Pre-Oscar Season Predictions on the Big Categories

Tom Hanks in Saving Mr. Banks

We are officially in the Oscar Buzz zone! It is the exciting time that gave birth to this particular blog and helped to chronicle just how much I enjoy the awards ceremony. The notable highlight of the season is that anything goes for the first few months. If you have a favorite, there's a good chance that they could make the cut. The speculation sees some of the most ridiculous forms of enthusiasm unfold. While there's some categories that are as yet undecided, many are already in the process of solidifying. This is my attempt to predict what will make the cut before the awards season begins.

Review: "Fruitvale Station" is an Amazing Look at a Simple Life

Michael B. Jordan

As I have stated before, July was an abysmal month for quality movies. While films Blue Jasmine sneaked into the mix with amazing success, this was a limited release that seemed more predicated on an established director. Still, when Sundance's Grand Jury Prize winner Fruitvale Station finally came out, it almost seemed inevitable that it would get Oscar buzz. Partially because of current events, but also simply because it was a compelling character study. Is this story successful in bringing a flawed individual's life to the big screen, or is it overly sentimental for pointless reasons?

Is "Fruitvale Station" This Year's First Serious Best Picture Nominee?

Left to right: Ariana Neal and Michael B. Jordan

After months of speculation and asking the question "Is this going to get nominated?," we have finally come across the first that very well may do just that. Director Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station has become one of the most talked about films of the year largely thanks to a successful run at Sundance back in January in which it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the Drama category. Since, it has only gotten more and more acclaim as it finally reaches a limited release this week. While it seems likely to get a nomination, does this film have what it takes to the Best Picture statue?

A Look at Summer Films with Academy Award Potential

Still from Much Ado About Nothing

With the summer movie season heating up, there is a good chance that The Oscar Buzz may hit a dry spell. True, I once stated that June was the turning point for cinema. It would be that moment in which films suddenly stood a modicum of a chance to burst out onto the scene and get some Oscar attention. While The Great Gatsby showed us some hope, few films seem worthy of an entire entry around the speculation. Films like Star Trek Into Darkness and this week's Fast & Furious 6 at best are Best Sound Editing and Best Special Effects contenders. Still, over the summer months, I have decided to take a look at films that may have potential to break the mold and may be the buzz when nominations are announced next January. Maybe not all of these will be Best Picture material, but if they're even close, we're in for a very interesting ceremony.