Top 20 Most Anticipated Movies for 2013

2012 has come to a close at the cinemas, and what a year it was! The box office was in the best shape in history. This Oscar season is being called the best ever, and quality films appeared week in and week out. 2013 has an extremely tough act to follow.

As I look ahead to the year ahead at the theaters, there's reason to be excited. As is the case in most recent years, summer looks the most promising with sequels of well beloved franchises coming to the silver screen. A very early look at Oscar season next year also looks promising. Those two factors give me hope that 2013 can be just as good, if not better, than 2012.

Here's my list:

20. The Monuments Men

Synopsis: In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renown works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them.
Starring: Daniel Craig, George Clooney, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett
Director: George Clooney
Release: December 20

When you took an early look at next year's Oscar race, The Monuments Men should be on top of everyone's list, and I'm no exception. George Clooney just "gets" movies, whether it be acting or directing. Here, he does both, and he has assembled one of the best cast I've ever seen, with 2011 Oscar winner Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, and, potentially, Matt Damon, joining the four listed above. Couple that cast with a scheduled release for next Christmas, the film's distributor obviously has early confidence in it. Notice, I've given you reason to be excited without saying a word about the plotline. Anything done around this time in history is sure to become a solid movie, reminding me a little of 2012's Argo in terms of story. I look forward to seeing this incredible cast at work.

19. Prisoners

Synopsis: A Boston man kidnaps the person he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Terrence Howard
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Release: September 20

Giving The Monuments Men a run for its money for the best cast ensemble next year is Prisoners. After watching Hugh Jackman give a career best performance in 2012's Les Miserables, I'm really anxious to see him follow-up and prove to everyone that he is one of the finest actors in the business. Jake Gyllenhaal is a very capable actor, as he proved in the highly-acclaimed 2012 film, End of Watch. The storyline is also intriguing, and new director Denis Villeanueve is an up and coming filmmaker. Jackman and Gyllenhaal working together will get me to the theater. The supporting cast and plot gets Prisoners on this list.

18. Ender's Game

Synopsis: 70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Kingsley
Director: Gavin Hood
Release: November 1

As evidenced by The Hunger Games this past year, a cult-classic novel with a young but talented leading cast with a very strong supporting cast and a solid director can be successful. The people behind the Ender's Game have clearly taken a page out of The Hunger Games's book. Viola Davis and True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld join the cast above in what can be a very capable franchise. Any time a franchise is getting started, I'm going to be there to see if the franchise has potential. Unlike most franchise starters, though, Ender's Game's cast is top-notch, and that's why it makes the list.

17. Oblivion

Synopsis: One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, and Andrea Riseborough
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Release: April 19

I'm one of the biggest Tom Cruise fans around, and I'm especially fond of the movies that Cruise dares to venture into the science fiction genre, such as Minority Report and War of the Worlds. The storyline looks very promising and having Morgan Freeman support Cruise also doesn't hurt. Joseph Kosinski is also a visual artist, having directed 2010's Tron: Legacy and delivering some of the best visual effects in recent memory. The first trailer was also very encouraging, and I can't wait to see Tom Cruise continue his career resurgence.

16. Anchorman: The Legend Continues

Synopsis: The continuing on-set adventures of San Diego's top rated newsman.
Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carrell
Director: Adam McKay
Release: December 20

Of all of Will Ferrell's hilarious films over the past decade, Anchorman is my personal favorite. Ron Burgundy is one of the funniest movie characters I've ever witnessed, and it reminds me of a time when Ferrell was naturally funny and not trying too hard. I'm hoping that this sequel will see Ferrell return to his former, hilarious self. Ferrell won't be alone, though, as they have also brought back his whole news crew, led by Applegate, Rudd, and Carrell, who are equally as funny as Ferrell in the first film. Adam McKay is also back behind the camera, who has directed Ferrell to his best movies to date (Talladega Nights and The Other Guys to name two). If this movie can recapture the magic of the first one, we'll have ourselves yet another cult-classic comedy.

15. Despicable Me 2

Synopsis: Gru, the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions and a host of new characters return.
Starring: Steve Carrell, Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig, and Russell Brand
Directors: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
Release: July 3

One of my favorite animated movies of all-time is Despicable Me. The film is just hilarious with the characters being so well-developed and delivering a surprisingly powerful ending, and, lest I forget, Gru's minions, some of the funniest creatures in movie history. Saying all that, I expect nothing less from the sequel. With the original cast coming back with some pretty impressive additions as well, the vocal work will, no doubt about it, be extraordinary. The story is the only thing worrying me at the moment, considering there is still no released plotline. However, after two absurdly funny trailers featuring the minions, I feel confident that the laughs will be abundant here, and isn't that all we really want from Despicable Me 2?

14. Pacific Rim

Synopsis: When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace.
Starring: Idris Elba, Ron Perlman, Charlie Hunnam, and Charlie Day
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Release: July 12

Guillermo del Toro is widely considered one of the finest blockbuster directors working today, and he's back this summer with what will surely be a cult classic in some circles. The first trailer is very promising, showing that Toro is bringing the action big time on this one and not holding anything back. A solid, while not spectacular, cast has been assembled, but honestly, the only draw here is a science fiction film from one of Hollywood's finest directors, reminding me on J.J. Abrams' Super 8 in 2011 and Ridley Scott's Prometheus in 2012, and if Pacific Rim is on the same level of quality as those two, it will be a hit.

13. After Earth

Synopsis: After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet that was evacuated by humans 1,000 years earlier.
Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Isabella Fuhrman, and Sacha Dhawan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Release: June 7

M. Night Shyamalan is due for a solid hit. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he could do no wrong and was a household name nationwide following The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. Then came the last ten years, where Shyamalan has gone from genius to laughing stock with such duds as The Happening and The Last Airbender. He needs a hit, and After Earth has all the makings of a hit. Will Smith is one of the finest actors in the business, and his son, Jaden, is also very promising. Visuals have never been lacking in Shyamalan's work, so they will be there. The first trailer previews a potentially powerful story as well. If I'm right, Shyamalan will be back no doubt. If I'm not, his career could be on the verge of being over.

12. The Lone Ranger

Synopsis: Native American spirit warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tom Wilkinson
Director: Gore Verbinski
Release: July 3

Johnny Depp truly embodies the term "actor." Whatever role he plays, he's fully committed with no holding back, and as a movie buff, that's something I can really admire. If the first two trailers are any indication, The Lone Ranger is no different. That, in itself, is reason to be excited. Depp, however, also teams up once again with Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski, a franchise that made Depp a worldwide icon. If his interpretation of Tonto is as great as his Jack Sparrow, we might not only have a new franchise on our hands, but we could also be looking at one of the best movies of 2013 come next December.

11. Saving Mr. Banks

Synopsis: Author P.L. Travers travels from London to Hollywood as Walt Disney Pictures adapts her novel Mary Poppins for the big screen.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, and Paul Giamatti
Director: John Lee Hancock
Release: December 20

When I first saw the following words, I thought I was going to faint: Tom Hanks stars as Walt Disney. Tom Hanks is one of my personal favorite actors of all-time. I have yet to see a movie of his that I did not thoroughly enjoy. Walt Disney is also one of my idols, and Hanks, on the surface, looks like the perfect Disney. Now, for the rest of the movie, Colin Farrell will probably have a significant amount of screentime, something I think he can definitely pull off, and veterans Thompson and Giamatti are clearly high-quality actors. Director John Lee Hancock also is coming off directing Sandra Bullock to an Oscar win in The Blind Side, so he is more than capable of pulling off a movie like this. Hanks needs to get back into the Academy's favor, and with this film, he might be able to.

10. Monsters University

Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at the University of Fear -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Julia Sweeney
Director: Dan Scanlon
Release: June 21

You won't find a bigger fan of Pixar on the planet than me. I consider every installment that Pixar has rolled out a classic, and I expect nothing short of excellence from Monsters Univeristy. Monsters Inc. is one of my favorite Pixar films and also one of the funniest. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are picture perfect in lending their voices to Mike and Sulley. Pixar needs a hit after 2011's Cars 2 was poorly received and  2012's Brave didn't receive the normal praise that comes with a Pixar film. They clearly expect big things from this movie since they re-released Monsters Inc. in 3D this past December. Pixar hasn't failed me yet, and I don't forsee them starting now.

9. The Fast and the Furious 6

Synopsis: Plot unknown.
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and Michelle Rodriguez
Director: Justin Lin
Release: May 24

2011's Fast Five is still one of my favorite films of recent memory. That was the first film of the franchise that I had watched. Needless to say, I went back and watched the first four with all films being solid popcorn entertainment. This cast proved in Fast Five that they can deliver the goods in the action department and, shockingly, in the story department. Obviously, the plot isn't there right now, but a rumor is going around that the trailer debut could come during the Super Bowl, which showcases obvious confidence in the film. If they can capture the magic they found in Fast Five, the franchise will be back with a lot of gas left in the tank.

