The release of the teaser trailers for “Gravity” and “August: Osage County” got me thinking about the incredible second half of the year that’s in store for Mr. George Clooney. After spending last awards season in the background (both literally and figuratively) as “Argo”, a film he helped produce, won practically everything, Clooney should be front and center when the nominations and statues are handed-out next Awards Season.
First, he’s co-starring with Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”, the story of two astronauts who have to survive in a damaged space station. “Gravity” was originally schedule for release last November but was pushed-back to this October and the start of the 2013 awards season. The trailer is amazing and the buzz is strong.
Clooney is a producer on “August: Osage County”, along with Grant Heslov, who he partnered with (along with Ben Affleck) on “Argo”. It stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, and is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. This “dramedy” about a dysfunctional Southern family has “Oscars” written all over it. It hits theaters Nov. 8.
Finally, George is also back behind the camera, directing “The Monuments Men”, in which he also stars. Oh, and he also co-wrote the script and co-produced this story, based on actual events, of a group of art historians and museum curators who race against time to try to save priceless works of art from being destroyed by Hitler and the Nazis during WWII.
Let’s see: A film set during war times, based on a true story, underdogs vs. Nazis, starring Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”) and Cate Blanchett. And a December 18 release date! “Monuments Men” is clearly being positioned as the pre-season favorite for every Best Picture award there is.
Hard to imagine we’ll see Clooney standing in the shadows this time around.