We've already had a look over the first batch of what we think are the Best Picture nominee potentials for next year's award seasons (Missed it? Read it HERE), and here we go with the second batch!
FOXCATCHER
Who? Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote) directs Channing Tatum, Steve Carrell, Mark Ruffalo and Sienna Miller.
Why? A particularly harrowing true story about Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz (Tatum), and the events leading up to his brother, another Olympic Chamion David (Ruffalo), being murdered by paranoid schizophrenic John DuPont (Carrell). Both Ruffalo and Carrell look barely recognizable under a metric ton of prosthetics and make-up, and this could be Tatum's best performance since the little seen A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints.
Odds: Not many people have even heard of this movie yet, but chances are once Carrell shows off his new darker side, it'll be the talk of the town. 14/1
FRUITVALE STATION
Who? Ryan Coogler (nope, us neither) directs Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Chad Michael Murray and Kevin Durand.
Why? Based on a true story set on New Year's Eve in 1998, Jordan plays Oscar Grant, who has woken up and decided to turn his entire life around. But over the course of the day, things are set in motion which will go on the shake the entire country to its core. Already a critical darling in the States, this definitely has an early-Spike Lee vibe to it.
Odds: Quite good, could be this year's little seen underdog like Beasts Of The Southern Wild was list year. 10/1
GRAVITY
Who? Alfonso Cuaron (Children Of Men, Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban) directs Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
Why? Two astronauts get stuck in space, but director Cuaron makes it the most cinematic experience of the year, if not the decade. Not only a tale of human endurance, but also a love letter to all things modern cinema has to offer, expect this to win just about every technical Oscar that exists, and maybe they'll create a few new ones just for this film.
Odds: Up there with 12 Years A Slave as the closest thing this year has to a sure thing. 2/1
HER
Who? Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Being John Malkovitch) directs Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara.
Why? The tale of a man (Phoenix) who falls in love with a sophisticated operating system (voiced by Scar-Jo), this seems like a technical era version of Lars & The Real Girl. Jonze is just on the right side of art-house for the Academy to find palatable, so this is definitely in with a shout, provided it actual turns out to be a good film!
Odds: Again, hard to tell, as Jonze is a genius, but he and his films can be a little too left field for some. 15/1
INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Who? The Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, Miller's Crossing) directs Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman and Garrett Hedlund.
Why? Are you kidding…? It's the COEN BROTHERS! Even their bad films are better than most director's best films! And this story of a struggling folk singer in the early 60s is already being declared yet another entry into their "one of the best" films file.
Odds: So, so, so good. Already loved by festival critics, this is pretty much a sure thing. 5/2
LABOR DAY
Who? Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You For Smoking) directs Kate Winslett, Josh Brolin and Tobey Maguire.
Why? Firstly, Winslett is one of the best actresses of our generation, so she's already got our attention. Secondly, director Reitman was also behind Young Adult and Up In The Air, both award's magnets themselves. Combine such a talented cast with such a talented director, and mix in the story of a single mother harbouring an escaped fugitive, and you've got the makings of something great.
Odds: Unfortunately, early word in the States is decidedly mixed, ranging from "Reitman's best film yet" to "this movie feels counterfeit", so it could go either way. 20/1
LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER
Who? Lee Daniels (Precious, The Paperboy) directs Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Jane Fonda and lots, lots more.
Why? Pretty much this year's equivalent of The Help, a story of racism against a large, historical backdrop that has seen a huge box office return in the States. The cavalcade of U.S. presidents being played on screen alone was enough to practically secure that Oscar nomination.
Odds: Perhaps a little too on the nose to actually win, but a nomination is all but assured. 4/1
MUD
Who? Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter) directs Matthew McConnaughey, Tye Sheridan, Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Paulson.
Why? The second of the three McCon-ominations we have predicted, this has been another critical darling of 2013, with a score of 98% currently on Rotten Tomatoes, and busting out with career best performances from pretty much everyone involved.
Odds: Again, just like Before Midnight, it was released AGES ago, so chances are the Oscar voters won't think to vote for something so out of season. 15/1
Check back in soon for our third and final part of the Best Picture nominee predictions!
