Starting from January 9, several movies that are expected to win nominations this awards season will be released in India. Among the titles that are expected to gets nods across the major categories for the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Oscars are Foxcatcher, Boyhood, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything and Selma. The two main themes this year are biopics and reconstructions of historical or real-life incidents. We present the frontrunners, some of which have already been released in India and others that open over January and February.
Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s universally appreciated coming of age drama is the intimate saga of Mason’s rite of passage from childhood to adolescence through divorce, remarriage, spousal abuse, bullying and the general confusion and small joys that characterise the modern family.
India release date: Opened in November.
The Theory of Everything
Directed by James Marsh (Man on Wire, Project Nim), this adaptation of Jane Wilde Hawking’s memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen traces physicist Stephen Hawking’s early adult years, his relationship with his first wife Jane Wilde, and his physical disintegration as Lou Gehrig’s Disease consumed his body but not his mind. Eddie Redmayne’s performance as Hawking is being described as a shoo-in for the best actor trophy.
India release date: January 16.
Foxcatcher
Bennett Miller’s acclaimed drama is set against a backdrop of professional wrestling. Steve Carrell plays philanthropist John Du Pont, who takes an intense and ultimately destructive interest in the career of impoverished but talented wrestler Mark Schultz. Carrell sports a prosthetic nose for the movie, but there’s nothing false about the praise he has been getting for his performance.
India release date: January 16.
Gone Girl
We’re betting on nods in the technical categories (cinematography, editing, background score), but there is a possibility of awards juries deciding to reward David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s twisted bestseller with nominations for best adapted screenplay (by Flynn) and best picture.
India release date: Opened in October 2014.
The Imitation Game
Alt-heartthrob Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the British computer scientist celebrated for helping crack a vital transmission code used by the Nazis during WWII but later persecuted for his homosexuality.
India release date: January 23.
Selma
Ava DuVernay’s account of a major landmark in the American civil rights movement is a rare awards frontrunner that is directed by an African-American woman. Selma is based on the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, which eventually led to the abolition of racial discrimination in voting.
India release date: To be decided.
Birdman
Michael Keaton, best known for playing quirky characters such as Beetlejuice and Batman, makes a top-draw comeback in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu’s Birdman. Keaton plays an actor who built his career on playing a superhero but now struggles to get a play into production.
India release date: January 30.
Into the Woods
Disney India probably won’t be releasing this wicked update of various Grimm fairy tales as originally conceptualised by Stephen Sondheim for the stage and directed for the big screen by Rob Marshall. The prestigious cast includes Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt (tipped to get Best Actress nods), Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick and Johnny Depp.
India release date: Unknown.
Mr Turner
British director Mike Leigh’s biopic of painter JMW Turner, portrayed by Timothy Spall, has wowed the festival circuit. Will it woo the American award juries?
India release date: January 30.
Whiplash
Television and film actor JK Simmons plays a jazz teacher who drills musical lessons into his pupils through the tough love route. Miles Teller plays the drummer who learns to keep tune with his fearsome tutor.
India release date: February 20.
Still Alice
Julianne Moore might hit her rivals out of the stadium with her turn as Alice, a cognitive psychologist who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and struggles to keep her marriage, her family and herself together.
India release date: Unknown.
Wild
This adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest stars Reese Witherspoon in the career-redefining lead role. Wild has been directed by JeanMarc Vallee, who made last year’s awards favourite Dallas Buyers Club.
India release date: Unknown.
Nightcrawler
Dan Gilroy’s sly satire on reality crime shows in Los Angeles could be a dark horse, in no small part due to Jake Gylenhaal’s brilliantly creepy performance as a self-taught journalist a future media magnate.
India release date: Opened in October 2014.
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Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s universally appreciated coming of age drama is the intimate saga of Mason’s rite of passage from childhood to adolescence through divorce, remarriage, spousal abuse, bullying and the general confusion and small joys that characterise the modern family.
India release date: Opened in November.
The Theory of Everything
Directed by James Marsh (Man on Wire, Project Nim), this adaptation of Jane Wilde Hawking’s memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen traces physicist Stephen Hawking’s early adult years, his relationship with his first wife Jane Wilde, and his physical disintegration as Lou Gehrig’s Disease consumed his body but not his mind. Eddie Redmayne’s performance as Hawking is being described as a shoo-in for the best actor trophy.
India release date: January 16.
Foxcatcher
Bennett Miller’s acclaimed drama is set against a backdrop of professional wrestling. Steve Carrell plays philanthropist John Du Pont, who takes an intense and ultimately destructive interest in the career of impoverished but talented wrestler Mark Schultz. Carrell sports a prosthetic nose for the movie, but there’s nothing false about the praise he has been getting for his performance.
India release date: January 16.
Gone Girl
We’re betting on nods in the technical categories (cinematography, editing, background score), but there is a possibility of awards juries deciding to reward David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s twisted bestseller with nominations for best adapted screenplay (by Flynn) and best picture.
India release date: Opened in October 2014.
The Imitation Game
Alt-heartthrob Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the British computer scientist celebrated for helping crack a vital transmission code used by the Nazis during WWII but later persecuted for his homosexuality.
India release date: January 23.
Selma
Ava DuVernay’s account of a major landmark in the American civil rights movement is a rare awards frontrunner that is directed by an African-American woman. Selma is based on the historic marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, which eventually led to the abolition of racial discrimination in voting.
India release date: To be decided.
Birdman
Michael Keaton, best known for playing quirky characters such as Beetlejuice and Batman, makes a top-draw comeback in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu’s Birdman. Keaton plays an actor who built his career on playing a superhero but now struggles to get a play into production.
India release date: January 30.
Into the Woods
Disney India probably won’t be releasing this wicked update of various Grimm fairy tales as originally conceptualised by Stephen Sondheim for the stage and directed for the big screen by Rob Marshall. The prestigious cast includes Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt (tipped to get Best Actress nods), Chris Pine, Anna Kendrick and Johnny Depp.
India release date: Unknown.
Mr Turner
British director Mike Leigh’s biopic of painter JMW Turner, portrayed by Timothy Spall, has wowed the festival circuit. Will it woo the American award juries?
India release date: January 30.
Whiplash
Television and film actor JK Simmons plays a jazz teacher who drills musical lessons into his pupils through the tough love route. Miles Teller plays the drummer who learns to keep tune with his fearsome tutor.
India release date: February 20.
Still Alice
Julianne Moore might hit her rivals out of the stadium with her turn as Alice, a cognitive psychologist who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and struggles to keep her marriage, her family and herself together.
India release date: Unknown.
Wild
This adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest stars Reese Witherspoon in the career-redefining lead role. Wild has been directed by JeanMarc Vallee, who made last year’s awards favourite Dallas Buyers Club.
India release date: Unknown.
Nightcrawler
Dan Gilroy’s sly satire on reality crime shows in Los Angeles could be a dark horse, in no small part due to Jake Gylenhaal’s brilliantly creepy performance as a self-taught journalist a future media magnate.
India release date: Opened in October 2014.