Hanks, Crowe, Washington? Must be Oscar bait

November and December is the last chance for the studios to chum the Oscar waters in the hopes of reeling in a gold statuette. And many of these big movies don’t offer just one star turn, but two or even three. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe duel it out in “American Gangster.” Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julia Roberts share the screen in “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Add to that Oscar favorites like Daniel Day-Lewis and stars on the rise such as Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, and you have some heady movies to choose from this winter.

“Charlie Wilson’s War”
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Om Puri, Jud Tylor, Nazanin Boniadi
Director: Mike Nichols
Story: Based on a true story, this film tells the story of liberal Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson (Hanks) who teamed with a rogue CIA operative (Hoffman) to arm the Afghan rebels against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The two manipulated Congress, the CIA and a host of foreign governments. Roberts plays the Houston socialite with the money to back Wilson’s actions.
Buzz: Is there such a thing as a sure thing? If so, this is it. With Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”) penning the screenplay based on George Crile’s book and Nichols (“The Graduate”) in the director’s chair, this film is sure to be whip smart, incredibly funny and slyly critical at the same time. Hanks and Hoffman are definite Oscar threats here.
Web site: http://www.charliewilsonswar.net/
Release date: Dec. 25

“Sweeney Todd”

Paramount Pictures

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener, Sacha Baron Cohen
Director: Tim Burton
Story: This big screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical tells the story of Sweeney Todd (Depp), a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge. Upon his release, he becomes “the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and those who go to him for a shave or a trim lose more than hair. Bonham Carter plays his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, who makes rather strange meat pies. Alan Rickman costars as the judge who sent Sweeney to prison. Cohen is rival barber, Signor Adolfo Pirelli.
Buzz: London’s Daily Mail reported that all the blood in this film left Warner Bros. executives a bit squeamish, and the studio asked Burton to make some cuts. Hmm, what did they expect from a musical about a man who slits people’s throats? Burton told Entertainment Weekly, “To do an R-rated musical with 70 percent singing was kinda like, ‘Well I haven’t done this one before.’” Burton and Depp (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Ed Wood”) bring out the best in each other. This challenging film could snag Academy Award gold.
Web site: http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/
Release date: Dec. 21

“Atonement”

Focus Features

Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Blethyn
Director: Joe Wright
Story: This adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel focuses on how one small mistake can have tragic consequences. When 13-year-old Briony (Saoirse Rona) accuses Robbie, the son of the family housekeeper, of a crime, it not only pulls him apart from Briony’s older sister Cecilia (Knightley), it ultimately leads him to fight in World War II. The sisters become nurses; one seeks forgiveness, while the other longs for her lost love.  
Buzz: This film was a hit at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and currently has 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com. The Guardian Unlimited’s Peter Bradshaw wrote, “There are moments — delirious, languorous, romantic moments — when this film appears to have the lineaments of a classic.” And Variety’s Derek Elley said, “Rarely has a book sprung so vividly to life, but also worked so enthrallingly in pure movie terms.” This is one that should not be missed.
Web site: NA
Release date: Dec. 7

“No Country For Old Men”

Miramax Films

Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Story: When Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) finds $2 million in cash, a load of heroin and a pickup truck surrounded by dead men, he decides to take the money. Talk about a bad choice. Anton Chigurh (Bardem), a man who kills people with a pneumatic air-gun, quickly picks up his trail. Sheriff Bell (Jones) can’t do anything to stop the mayhem that will follow.
Buzz: This film is based on author Cormac McCarthy’s (“The Road”) book, which does not shy away from violence of Biblical proportions. The Coens go back to their “Blood Simple” roots with this one. The critical response reads more like admiration than pure love. Salon’s Andrew O’Heir wrote, “My gut feeling is that this ambitious experiment doesn't entirely work.” Variety’s Todd McCarthy called it “one of (the Coen brothers) very best films, a bloody classic of its type destined for acclaim.” Bardem is a definite Oscar contender — and don’t be surprised if Jones or Brolin sneak into the mix.
Web site: http://www.nocountryforoldmen-themovie.com/
Release date: Nov. 9

“American Gangster”

Universal Pictures

Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Armand Assante, RZA, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, Ted Levine
Director: Ridley Scott
Story: Set in New York in the late ’60s and early ’70s, this film follows the rise of Frank Lucas (Washington), who starts as a driver for one of the city’s crime bosses. But when the boss dies, Lucas takes over, ruling the inner-city drug trade and attracting attention of an outcast cop, Richie Roberts (Crowe), who becomes determined to take Frank down. 
Buzz: Like Washington’s “Inside Man,” this film looks likely to strike a nerve with critics and fans alike. Critic Emanuel Levy is already calling the film “clearly one of the best pictures of the year.” Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) was originally set to direct back in 2004, before the studio pulled him and shelved the movie. Producer Brian Grazer convinced Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”) to step in.
Web site: http://www.americangangster.net/
Release date: Nov. 2

“There Will Be Blood”

Paramount Vantage

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Story: Inspired by Upton Sinclair’s “Oil!” this film follows Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis), an oilman who becomes a tycoon over the course of 29 years. He butts heads with preacher Eli Sunday (Dano), who has oil on his land as well — oil that Plainview wants.
Buzz: After seeing it at Austin’s Fantastic Fest, Cinematical’s Scott Weinberg wrote, “It's more than a ‘departure’ for the director; it's a monumental display of ‘evolution’ that'll wow the established fans and impress a helluva lot more new ones.” Up until now, Anderson (“Magnolia,” “Boogie Nights”) has been known for his large ensemble pictures, but this is an epic that’s focused squarely on Lewis’ character — and one that makes him a leading contender for Oscar.
Web site: NA
Release date: Dec 26

“I’m Not There”

Weinstein Company

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Ben Whishaw, Marcus Carl Franklin
Director: Todd Haynes
Story: Six different actors (Blanchett, Ledger, Bale, Franklin, Gere, Whishaw)  play Bob Dylan-esque figures at different stages of the musician’s life. Each segment tells a different aspect of his life story and music.
Buzz: This is not your standard linear music biopic. While it jumps around in time and the different actors may put off some viewers, for those looking for something more inventive — a film that lets the audience decide who Dylan ultimately is — this film looks like a refreshing change of pace. Critic David Poland called the film “a very demanding, but very clear-minded piece of filmmaking,” and added that it is a film that needs to be seen more than once to be truly absorbed.
Web site: NA
Release date: Nov. 21

“Youth Without Youth”

Sony Picture Classics

Starring: Tim Roth, Matt Damon, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, André Hennicke
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Story: Dominic Matei (Roth) is an aging linguistics professor who survives a deadly accident to find his youth miraculously restored. His restored youth comes with an heightened intellect, which attracts the attention of Nazi scientists. He reunites with his lost love Laura (Lara), but ultimately must choose between her and his life’s work. 
Buzz: This is Coppola’s first directorial effort since 1997’s “The Rainmaker.” On his Web site, he compares his situation to his lead character’s, writing, “Like (the film’s) leading character, Dominic, I was tortured and stumped by my inability to complete an important work.” This is a smaller, more intimate film for Coppola, who always wanted to make films more like “The Conversation” and less like the epic “Godfather” films he is known for. This film may ultimately prove too arty for Oscar, but if anyone can make it a hit, it’s Coppola.
Web site: NA
Release date: Dec. 14

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