Time to close out Oscar release season and see what December has to offer. 1917 looks to be the big contender coming out of this group, but that should be far from the only movie listed here we see again come February.
The Aeronauts (December 6; Amazon Prime December 20)
“Pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) find themselves in an epic fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a hot air balloon.”
Oscar Hopes
- Lead Actor: Eddie Redmayne
- Lead Actress: Felicity Jones
The Aeronauts seems to be on the outside looking in, but with two leads like Redmayne (two nominations, one win) and Jones (one nomination), you can’t count them out.
Uncut Gems (December 13)
“A charismatic New York City jeweler always on the lookout for the next big score, makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides, in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie
- Lead Actor: Adam Sandler
- Supporting Actor: Lakeith Stanfield; Kevin Garnett
I’m not sure anything Oscars-related could make me happier than seeing both Sandler and Garnett receive acting nominations. To be fair, a Garnett nomination seems highly unlikely, though he has been receiving early praise. And Sandler is still probably on the outs, as the Lead Actor category is absolutely loaded this year.
Richard Jewell (December 13)
“American security guard, Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser), heroically saves thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics, but is unjustly vilified by journalists and the press who falsely report that he was a terrorist.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Clint Eastwood
- Lead Actor: Paul Walter Hauser
- Supporting Actor: Jon Hamm; Sam Rockwell
- Lead/Supporting Actress: Olivia Wilde; Kathy Bates
Talk about coming out of nowhere. Filming began on June 24th…of this year. The first trailer dropped on October 3rd. And it’s set for its theatrical release on December 13th. For those keeping track at home, that’s just under 6 months from the start of production to its release.
Normally this would lead most to believe the movie is not going to be very good. But by all accounts, it actually is supposed to be quite good indeed. This is easily one of the more intriguing movies not only for December, but for the year as a whole.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (December 20)
“The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: J.J. Abrams
Okay yes, in all likelihood, Rise of Skywalker will not receive any above the line nominations. It probably stands a pretty good chance at some technical recognition. Special Effects, Sound Editing/Mixing, and the like. But this is more than just a movie. Like Avengers: Endgame earlier this year, Episode IX is more of a cultural event. The series’ popularity spans generations and decades. Maybe the Academy chooses to recognize that.
Bombshell (December 20)
“A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over the network.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Jay Roach
- Lead Actress: Charlize Theron
- Supporting Actress: Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie
Early talk from those who have seen the movie makes Theron seem like all but a lock for at least a nomination. Kidman and Robbie competing against each other could result in neither scoring a nomination. Though keep in mind that just last year we saw both Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz receive nominations in this same category for The Favourite.
Cats (December 20)
“A tribe of cats called the Jellicles must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new Jellicle life.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Tom Hooper
- Lead/Supporting Actor/Actress: It’s a star-studded cast, and I am not familiar with the musical to know which characters will dominate the screen time.
Let me be clear, I refuse to buy into the Oscar hype for Cats. I refuse to see a trailer like that, and think “Hey, there’s an Oscar-caliber movie.” But the talk is still there, for some reason. I’d say it’s best chance is in Best Original Song, for whatever they come up with for Taylor Swift.
1917 (December 25)
“Two young British soldiers during the First World War are given an impossible mission: deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop their own men, and Blake’s own brother, from walking straight into a deadly trap.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Sam Mendes
- Lead Actor: Dean-Charles Chapman; George MacKay
- Supporting Actor: Mark Strong; Andrew Scott; Richard Madden; Colin Firth; Benedict Cumberbatch
There’s been tons of hype surrounding 1917, and it seems primed for a big Oscars presence. The Same Mendes/Roger Deakins director/cinematographer combination feels very Oscar-baity, but in a good way. And the big news is the way it’s being filmed. With lots of long takes, and some nifty camera work, the final appearance is intended to look like it was done in one continuous take.
The cast is where it gets a little more fun, too. The big name actors fill up the supporting roles, while Chapman and MacKay get the star treatment. Game of Thrones fans will recognize Chapman, who played Tommen Baratheon . And MacKay does have 40 acting credits to his name, though likely nothing as high-profile as 1917 should be.
Little Women (December 25)
“Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War.”
Oscar Hopes
- Best Picture
- Best Director: Greta Gerwig
- Lead Actress: Saoirse Ronan
- Supporting Actor: Timothée Chalamet
- Supporting Actress: Emma Watson; Florence Pugh; Eliza Scanlen; Laura Dern; Meryl Streep
Ronan will be gunning for her 4th nomination (quick reminder that she’s still only 25). When it’s all said and done, I don’t see how she finishes her acting career without multiple wins. She will likely face stiff competition, but it’s going to happen at some point. Why not here for Little Women?
Like Ronan, Chalamet is also one of the best young actors working today. He’s always going to be in the Oscar conversation. And the rest of the supporting cast is loaded, both with young up-and-comers (Eliza Scanlen) and seasoned veterans (Laura Dern and Meryl Streep). Multiple nominations should surprise nobody.
Just Mercy (December 25)
“Just Mercy shadows world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson as he recounts his experiences and details the case of a condemned death row prisoner whom he fought to free.”
Oscar Hopes
- Lead Actor: Michael B. Jordan
- Supporting Actor: Jamie Foxx; Rob Morgan
- Supporting Actress: Brie Larson
Just Mercy had some Best Picture buzz leading up its premiere at TIFF. And while it was generally well-received, the Best Picture noise seems to have died down. But with a handful of solid performances, it could sneak in with a nomination or two.
Clemency (December 27)
“Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill.”
Oscar Hopes
- Lead Actress: Alfre Woodard
- Supporting Actor: Aldis Hodge
Clemency is flying a bit under the radar, but early news reports solid performances by both Woodard and Hodge. In what’s shaping up to be a lighter year for Lead Actress, a Woodard nomination is well within reason. I’m a big fan of Hodge, and would love to see him get the recognition he’s due, I’m just not sure this the time.