8. Thor: The Dark World

Synopsis: Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness after the events of The Avengers.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Anthony Hopkins
Director: Alan Taylor
Release: Novemeber 8

2011's Thor could have been really bad and laughable. However, it was thoroughly entertaining and Chris Hemsworth showed that he is a star. He completely embodied the Norse god of thunder's character, and I expect the same in this sequel. Alan Taylor takes the directing reigns away from Kenneth Branaugh, a move that I feel will work beautifully considering Taylor's background working with Game of Thrones, a universe along the same lines as Thor's. If Marvel wants to continue it's streak of hits, Thor will be its first true test, but it's a test I believe it will pass with flying colors.

7. The Wolverine

Synopsis: Wolverine travels to Japan to train with a samurai warrior.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Brian Tee, and Tao Okamato
Director: James Mangold
Release: July 26

In my opinion, all the credit for the X-Men franchise being the success it is should go to Hugh Jackman who completely shines as Wolverine. Unlike most people, I also thoroughly enjoyed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so my expectations for this one are high. James Mangold is one of the best all-around directors in the business, having directed virutally every genre in the business. Plus, this will be Jackman's immediate follow-up to Les Miserables, so I'm very anxious to see what he brings to the table here after going through a film of Les Mis's caliber. Wolverine deserves this movie, and so do we.

6. The Great Gatsby

Synopsis: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Release: May 10

Leonardo DiCaprio is easily one of my top five favorite actors as he embraces every character that he portrays with such power and yet restraint that you witness a masterpiece every time he's in front of the camera. His role as Jay Gatsby looks to be yet another role that fits DiCaprio like a glove. The book this movie is based on is one of my favorites of all-time with its simple yet complex and powerful message. The cast here is absolutely fantastic. Baz Luhrmann is great when it comes to combining story with visuals (check out Moulin Rouge!), and he is more than capable of giving The Great Gatsby the big screen adaption it deserves. I have Oscar calling Gatsby's name come next January, and I have me calling its name come this May.

5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Synopsis: The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug.
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, and Benedict Cumberbatch
Director: Peter Jackson
Release: December 13

2012's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a very effective kickoff to this proposed trilogy, and I'm anxious to see what Peter Jackson and the gang have up their sleeve for the second installment. Martin Freeman was absolutely phenomenal in An Unexpected Journey, a pleasant surprise as it turned in to one of my favorite performances of the year. He's worth the price of admission in and of himself. Ian McKellan and his group of dwarves were also great, and as long as this cast is together with this director adapting this book to the big screen, I'm going to be interested and going to the theater.

4. Star Trek: Into Darkness

Synopsis: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Simon Pegg
Director: J.J. Abrams
Release: May 17

In 2009, I decided to start watching the first six Star Trek films starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. I made this decision after watching J.J. Abrams' masterpiece, Star Trek. Naturally, I'm super excited to see what they have in store for us this May. A darker tone is coming if the trailers are any indication, which is something that's going to work great for this franchise. Abrams is brilliant behind the camera (see Mission: Impossible 3 and Super 8), and Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are very charismatic is their respective leading roles. This movie was originally slated for a 2012 release, so I've been anticipating this movie for two years now. My anticipation couldn't be greater.

3. Man of Steel

Synopsis: An alien infant is raised on Earth, and grows up with superhuman abilities. He sets out to use these abilities to guard his adopted world.
Starring: Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, and Kevin Costner
Director: Zack Snyder
Release: June 14

Christopher Nolan radically changed the way people view comic book movies with his fantastic Dark Knight trilogy. He breathed new life into a beloved character that has never gotten the appropraiet screen adaption. Superman is now in the same position. With Batman over, audiences are looking for the next great thing. Zack Snyder is hoping that that next great thing is Man of Steel, and he's a smart man, hiring Nolan himself to produce. The first few trailers have been nothing short of epic, and the cast around Superman himself, Henry Cavill, is awesome, with Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne joining the ones mentioned above. Nolan has been praising Snyder's work thus far, and, last time I checked, he's pretty knowledgable about these things. If he's impressed, odds are, we'll join him.

2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Synopsis: The continuing adventures of Katniss Everdeen, which take place in a futuristic dystopian world, as she prepares for the Quarter Quell.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Elizabeth Banks
Director: Francis Lawrence
Release: November 22

2012's The Hunger Games was one of my favorites of the year, thanks to the electric performance of Jennifer Lawrence, one of the finest young actresses in the business today. Having read the three books, I believe Catching Fire is the best book of the trilogy, so, naturally, I expect the movie adaption to be just as good. While Francis Lawrence wouldn't exactly be my first choice of directors, you could have definitely done worse. Lawrence did direct I Am Legend, a movie based in a dystopian society with violence involved, so his credintials are there. If they follow the mold that the first film set, this will be amazing and one of the best movies of the year.

1. Iron Man 3

Synopsis: Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Ben Kingsley
Director: Shane Black
Release: May 3

Marvel did the unthinkable in 2012 when they assembled the Avenegers, but that film would never had been possible if 2008's Iron Man wasn't the success it was. Robert Downey Jr. is just fantastic as Tony Stark and absolutely perfect for the role. Marvel is starting what they call "Phase 2," which is the individual superhero movies they will release between The Avengers and The Avengers 2 in 2015. Iron Man 3 has the responsibility of being the first film in Phase 2, which means it will essentially be doing the same thing that Iron Man did in 2008: start creating excitement. They've got the crew to do it. Marvel hasn't failed yet in my book, and I fully expect Iron Man 3 to deliver.

Bring on the new year of movies!

"Les Miserables" Review

Every year, when the year comes to a close, the quality of movies at the theater is top-notch as Oscar season begins to heat up. In 2009, audiences were treated to the record-breaking epic known as Avatar. In 2010, directors Joel and Ethan Coen returned with perhaps their best film to date in True Grit, and in 2011, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hit theaters. This year's highlight is Les Miserables.

Having seen the Broadway production of Les Mis and being absolutely blown away by it, I've never went into a movie with higher expectations. However, after watching the movie, I've never left the theater so amazed and emotional.

Les Miserables is the best movie of 2012!

With a piece so beloved worldwide and the die hard fans knowing all the songs by heart, you needed a special cast to pull off what they wanted to pull off, and every casting choice made in this movie is picture perfect. Playing the protagonist Jean Valjean, Hugh Jackman is clearly in his element. This role is, no doubt about it, his best work to date and a career-defining performance. Jackman brings the intensity and emotion that you expect from Valjean as we follow his life-long journey. We become so connected to Jackman's character that we almost forget that Jackman is the actor. From the opening scene where he banters back in forth with Russell Crowe to his best song of the film, "Bring Him Home," to the ever-so emotional finale, Jackman is phenomenal and definitely deserving of an Oscar nomination if not a win.

The supporting cast matches Jackman toe-to-toe. As Inspector Javert, Russell Crowe, while not the best singer in the world, stands his ground and delivers a very solid performance. Honestly, Crowe is the weakest singer here but not because he can't sing, but because everyone around him sings like angels. His crowning achievement come early on in the movie with his prayer, "Stars." Crowe's physical presence throughout the film is perfect villany, and we literally can't stand Javert by the end of the movie, the mark of a fantatsic villain.

Comedic relief in a film like Les Mis needed to be extraordinary. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are hilarious in their roles as the innkeeper and his wife. The song, "Master of the House," needed to be over the top and bring a smile on people's face accompanied with laughter, and it most definitely was. Cohen and Carter fit the roles beautifully so much so that I laughed every time I saw them whether they were funny or not. I couldn't wait to hear what they'd say next, a mark of excellent comedy.

Les Miserables stars a handful of actors that are just getting started in their career, and every single one of them delivers. Samantha Barks, playing Eponine, originally played this role in the stage adaption of the musical, and that fact is evident when she delivers "On My Own" with power and emotion that I never expected from such a young actress. As she holds on for dear life in her final ballad, "A Little Fall of Rain," you truly feel for Eponine and the life she has been forced to live, and you must credit Barks for that.

The relationship between Cosette and Marius needed to be special and something the audience can latch on to throughout the story, and if that were to be pulled off, you needed two very talented actors. Of course, Les Mis had them in the form of Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne. Seyfried has very limited screen time, but when she's on the screen, her presence is felt, especially in her first song with Marius, "A Heart Full of Love." Redmayne has a little more screen time, and he goes above and beyond what anyone really expected from him. Of all the younger cast members, Redmayne's future is probably the brighest because of the skill he showed here. When the battered and regretful Marius belts out "Empty Chair at Empty Tables," your body will probably get chills because of the way Redmayne delivers it.

