With Amour taking the Palme d’Or yesterday, another Cannes FIlm Festival was put to rest. As the dust settles, it’s now a little clearer how this year’s Cannes will factor into the Oscar race. While there doesn’t appear to be three Best Picture films in this lineup, there are several highly regarded films that could make some voice with the Academy this year. Check out the contenders after the jump.
Best Bets
Beasts of the Southern Wild for Picture, Actress (Quevenzhane Wallis), Cinematography, and Original Screenplay: The train is starting to gain steam. It won not only the FIPRESCI, given by the International Federation of Film Critics, but the Camera d’Or, which means more than just critics are enjoying this movie. With the power of Fox Searchlight behind it you can be sure it will get the above four nominations, with a win highly likely for the screenplay category.
Marion Cotillard for Best Actress: She earned raves for this role as a killer whale trainer who loses the ability to walk. Sony Pictures Classic is handling the release so you know they will push her hard.
Amour and Rust & Bone for Foreign Language Film: It looks to be Haneke and Auidard rd 2 for Best Foregin Language Film. Haneke’s film picked up the Palme d’Or, and though Rust & Bone was shut out, it still has the star power of Cotillard and Oscar winning director Auidard.
Good Bets
No, Beyond the Hills, Holy Motors, or The Hunt for Foreign Language Film: Both were highly regarded by critics. Wouldn’t it be strange that we could have 5 foreign language Oscar nominees coming from Cannes?
Amour for Original Screenplay: This film will surely play well with the Academy and we saw last year with A Separation they’ll nominate the screenplay for a highly regarded foreign film.
Eric Gautier (On the Road) for Best Cinematography: While the film didn’t exactly light the world on fire, many critics have singled out the cinematography of this road trip film.
Longshots
Best Picture: Amour, Lawless, Killing Them Softly
Best Director: Michael Haneke and Behn Zeitlin
Best Actor: Brad Pitt (Killing Them Softly), Jean-Louis Trintignant (Amour), Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust & Bone)
Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva (Amour)
Best Supporting Actor: Garrett Hedlund (On the Road)
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart (On the Road) and Nicole Kidman (The Paperboy)
koook160
May 28, 2012 at 11:19 pm
You forgot Guy Pearce in Lawless for Best Supporting Actor. He got raves even from people who hated it.
koook160(Quote) (Reply)
Terence Johnson
May 29, 2012 at 12:00 am
Ah yes, with the sort of lukewarm reception Lawless got I must have missed Pearce lol I’d say he’d be in the longshot category
Terence Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
Greg Fletcher.
May 29, 2012 at 1:07 am
I believe Michael Haneke can possibly earn his way to a directing nomination…if things play out right. I’m always delighted when foreign directors are nominated in that category.
Greg Fletcher.(Quote) (Reply)
UBourgeois
May 29, 2012 at 1:24 am
I wouldn’t say Beasts of the Southern Wild is a sure shot for any of those categories. A distinct possibility, sure, but far from guaranteed. Killing Them Softly I think has just as good if not better of a chance.
UBourgeois(Quote) (Reply)
GL
May 29, 2012 at 2:35 am
@UBourgeois, I’m not sure about that. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” has been winning stuff since Sundance. “Killing Them Softly” was respectable and received moderately but still besides Pitt or acting wise, unless it becomes a hit state side, it will follow “Drive” footsteps as another cult classic.
I mean the list is pretty accurate. You missed to mention the previews shown and how Jeff Nichols’ “Mud” was quietly well praised at the end. I would say that, again, it’s too early to really point out a any front-runners or anything. Only in October I think we’ll get a decent picture of where this is going this year.
GL(Quote) (Reply)
GL
May 29, 2012 at 2:37 am
By the way just want to point that out but Jacques Audiard does not have an Oscar much less for directing.
GL(Quote) (Reply)
Derek Sinise
May 29, 2012 at 3:46 am
“Haneke’s film picked up the Palme d’Or, and though Rust & Bone was shut out, it still has the star power of Cotillard and Oscar winning director Auidard.”
A minor mistake. I’m sure you meant Cotillard was the Oscar-winner. Audiard has not garner himself an Oscar win.
Derek Sinise(Quote) (Reply)
Vincen
May 29, 2012 at 6:15 am
So Cannes is here, and I suppose, the beginning of the next awards season as well. Indulge me, then, in what I can confidently say is the last of the predictions and write-ups on the previous season (anyone’s free to contest this claim).
Part I: http://vincengregorii.blogspot.com/2012/05/oscarthon-year-two-i-films.html
Part II: http://vincengregorii.blogspot.com/2012/05/oscarthon-year-two-ii-results.html
Vincen(Quote) (Reply)
Joshua
May 29, 2012 at 4:39 pm
What do you think are the chances for Kidman? Though the Paperboy opened to EXTREMELY mixed reviews, most critics praised Kidman. It’s a long shot, but do you guys think its a possibility?
Joshua(Quote) (Reply)