Nov. 13--HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR BEST PICTURE BRACKET?
Award consultants have finished their scouting reports. The movies have been set and ranked. Traditional powerhouses (looking at you, Weinstein U.) are ready to clash with the Cinderella teams. (Please stop hassling "Inherent Vice's" hippie mascot, man!) Who will prevail when the dust settles, the last chicken dinner has been ignored and the Oscar is handed out Feb. 22? Our early predictions.
LEFT-HAND SIDE
(1) "Unbroken"
Inspirational period epic from inspirational modern woman, Angelina Jolie
(8) "Fury"
Academy immune to non-ironic WWII gore? "Basterds."
(4) "Foxcatcher"
Imposing front line -- Carell, Tatum, Ruffalo -- compensates for story's chilly remove
(5) "American Sniper"
Clint Eastwood has pulled off a late-game shocker before ("Million Dollar Baby")
(2) "Interstellar"
Yes, Christopher Nolan's due. Maybe "Gravity" paved the way for this space saga?
(7) "Mr. Turner"
Academy rewards Mike Leigh movies -- but rarely for best picture
(3) "The Imitation Game"
Period drama best chance for the Weinstein Co. to hang another banner from rafters
(6) "Wild"
"Dallas Buyers Club" director looking to repeat last year's Cinderella story
NEXT ROUND
(1) "Unbroken"
WWII survival, resilience, redemption > Iraq War thriller
(5) "American Sniper"
If this is indeed an Eastwood comeback, could go deep. Critics ready to fall in love all over again.
(2) "Interstellar"
Spielbergian heart, you say? From Christopher Nolan? All right, all right, all right!
(3) "The Imitation Game"
Reviews: Solid but not spectacular. But same was said of "The King's Speech."
NEXT ROUND
(1) "Unbroken"
Did we mention it was adapted by Richard LaGravenese, William Nicholson and the Coen brothers?
(3) "The Imitation Game"
Cumberbatch "yumminess" the X factor?
RIGHT-HAND SIDE
(1) "Boyhood"
Remains atop polls since its July debut. Wire-to-wire win?
(8) "Inherent Vice"
Damn hippies probably out of their element with this crowd
(4) "Gone Girl"
A horror movie about marriage? In Hollywood, isn't that redundant?
(5) "Selma"
Civil rights drama from a rising filmmaker and producers of "12 Years a Slave"
(2) "Birdman"
Exhilarating virtuosity + a Michael Keaton comeback
(7) "Into the Woods"
Trail of bread crumbs for those familiar with the Sondheim musical?
(3) "The Theory of Everything"
Period piece about a genius and the woman who loves him. Does not star Benedict Cumberbatch.
(6) "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
It's Wes Anderson's biggest hit. But early arrival will necessitate trip down memory lane.
NEXT ROUND
(1) "Boyhood"
Story behind the movie is also the story of the movie. That is an Oscar narrative!
(5) "Selma"
This year's Zeitgeist movie? If so, it could go far.
(2) "Birdman"
Yes, it's exhausting, but even those averse to style will embrace hero's artistic quest
(3) "The Theory of Everything"
Likely nominations for leads Redmayne and Jones will keep profile high.
NEXT ROUND
(1) "Boyhood"
Kids! They grow up so fast!
(2) "Birdman"
Careers! They go by so fast!
FINAL ROUND
(1) "Unbroken"
(1) "Boyhood" (winner)