With an ensemble performing at such a high level, it makes it difficult to declare an actor as a "standout." However, in Les Mis, Anne Hathaway steals the show and most definitely is the standout. The race for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars this year is over. Hathaway should start writing her speech now. Let's not even bother wasting our time over the next few months debating it. Hathaway wins. Hands down, no questions asked. As Fantine, Hathaway gives one of the best performances I''ve ever had the priviledge of watching. When she rises to sing "I Dreamed a Dream," I was speechless. I couldn't believe what I just saw, and the amazing part is that she gets a total of maybe fifteen minutes of screen time. She's that good.

While the cast was great, I also give a lot of credit to the film's director, Tom Hooper. It took a lot of guts to simply say that he wanted to adapt this musical to the screen. Then, once he did that, it took a lot of guts to cast the actors that he did. After all that, then you say you want your actors to sing live. Typically for a musical, actors would go into a recording studio and record their songs months before filming began. The actors would then start filming with the playback of that pre-recorded song playing and then have to lip-sync with the track. Hooper decided to take a different approach, having all his actors sing live on set as if the songs are just the dialogue for a normal movie, and that decision is a stroke of absolute genius. Because of this, the audience truly experiences every emotion that the movie is trying to portray, an extremely rare feat.

I fully expected Les Miserables to be great. I didn't expect it to leave me speechless and in such awe. Les Mis is, by far, the best movie of 2012, and perhaps one of the best of all-time.

Dream the dream.

Go see Les Miserables.......now!

2013 Oscar Predictions: The Race Intensifies

Right around this time every year, the Oscar race heats up as nominees begin to either lock down their spots or lose their spots. Precursor season is in full swing with the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden, the two most prestigious awards after the Oscars, announcing their nominations. Both awards are very telling of what will happen come Oscar time, so momentum either went sky high for some nominees or has now hit rock bottom.

Best Picture
This year's race is, no doubt about it, one of the most exciting races in Oscar history. With the developments that have taken place over the last few weeks, four films have a legitimate shot at taking home the Oscar. Last time, I predicting seven nominees, and this time, I'm sticking to it.

The Field

1. Lincoln
The clear-cut frontrunner at the moment is Steven Spielberg's best film yet, Lincoln. Carried by the three powerhouse performances of Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones, Spielberg was able to create one of the most fascinating movies of the twenty-first century, and the precursors have taken notice. Lincoln earned seven Golden Globe noms, the leader of the pack and a new Spielberg record, and also earned four nominations from the SAG. No film has been able to leapfrog over Lincoln, and with no other films left to debut, Lincoln could easily ride its momentum and take home the Oscar.

2. Les Miserables
While more divisive among critics than I would like to see, Les Mis is still my number two solely based on the fact that I am not underestimating the power of the people. Les Mis has yet to debut in the US, and my theory is as more and more people watch this film, the box office will, obviously, boom, but it will also attract the attention of the Academy, who isn't against going with a more popular film every now and then. A few films are hot on its heels, but Les Mis scored four nominations from both the Globes and SAG, securing its #2 spot.

3. Zero Dark Thirty
After one week of precursors, it looked like Zero Dark Thirty would become the frontrunner and ride the momentum to Oscar gold. Then the SAG and Globe nominations came, where it managed four Globes noms, but only one SAG nom. The SAG's equivalent Best Picture Award is Best Cast Ensemble. Thirty didn't get nominated for Best Cast Ensemble. No film since Braveheart did it back in 1996 has won Best Picture without getting the SAG's Best Cast Ensemble. Now, that could merely be a bump in the road, but Lincoln, Les Miserables, and Argo were both nominated for Best Cast Ensemble. Zero Dark Thirty is definitely going to be a heavy hitter this season, but hold off on the frontrunner status for now.

4. Argo
It's extremely difficult to kick off the season as the frontrunner and maintain that status until the bitter end, but that was the task set before Ben Affleck's Argo. When it debuted in October, there was no question that Argo would win Best Director for Affleck and be the clear frontrunner here. Unfortunately for Argo, no one anticipated a race quite like this one. While Argo should have no problem managing a nomination here, a SAG win in Cast Ensemble and Globe win for Best Picture- Drama looks to be needed if frontrunner status wants to be retained.

5. Silver Linings Playbook
Another film suffering through the same dilemma as Argo is Silver Linings Playbook. While the backing is there for the actors, the backing just doesn't seem to be there for the film as a whole. Although it did manage four SAG noms and five Globe noms, I just have a feeling that, in a race like this one, the Academy isn't going to give their top honor to a comedy. A couple of SAG and Globe wins will help, but looking at the four films above it, I simply don't see Playbook making the final push that's necessary.

6. Life of Pi
Ang Lee's visual wonder Life of Pi has, quite frankly, zero chance of winning here (the same applies for the remaining one as well). A nomination should be coming, however, especially after managing three Globe nominations. While I, personally, cite Life of Pi as one of the best films of the year, it's not something the Academy is going to go for, especially, once again, in a race like this one.

7. Django Unchained
One film picking up some steam and making an impressive final push is Django Unchained. The last major contender to debut, Django, for the most part, has not disappointed, especially on the acting side of things. Four Globes nominations don't hurt whatsoever, but it looks like it will be too little, too late.

Next in Line
8. The Master
9. Amour
10. Moonrise Kingdom

Possible Spoilers
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Skyfall
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Best Director
Nothing new here. Rearranging has occured, but the same five directors from last time remain.

The Field

1. Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
I firmly, and with no apologies, believe that Lincoln is Spielberg's best work to date, and considering the body of work that he has put out there, that's an extremely powerful statement when you think about. He does what separates the great directors from the good directors: he allows the actors to shine. That's a risk, no question about it, but when the actors do indeed shine, the result is magnificent, and Lincoln is absolutely magnificent.

2. Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
It was a big deal in 2010 when Bigelow became the first woman in Oscar history to win Best Director. Can you imagine the hysteria that will follow if she wins again? I wrote in my last predictions that as Zero Dark Thirty's momentum goes, Bigelow's momentum goes. The momentum for this movie is out of this world right now, and as long as that's the case, Bigelow will pose the biggest threat to Spielberg, but not to be counted out.....

3. Ben Affleck, Argo
....is Ben Affleck for Argo. Essentially, in my book, Bigelow and Affleck are tied right now, but I gave Bigelow the edge today because her film's momentum is greater than Affleck's. However, I fimly believe that the Academy has not forgotten what Affleck has done here directing one of the top ten best movies of the year. They also love a good comeback story, and Affleck is comeback personified. If he can win the Globe, watch out Spielberg.

4. Tom Hooper, Les Miserables
It would take a very unintelligent and untalented human being to not make Les Mis an Oscar contender. Hooper, from what I read, goes big with this film, and while that sounds good on the surface, some critics are hammering him for it. That being said, I currently have Les Mis receiving double digit nominations, and if that's the case, I find it hard to believe that Hooper will walk away without one of those. But he did miss out on the Globe. A Directors Guild Award would do wonders for him.

5. Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Ang Lee is, unquestionably, one of the finest filmmakers around, and he proved it with Life of Pi. But looking at who is ahead of him, he's not winning. A nominations should be in order, especially after the Globe nomination, but a win is beginning to look out of the question.

Next in Line
6. Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
7. Michael Haneke, Amour
8. David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Possible Spoilers
Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom

Best Actor
Six actors have a legitimate case for a nomination here, but only five spots are available.

The Field

1. Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
On my last predictions, I said that this was the most competitive category of the year. The more and more I think about it, though, the more and more I feel that it's already over, and Daniel Day-Lewis is your winner. Unless something drastic happens in the next few weeks, he will be. His performance is, by far, one of the best performances I have ever had the honor of watching as he embodies an American legend with so much ease that it should be illegal to act that well. He's fantastic, and the Academy should reward him with his third Oscar.

2. Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
It takes a special talent to bring a character like Jean Valjean to life, and Hugh Jackman fits the part like a glove from what I've seen. With Les Mis set to be a heavy hitter this season, I find it hard to believe that the Academy won't recognize its leading man. It also doesn't hurt that the other nominees are inconsistent at the moment. Jackman is also considered one of the best Oscar hosts of the twenty-first century, and don't think that the Academy has forgotten that. They might want to reward him for that as well. Getting a SAG and Globe nomination doesn't hurt.

