ADVERTISEMENT

CONTENDERS AWARDS SEASON LAUNCH
55
“BEASTS OF NO
NATION”
(Netflix)
Featuring a magnetic Idris
Elba and a gut-wrenching
14-year-old Abraham Attah
(who won a prize at Venice),
Joji Fukunaga’s epic strikes
a chord at a time of severe
unrest on the African
continent.
“BLACK MASS”
(Warner Bros.)
Gangster films have a
long legacy at the Oscars,
and moreover, Scott
Cooper’s film boasts a
finely tuned ensemble with
performances from Johnny
Depp and Joel Edgerton
that are drawing raves
in particular.
“BRIDGE OF SPIES”
(Buena Vista)
While the spy genre has
never fully clicked for the
Academy, Spielberg and
Hanks certainly have. Dealing
in Cold War themes of
paranoia that still resonate,
the film also packs a heavy
below-the-line punch.
“BROOKLYN”
(Nov. 4, Fox Searchlight)
Fox Searchlight, the reigning
back-to-back best picture
champ, has an interesting
pair of contenders in this and
Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth.”
But John Crowley’s comingof-age
portrait of the
immigrant experience is the
warmer feel-good player.
“CAROL”
(Nov. 20, Weinstein)
Todd Haynes’ lesbian
romance could be a strong
contender in a year marked
by strong female-driven
narratives. Performances by
Cate Blanchett and Rooney
Mara, who won lead actress
at Cannes, could prove
formidable.
“THE DANISH GIRL”
(Nov. 27, Focus)
Tom Hooper’s “Les
Misérables” follow-up is
centered on timely subject
matter (transgender
acceptance), boasts
handsome crafts and
features a powerful lead
from reigning Oscar champ
Eddie Redmayne.
“EVEREST”
(Universal)
In a year marked by films
dealing in themes of survival,
this might be the ultimate
man vs. the elements
drama. The fact-based film’s
emotional pull, physical
scale and advantageous 3D
lensing add considerable
weight to the proceedings.