Each month I will be rounding up the most likely Oscar and Razzie nominees for the cinematic year so far. This month’s focus is Foxcatcher, starring Steve Carrell (in an unrecognisable role), Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, likely to be Wes Anderson’s first nomination for best picture. Also studied is Wally Pfister’s unfortunate directorial debut Transcendence.
It’s only been four months since 2014’s Oscars, a show expertly hosted by Ellen DeGeneres – consisting of a live pizza delivery, and the world’s most famous selfie. Winners included Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Lupita Nyong’o, Cate Blanchett, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity from a year of ultimately surprising cinema – a year in which McConaughey learnt to act, Sandra Bullock drifted into space and Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t win again (ok, that one is unfortunately not a surprise, I mean come on, give the man an Oscar already). Yet, now there is enough breathing space and opportunity to look forward to 2015’s show, a show I predict will be hosted by a rather lacklustre celebrity who fails to evoke the same joy DeGeneres did.
As far as best picture candidates go, Foxcatcher is a pretty safe bet so far, revolving around the true story of Olympic champion Mark Schultz’s and the death of his gold medal winning brother Dave Schultz’s at the hands of long-term friend John du Pont. Praised almost universally for the performances of Tatum and Carrel, Foxcatcher is prime Oscar-bait, a true story of tragedy and murder allowing famous actors to shrug off the roles typically associated with them.
Channing Tatum has had a good year with the critically acclaimed follow-up to 21 Jump Street: 22 Jump Street. Heralded by critics as an example of how to correctly navigate the minefield that is comedy sequels, Tatum’s star is on the rise. Currently known as ‘that guy who used to dance in films, but now also does comedy’ Tatum indicated his desire to work on Foxcatcher due to its allowance of him to star in the “hardest role of his life”. Critics seem to concur that the risk was worth it, noting his likelihood to earn a best actor nomination. Co-star Steve Carrell is almost unrecognisable as make-up (who are an almost certainty for an Oscar) transform him into Du Pont, an individual he inhabits thoroughly.
Expect director Bennett Miller to earn a nomination as well, previously the director of Oscar-nominated films Moneyball and Capote, Miller has already won best director for Foxcatcher at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Also prepare to watch Vanessa Redgrave potentially find her way to the stage as she collects her best supporting actress statue for her role as Du Pont’s mother.
Foxcatcher
The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson’s eight film, and potentially his first nomination for best picture – although he was nominated for best animated feature for 2009’s Fantastic Mr Fox, an award he, fairly, lost to the excellent Up. Hinging almost solely on the superb acting performance by Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a wonderfully quirky story of the hotel’s concierge Monsieur Gustave H (played by Fiennes) and the history of the hotel he so lovingly cares for.
Instantly recognisable as an Anderson film, The Grand Budapest Hotel is perhaps the most visually stunning film of 2014 so far, Anderson never fails to create intricately beautiful films as evident in Moonrise Kingdom and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. A thoroughly engaging film, also expect nominations for Anderson in the best director category and Fiennes in the best actor category.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
As far as the Razzies go, it seems hard to look past Wally Pfister and Johnny Depp for their critically-panned Transcendence. Pfister was a long-term collaborator of Chris Nolan, working wonders as his cinematographer before being given the chance to direct his own film, it’s just a shame that film turned out to be such a major misstep. Depp has failed to live up to the heights he achieved with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Edward Scissorhands and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? and as such has seen his stock within the Academy awards fall – not receiving a nomination since 2007 for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Holding a 19% score on Rotten tomatoes, Transcendence is an almost certainty for a few Razzies, unless, of course, Adam Sandler makes and release Jack and Jill 2 within the upcoming months.
Special Mention: Guardians of the Galaxy has been heralded since its release and currently holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, any chance of Chris Pratt for an Oscar nomination?
Oscar nomination predictions so far:
Best Picture: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Foxcatcher
Best Director: Bennett Miller, Wes Anderson
Best Actor: Channing Tatum, Steve Carrel, Ralph Fiennes (dark horse), Chris Pratt (please?)
Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave
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