3. Denzel Washington, Flight
With the storyline and character that was given to Washington, the Oscar nomination for Washington was already basically in the bag. A win would take some work, though, especially in this race. Washington turned in one of his finest performances of his illustrious career, securing that his name will be called on January 10. He also managed a SAG and Globe nom, a very good sign for Washington.

4. John Hawkes, The Sessions
Supporters of this film have expressed concern that a film like The Sessions would get lost in such a heated race, causing its actors to also get lost. However, Hawkes was able to pull through in a big way with a SAG and Globe nomination. Coupled with the fact that Joaquin Phoenix is slipping by the second, Hawkes should be able to squeak out a nom after all.

5. Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
When The Master debuted back in September, Phoenix was christened the favorite to win it all. Then Phoenix started talking about the awards circuit being complete BS, and the Academy, along with critic companies around, have started to listen, culminating in a SAG snub. He was able to manage a Globe nomination, though, which is able to keep him in the field for now, but a win is all but out of the question now.

Next in Line
6. Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook

Possible Spoilers
Jaime Foxx, Django Unchained
Anthony Hopkins, Hitchcock
Jean-Louis Trintignant, Amour

Best Actress
The two-horse race continues, and I still don't know who deserves the remaining three spots.

The Field

1. Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Lawrence has been able to hold off Jessica Chastain's initial emergence into the frontrunner converstaion, and for that reason, she stays number one for now. She is one of the finest young actresses in the business, and I think the Academy is ready to reward her for it.

2. Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Something tells me that this won't be the last time these two are nominated for Oscars. Lawrence and Chastain are here to stay, and it's kind of appropriate that they will be battling it out all season long. Both are deserving. Who knows who will win?!

3. Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
There's a huuuuuuuge gap between Chastain and Lawrence and the rest of the field. The winner will be one of those two. The remaining three will have to settle for nominations. Cotillard scored a SAG and Globe nomination, so there's no reason to believe that she won't add Oscar nom to that list.

4. Naomi Watts, The Impossible
Watts also managed to score a SAG and Globe nomination, so she's in.

5. Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Helen Mirren is a living legend. She managed a SAG and Globe nom as well. All signs point to yet another nomination coming Mirren's way.

Next in Line
6. Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
7. Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
8. Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea

Possible Spoilers
Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Kiera Knightley, Anna Karenina
Maggie Smith, Quartet

Best Supporting Actor
It seems like I'm changing my order of these actors hourly. In my opinion, eight nominees have a strong case to get a nomination, but only five spots are given out.

The Field

1. Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
After a stellar start to his own campaign and Philip Seymour Hoffman stumbling out of the gate, the veteran Jones has seized the top spot. Jones is an absolute scene stealer in Lincoln and definitely deserves not only a nomination, but a win. As long as Lincoln is on top, and I anticipate it being on top for the whole season through, Jones will also be on top.

2. Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Earlier in the season, it seemed that Hoffman had this category wrapped around his finger. Since then, though, The Master has stumbled mightily, and as a result, Hoffman's sure-fire win has been downgraded to just a sure-fire nominee. Although his co-stars, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams, were snubbed by the SAG, Hoffman broke through at both the SAG and Globes. A nomination should be coming, but now, Hoffman is playing catch-up.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
As I stated last time, DiCaprio needs an Oscar. He deserves one more than anyone else in the business. His role in Django is perfect for the Academy to recognize. If Django can pick up some steam as its release appoaches on Christmas Day, DiCaprio, along with co-star Christoph Waltz, can make a run at Jones and Hoffman.

4. Alan Arkin, Argo
If a film wants to be taken as a serious threat to win Best Picture, it needs an acting representative. Argo's rep is Arkin. He managed to work his way back into the field after being forgotten for a while after his SAG and Globe nominations, and I fully expect him to hold on and get into the field.

5. Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
De Niro could very easily be on the Mount Rushmore of actors, and this performance only supports that claim. His name alone should keep him in the field, but his performance will have to be fabulous in order to jump over the four in front of him.

Next in Line
6. Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
7. Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
8. Javier Bardem, Skyfall

Possible Spoilers
Eddie Redmayne, Les Miserables
Samuel L. Jackson, Django Unchained
Russell Crowe, Les Miserables

Best Supporting Actress
This race is over because....

The Field

1. Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
...Anne Hathaway hits a grand slam in Les Miserables. My only question at this point is how good will Hathaway's speech be?

2. Sally Field, Lincoln
There's other people in this category? Although this is Hathaway's victory, four more actresses will receive nominations. Sally Field hasn't been in the Academy's graces since the 1980's, but she's back and better than ever in Lincoln. In normal years, Field would be a favorite, but in normal years, you don't have Anne Hathaway singing "I Dreamed A Dream."

3. Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Helen Hunt joined co-star John Hawkes on having a big couple of days, scoring SAG and Globes nominations. These two nominations alone should be enough to secure Hunt's spot in the field.

4. Amy Adams, The Master
Amy Adams is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest living actresses in the business already, and the Academy should recognize her with a nomination for the fourth time in her career. She did miss out on the SAG, though, but came back with a Globe nom. Hunt got both, giving her the upper hand, but both are pretty even.

5. Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
This movie as a whole is making a small comeback after being dead in the race for quite some time. The actress benefiting the most from the resurgence is Maggie Smith, who is taking advantage of a weak field at the bottom. She was able to score a SAG nomination, and if you couple that with the fact that nobody has really stepped up below her, Smith is in.

Next in Line
6. Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
7. Judi Dench, Skyfall
8. Samantha Barks, Les Miserables
9. Ann Dowd, Compliance

Possible Spoilers
Jennifer Ehle, Zero Dark Thirty
Kerry Washington, Django Unchained
Kelly Reilly, Flight

The race is getting intense. The questions are starting to get answered as our vision gets a whole lot clearer. However, the Academy won't announce its nominations until January 10, so the race is far from over. A lot can still change, and in the movie industry....

Change is exciting!

2013 Oscars: Best Animated Feature and Visual Effects

Oscar season is about to get in full swing as the precusor season is almost ready to kickoff. The precursor season is simply the time leading up to the Oscars that determines who will gain momentum and pick up an Oscar nomination. Various critic companies around the country, such as the New York Film Critics, will give out awards just like the Oscars would. A very common, and most recognizable, precursor awards show is the Golden Globes. As these precursors give out their awards, it dictates what we can expect when the Oscar nominations are announced. That's why it's so vital to pay attention to the precursor because it will give us an inside track to the Oscars.

We continue our Oscar predictions today by taking a look at the Best Animated Feature and Visual Effects category.

Best Animated Feature
While many races still have a lot of unanswered questions, Best Animated Feature does not. All the films that will be under consideration by the Academy to land a nomination have already been released. The field might change in the coming weeks, but the batch of movies won't. This is our first prediction that can very easily be the same prediction we have on our last predictions right before the announcement.

The Field

1. Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph has always been on the radar to be a contender if for no other reason than it looked good and Disney was behind it. But hardly anyone, including me, expected it to assume the title of frontrunner. Featuring the talented voice work of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, and Jane Lynch, Wreck-It Ralph has immediately become an instant Disney classic, and when a movie can obtain that status, it deserves to be a frontrunner. Throw in the fact that it is currently on one of the best box office runs of the year, meaning a lot of folks have seen it, and it's Wreck-It Ralph's race to lose. If it does win, Wreck-It Ralph will be the first time a Disney Animated Studios film has won this category without the help of Pixar, and speaking of Pixar......

2. Brave
Pixar's twelfth movie was the frontrunner at the beginning of the race, and it remains near the top as we enter heart of the awards season. With the help of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson, Pixar was able to produce yet another classic movie. While considered a step down from other Pixar greats, such as Finding Nemo and Toy Story 3 (both previous Best Animated Feature winners), Brave should have no problem securing a spot in the field.

3. Frankenweenie
And Disney makes it a trifecta! Three Disney films hold the top three spots in the field right now, and rightfully so. Tim Burton's stop-motion adaption was probably the most well-received among critics of the three, boasting an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it also boasts the weakest box office, grossing only $34 million compared to Brave's $237 million and Wreck-It Ralph's $153 million and counting. More people have seen the first two, and I think that momentum will end up costing Frankenweenie the victory.

4. Rise of the Guardians
Going into the year, if Brave wasn't going to win, many people had their eye on Rise of the Guardians, the next animated feature from the studio that gave us How to Train Your Dragon. The pedigree was there for Rise to be a legit contender: a proven studio with a heart-warming story backed by an extremely talented vocal cast (Hugh Jackman is the Easter Bunny). However, when it debuted over Thanksgiving, the word on the movie wasn't as enthusiastic as anticipated. Couple that with a lackluster box office performance thus far, and I think Rise is out of the race for a win.

