MILK

MILK

Dir. Gus Van Sant

Screenplay - Dustin Lance Black

Starring - Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Lucas Grabeel, Eric Stoltz

Opens November 26, 2008 (limited)

Gus Van Sant was the perfect candidate to bring Milk, the story of historical gay politician Harvey Milk, to the big screen. And from the looks of things so far, Van Sant has hit his first home run since Good Will Hunting. I predict Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor Sean Penn, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Black.

This is a big one to watch out for, as Milk is poised to capture the gay rights movement in a way never before done in a major motion picture. If it's good, this film will go down in history. Check out the brand new trailer...

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Dir. Jonathan Demme

Starring - Anne Hathaway, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin, Rosemarie DeWitt, Anna Deavere Smith, Tunde Adebimpe

Opens October 3, 2008 (limited)

The trailer for the new Jonathan Demme film Rachel Getting Married looks very, very promising. From the looks of Anne Hathaway's performance here, she could pull through with her first Oscar nomination. The buzz is definitely under way.

I love the Dogme-style approach that Demme seems to have taken with this film. Check out the fantastic trailer to see for yourself what could become a major player come Oscar time...

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Dir. Paul Haggis

Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, James Franco, Jason Patric, Josh Brolin, Frances Fisher

Release date: September 21, 2007

Despite the absolutely awful poster (see above), 'In the Valley of Elah' might make waves in the Oscar race this year. Directed by Hollywood darling Paul Haggis ('Crash', 'Million Dollar Baby'), the film centers around the father (Tommy Lee Jones) of an AWOL soldier who has just returned home from Iraq and the detective (Charlize Theron) who tries to help him find his son. With Susan Sarandon as the mother of the missing soldier and a supporting cast that includes James Franco, Frances Fisher, and Jason Patric, this film seems like it should be cemented into the Oscar race come January. But the buzz is quite mixed. On one hand, The Daily Variety says the film "is too self-serious to work as a straight-ahead whodunit and too lacking in imagination to realize its art-film aspiration." While The Hollywood Reporter praises the film, calling it "a powerful work that is as timely as it is moving."

It should become apparent very soon if this one has the guns to make the long haul to January, as it opens wide on September 21st.

Oscar Potential - I think 'Elah' is a longshot, though I keep waiting for the day that Sarandon will return to form with a solid role. Tommy Lee Jones has a good chance at a Best Actor nomination.

EASTERN PROMISES

Dir. David Cronenberg

Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Release date: September 21, 2007

David Cronenberg is back with the follow-up to his critical breakthrough 'A History of Violence', and this time he is serious about grabbing some Oscar love. 'Eastern Promises' is a dark crime-thriller set amidst the Eastern European mafia world of North London, starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts.

Cronenberg is one of my favorite directors, with a number of edgy classics under his belt - 'Videodrome', 'The Fly', 'Dead Ringers', 'The Dead Zone', 'Scanners' - as well as off-beat cult classics like 'Crash', 'Rabid', 'eXistenZ', and 'Naked Lunch'. This man deserves some recognition. And as much as it seems Cronenberg may be experiencing a conformative renaissance, his recent films - 'Spider', 'A History of Violence' - remain dark and twisted, yet matured with a newfound artistic precision. It has been said that 'Promises' is extremely violent, not to mention a naked fight sequence with tattoo-laden Mortensen. Therefore, Cronenberg's resurgence may not yet hit its peak, but the momentum is surely building.

Oscar Potential - In my opinion, this one will be a hard sale. Early buzz says the film is a riveting thriller with exceptional performances. After being snubbed for 'History', Mortensen may get a Best Actor nod. More solid though, would be a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Armin Mueller-Stahl. Cronenberg will most likely have to wait until next time.

THE BRAVE ONE

DIR. Neil Jordan

Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Mary Steenburgen, Jane Adams

Release date: September 14, 2007

Summer is nearly over, September has arrived and that can only mean one thing. Movies with Oscar potential officially start rolling in. And who better to kick off the season than two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster? Her new film 'The Brave One' gives Foster her most baity role since 'Nell', starring as a woman controlled by her tragic past, who embarks on a search for justice as a means out.

Director Neil Jordan is very hit or miss, but when he's good ('The Crying Game'), he's good. Oscar nominees Terrence Howard and Mary Steenburgen, as well as Naveen Andrews ('Lost') and Jane Adams round out the supporting cast. But this one is certainly all about Jodie.