven Spielberg movie with “There Will Be Blood” winner Daniel Day-Lewis as our 16th President. That sounds like a winning combo. (Nov. 9)
“Life of Pi” – “Brokeback Mountain” winner Ang Lee directs this epic adventure based on the popular book. Could be this year’s “Slumdog Millionaire”. (Nov. 21)
“Hyde Park on Hudson” – If he’s great, Bill Murray is sure to get a Best Actor nomination as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Another possible nom for Laura Linney. Director Roger Michell’s credits include “Notting Hill” and one of my favorite comedies in recent years, “Morning Glory”. (Dec. 7)
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – People are already concerned about watching the film at 48 frames per second instead of 24, and that this is just the first of THREE in the series. (Dec. 14)
“Les Miserables” – This dramatic musical adaptation of the Broadway smash stars Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway (all three no strangers to the Oscars). After seeing the teaser trailer, it looks like the perfect film for the Academy to embrace. (Dec. 14)
“Django Unchained” – Quentin Tarantino’s latest stars Jamie Foxx and “Gatsby” star Leonardo DiCaprio. A good ol’ fashoned Western from a director whose previous film (“Inglorious Basterds”) won Christoph Waltz the Sup. Actor Oscar. (Dec. 25)
OTHER POSSIBILITIES: “Zero Dark Thirty”, “Killing Them Softly”, “Cloud Atlas”, “The Dark Knight Rises”, “The Master”
WILD CARDS: “Marvel’s The Avengers”, “Moonrise Kingdom”, “The Words”