5. ParaNorman
A film that fell under the radar upon its release, ParaNorman was loved by critics and audiences alike. With a surprisingly solid story and fantastic stop-motion from the creators of Coraline (a nominee in 2010's field), ParaNorman was, at the time, consider a threat to win this category. However, the box office disappointed, grossing only $56 million. A win is out of the question, but a nomination is actually tangible thanks to a weak field behind it.

Next in Line
6. The Painting
7. From Up on Poppy Hill
8. A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
9. Hotel Transylvania
10. Dr. Suess' The Lorax

Spoilers
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
The Pirates: Band of Misfits

Best Visual Effects
My first technical category prediction comes in the Best Visual Effects category. This category has always been a fun one to predict because it's the only category that being a blockbuster helps your case. Every movie on this list has been seen by the public, separating itself from the rest of the categories. Earlier this week, the Academy announced ten movies will have the shot at getting in this field. As I will with every technical category, I won't give analysis, just a prediction.

The Field

Life of Pi
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Marvel's The Avengers
Prometheus
Cloud Atlas

Next in Line
The Dark Knight Rises
Skyfall
John Carter

Spoilers
Snow White and the Huntsman
The Amazing Spiderman

Oscar season will heat up here in the next few weeks, so pay attention because my predictions will change weekly as the precursors begin to roll out. But for now, here's where we stand.

Enjoy the race!

2013 Oscar Predictions: First Look

The day has finally come where I get to make my first Oscar predictions of the season. Now, obviously, these predictions probably won't be the same predictions that I make a few days before the nominations are announced. But that's the beauty of the Oscars. Everyone on this list, whether in the field at the moment or not, is worthy and has given us something that we'll never forget. Predictions might change, but nothing will change the fact that these actors and pictures are the best Hollywood has to offer.

I'm only going to predict the main six categories: picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. I'll give you who I think is in and why, the "next-in-line" contenders (movies/actors that aren't in, but could be down the road), and the possible spoilers (movies/actors that probably won't get nominated, but you never know).


Best Picture
Every since 2010, the Best Picture race has been very unique, but also very confusing. Up to 2008, there was only 5 nominees, no exceptions. However, in 2008, The Dark Knight was snubbed a nomination, causing the everyday fans to cry out to the Academy to give them movies that they have actually watched. The Academy listened, and expanded the field to 10 nominees for the 2010 and 2011 Oscars. But after the 2011 show, they changed it again, saying that there could be anywhere from 5 to 10 nominations. For the 2012 Oscars, we got 9 nominations. Nothing has changed this year, so those rules apply to this year, making it extremely difficult to predict. Luckily, there are numerous worthy films out there. Right now, I have seven films in the field.

The Field

1. Lincoln
When people started looking at this year's race, it would be crazy for people not to look at Steven Spielberg's biopic. However, being the frontrunner that far out could lead to insurmounatble expectations. Those expectations were there for Lincoln, and it went above and beyond those expectations, giving us a truly great American film. The stars shine brighest, led by TIME's greatest living actor on the planet, Daniel Day-Lewis, and supported tremendously by Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. If you haven't see Lincoln yet, you need to because you'll be hearing its name all season and especially come Oscar Sunday.

2. Les Miserables
As I am writing this, Les Mis has just been screened for an audience in New York. After the film was done, according to reports, a raucous standing ovation followed with tears falling from the eyes of the audience members. After every main musical number, applause followed. And just like that, Les Mis is a top-tier contender. Everything I've read about the screening says that virtually everyone left feeling the same way: awestruck. The movie apparently captures the raw emotion of the musical stage adaption and the actors give career best performances. I thought all along that Les Mis would be a contender, but I might be wrong. It might be the winner.

3. Argo
The film that essentially kicked off the Oscar season was Ben Affleck's Argo. Affleck has directed some high quality movies such as Gone Baby Gone and The Town, but when the nominations were announced in those movie's years, the films and Affleck were ignored (both only receiving 1 nomination). With Argo, though, Affleck finally has a film that the Academy has no choice but pay attention to. By far his best effort, Affleck is able to turn a story that could have gone to the boring side easily and turned it into one of the year's best. With the help of a cast led by Affleck himself and Oscar turns for Alan Arkin and veteran John Goodman, watch out for Argo.

4. Silver Linings Playbook
When Silver Linings Playbook debuted at the Toronto Film Festival earlier in the season, a moderate contender quickly became a force to be reckoned with, with some predictions putting it as the film to beat. Unfortunately, that was before Lincoln and Les Miserables had debuted. That being said, Playbook is still very much in the race. Silver Linings Playbook reminds me of director David O. Russell's last project, The Fighter, when it comes to Oscar contention. The Fighter was able to muster seven nominations, including Best Picture and Director, but only managed two wins in Supporting Actor and Actress. That's my feel, at the moment, for Silver Linings Playbook: heavy contender in the acting categories, but missing out on the big prizes.

5. Life of Pi
The past few years, a family movie has been able to sneak in to the Best Picture field. In 2010, Up received a nomination with Toy Story 3 following in 2011 and Hugo in 2012. 2013's entry is Life of Pi. Director Ang Lee is behind the camera of this movie, and he is an Academy favorite, directing Brokeback Mountain to 8 nominations and 3 wins. This is the first film since Brokeback that the Academy will feel comfortable recognizing Lee's work. Having no animated movies in contention here also helps Pi's chances. It would take a miracle for Life of Pi to get a win here, but a nomination is likely.

6. Zero Dark Thirty
The more and more I think about Zero Dark Thirty and its Oscar prosepcts, the more and more I feel confident that Kathyrn Bigelow is directed her second Best Picture nomination. Obviously, a lot can change with the movie considering nobody has seen it yet. However, all signs point to this one being a serious contender, so until I hear differently, it'll be in the field.

7. The Master
Director Paul Thomas Anderson has had quite an illustrious career, giving us such classics as There Will Be Blood and Magnolia. Rightfully so, expectations were high for The Master starring Oscar hopefuls Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. When the film was released in September, however, the reviews were divisive, leaving some mesmorized and some unfulfilled. That's never good for an Oscar contender because that is also how the Academy probably feels. Regardless, I expect The Master to hold on, just barely holding off the next in line contenders.

Next in Line
8. Amour
9. Beast of the Southern Wild
10. Django Unchained
11. Skyfall

Possible Spoilers
Flight
Moonrise Kingdom
Promised Land

Best Director
This year's Best Director field makes it really easy for people who love movies to get excited about because you have some of the industry's best going up against the best. As will be the case in a few of these categories, some very worthy directors will be left out of the field, which also means that whoever does indeed get nominated has a legit shot at actually winning.

The Field

1. Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Steven Spielberg is, unquestionably, one of the finest directors Hollywood has ever seen, and the Academy has taken notice over the years, gracing him with 6 Best Director nominations and 2 wins for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. However, taking away his nomination for Munich in 2006, he hasn't received a nomination since Saving Private Ryan back in 1999. The Academy is desperately waiting on the chance to recognize after last year's War Horse failed to live up to expectations. This year is his year.

2. Ben Affleck, Argo
As I wrote in Argo's Best Picture analysis, this is Affleck career best in any field of business, whether it be acting or directing. As long as Argo is contending, Affleck will be contending. It's time for the Academy to recognize one of Hollywood's most talented up and coming directors, and Affleck will reap those demands.

3. Tom Hooper, Les Miserables
In 2011, some unknown director named Tom Hooper came in and won Best Director for his Best Picture-winning film, The King's Speech. But anyone can make one fantastic movie. The challenge is making two, and Hooper has done it with Les Mis. I read an article that said that Les Mis is so good that it would not surprise a soul in Hollywood if Hooper joined the ranks of the immortal and won his second Oscar. The momentum for this movie needs to be tremendous, though, if he wants to push beyond Spielberg and Affleck. But you got to start somewhere.

4. Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Life of Pi continues to remind me of last year's Hugo: a family-friendly movie released over Thanksgiving that is visually stunning with no stars but an Oscar-winning director behind the camera. If that comparison holds true, Lee will get his third nomination unless someone below him picks up some serious steam.

5. Kathyrn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty
As the movie's momentum goes, Bigelow goes, and at the moment, the momentum is high, allowing Bigelow to sneak into the field. As I mentioned before, a lot of unanswered questions are out there still on the film. If it's good, Bigelow could join Hooper as the shockers of the season. If it's not good, Bigelow won't be able to hold on.

