TheWrap Picks the Oscar Contenders

It may not yet be the Fourth of July, but it's always Oscar time in Hollywood.

"Slumdog Millionaire" -- winner of eight Academy Awards back in February -- is ancient history. Already, studios, indies, publicists, managers, agents, caterers, limo companies and, mostly, film geeks, are looking ahead to the 2009-2010 race.

This year an army of celebrated directors returns to the fray (see sidebar): James Cameron is back. So is Peter Jackson, Jim Sheridan and Steven Soderbergh.

They'll be mixing it up with Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood and Pedro Almodovar.

So in the spirit of Oscar enthusiasm, here's TheWrap's ridiculously early list of potential, maybe, could-be and why-the-hell-not Oscar contenders for major awards consideration. Trailers appear, when available.

SHUTTER ISLAND (Paramount, Oct. 2)

He finally won his directing Oscar (for "The Departed"), but Martin Scorsese isn't slowing down. He's back -- with Leonardo DiCaprio again -- in a movie based on "Mystic River" novelist Dennis Lehane's prison-set novel. Anyone who has seen the trailer knows Scorsese's grand style is present here, but, more importantly for awards consideration, he's also on quite a roll: His last three features, "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator" and "The Departed," all were nominated for Best Picture. At this point, Scorsese and Clint Eastwood (see "Invictus" below) are at the top of the Hollywood heap, both in terms of their films and on the awards circuit.

A SERIOUS MAN (Focus, Oct. 9)
Let's just say that after "No Country for Old Men," the Coen brothers are in "Can't-Miss Land," and their most recent black comedy will test those limits. With eight Oscars between them for "No Country" and "Fargo," they loosened things up a little last year with "Burn After Reading," and despite the hip goofiness that turned some off, it still landed on many Top 10 lists at year's end. "A Serious Man" is about a man (Michael Stuhlbarg) whose life changes when his wife prepares to leave him. If there's even a modicum of critical support behind it, that's usually enough for the Coens.

THE INFORMANT (Warner Bros, Oct. 9)
Based on Kurt Eichenwald's sizzling book about a whistleblower, "The Informant" has plenty of pedigree behind it, including Steven Soderbergh and star Matt Damon. The director returns to the mainstream movies after the five-hour epic (and little-seen) "Che," the obscure "The Good German" and the current experiment, "The Girlfriend Experience." The plotline is similar to 2007 best picture nominee "Michael Clayton" and an overall seriousness that feels like voters will pay attention. Soderbergh does well at awards time when he deals with populist adult themes -- he won an Oscar (for "Traffic") and was nominated for another (for "Erin Brockovich"). And both movies were nominated for Best Picture.

PRECIOUS (Lionsgate, Nov. 6)

There's always a little movie in the mix, and for now, "Precious" feels like it's the one. Lee Daniels' Sundance award winner already has so many fans it seems to be the odds-on favorite to take the "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Juno" slot as the season's "gotta see" gem. Small movies that come from nowhere have more of shot than ever,  since "Slumdog Millionaire" slew last year's studio giants.

BROKEN EMBRACES (Sony Pictures Classics, Nov 20)

In his own way, Pedro Almodovar is as popular on the awards circuit right now as Scorsese and Eastwood.

 

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