Next in Line
6. David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
7. Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master
8. Michael Haneke, Amour
9. Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Possible Spoilers
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Sam Mendes, Skyfall
Gus Van Sant, Promised Land
Robert Zemeckis, Flight
Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom

Best Actor
Of all the categories this year, this one is the most competitive. Some possible nominees that would be frontrunners in other years won't even get in the field. Unlike any category, every single nominee can easily pull out a win.

The Field

1. Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Noticing a trend? Lincoln is a major contender, and you can say the reason for that is because of what Daniel Day-Lewis did, giving us an unforgetable performance as our sixteenth president. With a figure so revered and iconic, Steven Spielberg needed a special actor that would be completely devoted to the character. Saying he hit a homerun with Day-Lewis is quite the understatement. Day-Lewis is considered the industry's greatest living actor, and the fact that some are calling this performance his best is a bold statement. That fact alone will get him his fifth nomination and quite possibly his third win.

2. Denzel Washington, Flight
Who doesn't love Washington? It seems like every movie that he is in is top-notch and something you'll be talking about the rest of the year, and the Academy agrees, giving Denzel 5 nominations over his career with 2 wins. But he hasn't been recognized since 2002, so you better believe that the Academy is chopping at the bit to give him another nomination. A win is a little more difficult because Day-Lewis is ahead of you, but if anyone can dethrone the king, it's Washington.

3. Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
I haven't seen The Master myself, but what I've heard about Phoenix's performance is pretty consistent in saying that it's awesome. However, I've also read some of Phoenix's comments about the Oscars, saying that the whole Oscar experience is "BS." Some people dismissed these comments, but I'm not underestimating the effect that these comments will have on the Academy, a very prideful bunch. Phoenix should be able to muster a nomination, but a win is more difficult.

4. Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Whenever an actor experiences physical changes to suit a role, the Academy notices. Jackman loss 30 pounds for just the opening minutes of the film, only to gain it back to look like Jean Valjean for the rest of the film. As I watched the stage show, I left feeling that Jackman was absolutely perfect for the part given his experience on Broadway. His role is just too tailor-made for the Academy to ignore.

5. John Hawkes, The Sessions
In a year as competitive as this one, it's difficult for a movie like The Sessions to get any traction in the races. However, what I've heard about Hawkes' performance is that it's pretty stellar and definitely worthy of being next to the first four veterans. If he campaigns hard enough, he should sneak in to the field, but a win is probably not going to happen.

Next in Line
6. Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
7. Anthony Hopkins, Hitchcock
8. Richard Gere, Arbitrage
9. Jean-Louis Trintigant, Amour

Possible Spoilers
Ben Affleck, Argo
Matt Damon, Promised Land
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Jaime Foxx, Django Unchained

Best Actress
We've gone from the most competitive category of the year to the least competitive category of the year. No disrespect to the ladies in the field at the moment, but only two actresses have a legitimate shot of winning this one, with the other three nominees just happy to be nominated.

The Field

1. Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
The part of Silver Linings Playbook that benefited the most from the buzz after the Toronto Film Festival is Jennifer Lawrence, who went from possible nominee to clear-cut frontrunner. With already one Oscar nomination under her belt for 2010's Winter's Bone and, of course, The Hunger Games franchsie, Lawrence is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's finest actresses, and she, barring a career-defining performance from Jessica Chastain, will take step one to becoming one of Hollywood's elites in February: winning an Oscar.

2. Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Last year, Chastain might have had the best year an actress has ever had, going from absolute no one to Oscar nominee with her turn in The Help. This year, she's back and is likely the only legit challenger to Lawrence. All signs point to Chastain given the opportunity to shine, and if Zero Dark Thirty is as good as anticipated, we'll have a race on our hands.

3. Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Coming in at only nine years old, Wallis will easily be the youngest Oscar nominee, and she is reaping the benefits of a weak field. In most years, the Academy wouldn't dare nominate someone so young, but combine the fact that Wallis gives an impressive performance with a weak field and Wallis is on her way to a nomination, but a win isn't going to happen as of now.

4. Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
In many critic's opinion, Cotillard is the finest actress in the business today, winning Best Actress back in 2008. She has turned in another worthy performance, and with this weak field, I think she'll be able to sneak in on name status alone.

5. Naomi Watts, The Impossible
I really don't know who will get this last spot. Watts was just the one I felt like putting there today.

Next in Line
6. Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
7. Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
8. Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
9. Kiera Knightley, Anna Karenina
10. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Smashed

Possible Spoilers
Meryl Streep, Hope Springs
Maggie Smith, Quartet
Elle Fanning, Ginger and Rosa

Best Supporting Actor
This year's field of nominees is so exciting because you have veteran actors who have taken supporting roles and delivered the goods. Most of the actors are used to being the star, but these performances proved that they can do anything asked of them, furthur asserting themselves as Hollywood's best.

The Field

1. Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Unlike his counterpart Phoenix, Hoffman has kept his mouth shut about the Oscars, and the result is frontrunner status. His role is the steady force behind The Master and that fact alone should give Hoffman a legit shot at receiving his fourth nomination and maybe his second win.

2. Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
We all knew that Jones would be good in Lincoln. Nobody expected him to be this good. He's a straight-up scene stealer, and he has scenes with Daniel Day-Lewis! Hoffman, though, had such a big lead to begin with that Jones is going to have to pick up some steam before I'm able to put him on top, but it's definitely in the picture of that happening.

3. Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
It's one of Hollywood's biggest disgraces: Leonardo DiCaprio is Oscar-less. He's been nominated for three Oscars, but he's never been able to give a speech come Oscar night. But that could change this year with his supporting turn in Django Unchained. I know nothing about the quality of this movie yet. I'm going strictly based off the description of DiCaprio's role and my gut instinct. If it's good, we'll have a challenger to Hoffman and Jones.

4. Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
De Niro has been around the block a few times before, receiving six Oscar nominations with two of those resulting in wins. The first nominations came way back in 1975 when he won the Oscar for, coincidently, Best Supporting Actor in The Godfather Part II. His other five nominations have come in the lead category, so this is the first time since then that the Academy is likely to nominate the veteran for a supporting turn. As long as Playbook remains hot, De Niro will be in the chase.

5. Russell Crowe, Les Miserables
This might be wishful thinking, but I believe Les Mis will be a major contender in all these categories. Therefore, Crowe or Eddie Redmayne would have to represent it in this category. Crowe is not a newcomer like Redmayne, though. The Academy has given Crowe three nominations including a win for his role in Gladiator. If Les Mis's momentum continues to pick up, one of these two should be able to sneak in. Right now, my money's on Crowe.

Next in Line
6. Alan Arkin, Argo
7. Eddie Redmayne, Les Miserables
8. Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
9. William H. Macy, The Sessions

Possible Spoilers
John Goodman, Argo or Flight
Hal Holbrook, Promised Land
Ewan McGregor, The Impossible

Best Supporting Actress
If what I'm reading is true, this race is over. Anne Hathaway, for her role as Fantine in Les Miserables, should start writing her acceptance speech now. However, a few actresses might have something to say about that.

The Field

1. Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
I've been loving on Les Mis everywhere, but this is the first time that we find it on top. Everything that I've been hearing about this movie is spectacular, but one thing also stands out, and that's the consensus love for Hathaway. I have yet to read something that doesn't say Hathaway is the clear frontrunner here. The fact that it just premiered helps too because not a lot of people has seen this movie, allowing Hathaway and her co-stars to gain some precious momentum.

2. Sally Field, Lincoln
In the 1980's, Field could do no wrong in the Academy's eye, receiving two nominations and two wins. But Field never got back into the Oscar's graces since then. Now, she's back and Hathaway's biggest competition. It's not easy sharing a stage with Daniel Day-Lewis, but Field does it in many scenes and stands her ground. When you can do that, you deserve a nomination.

3. Amy Adams, The Master
The current Oscar darling is Amy Adams as she has received three nominations in just six years. This year, she should get nomination number four. The Master is a force to be reckoned with in its respected acting fields, and Adams is its female representative. A win will be tough considered who's ahead of her, but a nomination should come.

4. Helen Hunt, The Sessions
The Sessions reminds me a lot of last year's My Week with Marilyn, a movie that gets a couple acting nominations but never contends for the big prizes. Hunt and John Hawkes should be able to muster nominations, but wins for these two are not going to happen unless a miracle occurs.

5. Samantha Barks, Les Miserables
I believe one of Hathaway's co-stars, whether it be Barks, Amanda Seyfried, or Helena Bonham Carter, is going to join her in this field. Right now, everything I've read says it's Barks. She's also helped out by the fact that there's really no other actress coming up and earning her slot in the field. Unless someone does just that, Barks could give Les Mis its second Best Supporting Actress nom.

Next in Line
6. Amanda Seyfried, Les Miserables
7. Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
8. Helena Bonham Carter, Les Miserables
9. Judi Dench, Skyfall

Possible Spoilers
Frances McDormand, Promised Land
Pauline Collins, Quartet
Kelly Reilly, Flight

There you have it! My first Oscar predictions of the season! Obviously, these will change, but I do think this isn't a bad start. Stay tune for some updates along the way.....

Not So Fast: 4 Movies That Could Change the Oscar Race

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone gathers together to spend some quality time with friends and family to celebrate what we really are thankful for as we enjoy the festivities of the holiday season.

It's also the most wonderful time of the year for a movie fan because it's Oscar season, and when Oscar season rolls around, film companies put their best movies forward in hopes of wooing the voters to give them the gold statue come February.

By this time, we usually have a pretty good grasp on what movies we can expect to be there in the end. Movies that we anticipated being in the race are very much there. Since the announcement of its production, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones, has been christened a frontrunner, and it hasn't disappointed. It has maintained that frontrunner status in Best Picture, Actor, and Director, with nominations certainly to come in Supporting Actor and Actress. Ben Affleck has had quite an interesting career, evolving from his Daredevil acting days to directing very high quality film such as Gone Baby Gone and The Town. However, the Oscars have all but ignored his talents. That will all change this year thanks to Argo, the biggest challenger at the moment to Lincoln. David O. Russell's Silver Linings Playbook will definitely be a contender thanks to its fantastic performances. Other films, such as Life of Pi, The Master, and Amour, will also be in the thick of things.

However, the Oscar race is by no means set in stone quite yet. I look at five movies that have yet to be released yet that can cause some chaos in the race.

1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Lord of the Rings franchise is one of the most popular franchises worldwide, but unlike its franchise counterparts, such as Harry Potter and Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings have been recognized by the Academy Awards on multiple occasions. The Fellowship of the Ring was nominated for twelve Oscars including four wins. The Two Towers got six nominations and two victories. The Return of the King was given the most love from the Academy, receiving eleven nominations and eleven wins, including Best Picture and Best Director. To say the bar has been set high for The Hobbit franchise is quite an understatement.

What's Going For It:
Everything that I just mentioned works in its favorite. The Academy is a fan of the Peter Jackson franchise. Why wouldn't they want to nominate it again if it's good enough? Another thing is that this could be the only fanboy favorite that has a legit shot of getting some nominations. Movies such as The Hunger Games and The Avengers had high hopes of shocking the world and getting a Best Picture nomination, but those scenarios never panned out. The Dark Knight Rises had obvious aspirations of Oscars, but its momentum is all but gone. That leaves The Hobbit to represent the everyday fan at the Oscars. The Academy, in recent years, have expressed interest in improving their ratings by getting those necessary movies into the field. That was the main reason why the expanded the Best Picture field from five movies to ten movies after The Dark Knight was snubbed in 2008. The Hobbit would certainly cause some younger audience members to tune in in February.

What's Going Against It:
Tough competition. Every category this year is highly competitive (outside of Best Actress, a category The Hobbit can't even be considered for anyway). It would have to do the unthinkable and surpass everyone's expectations and be significantly better than the original trilogy. I simply don't see that happening. The trailers give us the "been there, done that" feel, which is fine for fans, but that won't cut it for the Academy.

What to Expect:
Technical categories (i.e. Best Production Design and Best Makeup)

2. Django Unchained

When movie buffs think of the greatest directors of all-time, Quentin Tarantino is in the conversation. It seems that every movie that he puts out there is an instant cult-classic, and Django Unchained  has all the makings of doing just that, boasting a stellar cast led by Christoph Waltz and Jaime Foxx with Leonardo Dicaprio as the villain.

What's Going For It:
The Academy can be a pretty big fan of Tarantino's work, giving Q four nominations with one win over the span of his career. When a movie has a cast such as this one, the acting can carry it to some Oscar love (check out The Help). It's being released on Christmas Day, a coveted spot for Oscar hopefuls, which leads me to believe that the people behind this movie has faith in it.

What's Going Against It:
As was the case for The Hobbit, tough competiton looms. However, Django Unchained has internal competition as well. Everyone expected Jaime Foxx to be a candidate for Best Actor, but earlier this month, it was announced that Christoph Waltz would also be campaigned for a Best Actor nomination instead of a Best Supporting Actor. That brings up the problem of split-voting, where voters will have to choose between Foxx and Waltz instead of the movie having just one candidate to compete with everyone else instead of competing with themselves. Same situation for Best Supporting Actor. Leonardo DiCaprio is long overdue an Oscar, but early word is that Samuel L. Jackson could be the better candidate. This year makes it difficult enough to compete with other movies. You simply can't have internal competition in a race like this.

What to Expect:
Competing for Best Actor and Supporting Actress but falling short
Just sneaking into the Best Supporting Actor field

3. Les Miserables

What happens when you tell me that the most beloved musical of all-time has cast Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Russell Crowe to bring an extremely powerful story to life? I would tell you that you had a serious Oscar contender on your hands, and that's what I fully expect Les Mis to be.

What's Going For It:
Tom Hooper is the director, and this is his follow-up to 2010's The King's Speech, which was nominated for twelve Oscars also receiving four wins, including Best Picture, Actor, and, of course, Director. Hooper's name is definitely in the minds of the voters, and he's very popular in their eyes. He's been given one of the most cherished pieces of literature ever written. If anyone around today can pull this off, I believe that man is Tom Hooper. But he'll have plenty of help from his stellar cast. In addition to the three mentioned above, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen also star. The musical and book is so powerful that if they can pull it off with the same emotion as they did, you could be looking at your Best Picture. It's also being released on Christmas Day, so it will be one of the last movies the voters will see, keeping it fresh on their minds.

What's Going Against It:
Hollywood adaptions of musicals have been hit, but mostly miss. In 2002, Chicago shocked the industry when it was nominated for thirteen nominations including six wins. Every since then, people have been trying to match that result. The best comparison for a Hollywood musical with Les Mis has to be Phantom of the Opera. Released just two years removed from Chicago, Phantom only mustered three nomination (the most prestigious being Best Original Song) and zero wins. It was a beloved musical with high expectations and a very talented director (Joel Schumacher), but it couldn't live up to the hype. However, Les Mis has something Phantom didn't have: a talented cast. Gerard Butler led the way for Phantom, and with all due respect to Butler, Hugh Jackman beats Gerard Butler any day of the week. Honestly, there's not much going against Les Mis. If it's as good as we expect it to be, watch out.

What to Expect:
Nominations in Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress
More than contending in Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Adapted Screenplay
Quite a few technical categories

4. Zero Dark Thirty

In 2009, James Cameron's Avatar lit up the box office on its way to becoming the highest grossing film in movie history. Many people (including myself) thought that this success would equal Oscar gold. However, when Oscar Sunday rolled around, The Hurt Locker, grossing only sixteen million dollars, was your Best Picture and Kathyrn Bigelow was your Best Director. Now, Bigelow is back, and for the first time in her career, a household name with the Academy.

What's Going For It:
As the season continues on, Zero Dark Thirty has picked a whole lot of steam. Momentum is always a big factor when it comes to the Oscars, and it has a lot of it. Another advantage for it is simply its subject matter. This film follows the events preceding the eventual operation that would kill Osama Bin Laden. That sounds like something the Academy would eat with a spoon. It also has a stellar cast, led by 2011's breakthrough star Jessica Chastain, who will getting plenty of attention in a weak Best Actress field.

What's Going Against It:
Argo's success hurts it. I find it hard to believe that the Academy will nominate two movies with the same basic feel to it. They'll nominate one, but I firmly believe that one will be Argo. Tough competition is also a factor. In the categories that it has a chance of doing something in, plenty of contenders are waiting.

What to Expect:
Best Actress nomination for Chastain
Contending for Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actress in addition to the technical categories

How much these four films will effect the race can't be determined right now, but a month from now, these movies have the chance to drastically change the scope of the fields. This weekend, I'll release my first Oscar predictions. Just know that those predictions won't be the ones I stick with, and the reason for that are these four movies.

Let the race begin.

Lest We Forget.....While Still Moving On

Since July of 2008, when Heath Ledger famously portaryed the Joker in Christopher Nolan's classic The Dark Knight, fans worldwide had been anticipating the next chapter in the Batman saga with unprecedented excitement. Some called Nolan's task impossible, while many expected nothing short of greatness from one of Hollywood's most brilliant moviemakers.

As each month passed from 2008 to 2012, anticipation rose for The Dark Knight Rises, but along the way, Nolan raised some eyebrows. It was first announced that Bane would be the villain in the next installment, one of Batman's lesser known adversaries whose most famous big-screen appearance was in Batman and Robin, the laughing stock of the franchise. Nolan didn't stop there, though, as he then went on to cast Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, a.k.a Catwoman. Die-hard fans (including me) were starting to question Nolan's decisions.

But still, who couldn't have been beyond excited for this film? It was reported that a theater in New York sold out of their midnight screenings six months in advance, an accurate representation of the build up this movie has created. I, like countless others around the country, sacrificed my sleep on the evening of July 19/morning of July 20 to see the final chapter. I arrived at the theater at ten o'clock and sat in the theater for 2 hours desperately waiting for the lights to dim and the show to finally begin. I, along with about 100 of my closest friends went from talking to the person next to us to complete and utter silence as the movie opened. Three hours later, we emerged more than impressed and honored we were able to be one the first to witness this historic cinema moment, the end to what will go down in history as one of the best trilogies of all-time.

Then, we woke up the next morning to the worst news imaginable.

In Aurora, Colorado, at the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises at the Century 16 theater, lone suspect James Holmes, dressed in tactical clothing, enters the theater and proceeds to set off tear gas grenades. He then opens fire in the audience, killing 12 people (including a three month old) and injuring 58 more.

The news caught the entire country by surprise, leaving the citizens of Aurora and the rest of America mourning the loss of these innocent victims. No one can fathom why someone would do this, and they probably never will. The fact is that it did happen for whatever reason. We just have to learn to live with it.

As a result, The Dark Knight Rises' box office numbers suffered because of the mourning and the legitimate fear of moviegoers, and the box office is still trying to recover. Although because of the last two weekends, it seems that people are finally starting to go back to the theaters, as evidenced by Hotel Transylvania's September record-setting weekend and Taken 2 grossing over $50 million despite terrible reviews (20% on Rotten Tomatoes). All signs point towards the box office being back to normal.

But let's not forget what transpired in Aurora.....ever.

And that's the reason I write this piece today. While it seems everything is back to normal, we must never forget what happened. The families of those 12 people who were killed have certainly not forgotten and never will forget. The workers of the Century 16 theater that worked that night have certainly not forgetten and never will forget. The citizens of Aurora have certainly not forgotten and never will forget.

Have you forgotten?

I write this as a person who loves going to the movies more so than anyone out there. I've noticed people moving on from that incident in the same manner the nation did with the Columbine shootings. I've noticed the box office recover, which is something I am absolutely grateful for. But today, I just want you to take some time to remember Aurora. Say a prayer for their city and those families. Be thankful everyday for the people around you. Tell them that you love them.

Never forget.

Bradley Cooper: Career at a Crossroads

In 2005, we were, for the first time, given the movie star known as Bradley Cooper in the cult classic, Wedding Crashers, and ever since the, Cooper's acting ability has evolved tremendously. For the next four years following Wedding Crashers, Cooper took on minor supporting roles in such films such as Yes Man and He's Just Not That Into You. At this point in his career, nobody had really high expectations for the still amateur in the business. Never did we envision him being a top-tier name in Hollywood.

Then came 2009.

The Hangover.

Todd Philips' instant classic of a movie was Cooper's first true lead role, and he proved to the world that he can deliever the goods. With a supporting cast that included Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Justin Bartha, it would be easy for Cooper to get lost, but he steps up to the plate and hits a homerun. The Hangover went on to become the third-highest grossing R-rated movie of all-time behind The Passion of the Christ and The Matrix Reloaded and spawned The Hangover Part II, which become the fourth-highest grossing R-rated movie of all-time in 2011.

Cooper had then established himself as an actor more than capable of anchoring a blockbuster. He could choose virtually any path he wanted to, but instead, he resorted to his previous failure-like movies in such disasters as Case 39 and All About Steve. He attempted to get back to superstar status with The A-Team, the film adaption of the classic television show starring Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. However, the movie bombed at the box office (only managing $77.2 million on a $110 million budget) and it was largely considered at a critical failure (47% on Rotten Tomatoes).

But unlike before, Cooper kept trying to break into superstardom. In March 2011, he co-starred with Robert De Niro in Limitless, but that duo still couldn't ignite the box office, only grossing about $79.2 million. Then came the before-mentioned The Hangover Part II, putting Cooper right back into Hollywood's spotlight and forgiving his recent blunders.

Once again, Cooper had the Hangover success to put him anywhere he wanted, but he apparently didn't learn from his first mistake, starring in recent duds as The Words and Hit and Run, which have combined grossed only about $22 million.

But then I read a review of his next film, Silver Linings Playbook, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, and a word was mentioned in the same sentence as Bradley Cooper that I had never anticipated: Oscar. Bradley Cooper should be considered an Oscar candidate? This past month, Silver Linings Playbook debuted at the Toronto Film Festival, one of the many Oscar indicators. The film came in with very limited Oscar buzz, but it ended up winning the festival's equivalent Best Picture and also thrusting Cooper, Lawrence, De Niro, and director David O. Russell's name right to the front of the pack for this year's Academy Awards. Then, another Cooper film, The Place Beyond the Pines debuted as well. Co-starring Ryan Gosling, this film also acquired positive word-of-mouth and once again, Cooper and Oscar was in the same sentence. However, The Place Beyond the Pines doesn't have a distributor this year, so it won't be released until next year and therefore preventing it from being in this year's race.

But Cooper has delievered two Oscar worthy performances, and in 2014, we could introduce Cooper as a two-time Oscar nominee. Is this a new and improved Bradley Cooper? Is this the Cooper we can expect from this point in his career on? Next summer, we'll see Cooper in The Hangover Part III, but afterwards, we'll see him in an untitled movie....directed by David O. Russell, potential Oscar gold again.

Maybe Cooper has learned from his mistakes in the early part of his career. Maybe he has realized that he does have legitmate talent and deserves better than the romantic comedy. He needs to stay on this path of success becasue if he does, he can truly become one of Hollywood's finest actors. If he doesn't, he'll probably end up like Matthew McConaughey, a respected actor but no hardware to prove it.

Bradley Cooper's career is at a crossroads. Here's hoping he chooses the road less traveled....the road that leads to the Hollywood Hall of Fame.

Wake Up, Hollywood!

Ever since we were given The Dark Knight Rises on July 20, which has to this point grossed roughly $440 million, the box office has steadily declined to give the people one of the most disappointing months of the year, being capped off by the past weekend of September 7-9 earning the "award" of lowest grossing weekend since 2008, with The Possession topping the weekend at only $9.3 million. The distribution companies have put a lot of stock in a lot of films that have disappointed at the box office, so the question has to be asked: why?

Why is the box office in its worst shape in four years?

If a movie doesn't appeal to an audience, the audience won't show, and therefore, the box office will bomb. Pretty simple, right? If the viewer isn't compelled by the marketers to pay $8 for a two-hour plus long movie, they won't. Movie prices are escalating, and if we won't to get folks back to the theater, the industry must give them a reason to, and the only way they can do that is offer high quality films instead of the mediocre ones that the past weeks have brought to the table.

On Rotten Tomatoes, five of the top ten movies at the box office this weekend are "certified rotten," which easily means that at the most, only half the people that rated that movie liked it. That means five movies are "certified fresh," but that could be misleading when you take a closer look at it. In order to be "certified fresh," 60% of the raters must have liked it. Three of those movies have a rating of 64%, 65%, and 66%, borderline rotten. That leaves only two movies that are legitimately fresh.

People go to the movies to be entertained. If word on the street is rotten, people today are not going to commit two hours of their time and spend $8 plus for something that is widely considered rotten. The reason that the box office is now at a four-year low is that no movies are worth seeing at the moment. The Watch had the starpower of Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill along with a late summer release and still only managed to gross $34 million. Total Recall had the original classic's grace and the appeal of Colin Farrell, but only grossed $58 million on a $125 million budget. The Bourne Legacy had the graces of Matt Damon's original trilogy and the surging stardom of Jeremy Renner, but only grossed $104 million, $17 million behing Damon's The Bourne Identity, the previous lowest of the series. The Campaign had Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in a political satire in an election year and still just made $80 million. The Expendables 2 had every action star of the past half-century and only managed $76 million, roughly $28 million behind the first installment. Lawless had Tom Hardy coming off The Dark Knight Rises and a supporting cast of Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce, and Jessica Chastain and only grossed $24 million to this point.

Now, people have proven that if you give them a reason to show up, they will. In March, The Hunger Games recorded the fifth-highest opening weekend in history en route to a total gross of $408 million. The Avengers recorded the highest opening weekend ever at just over $207 million on track to $621 million, third most all-time. Brave steadily recorded $233 million thanks to its Pixar brand and positive word of mouth. And of course, The Dark Knight Rises grossed $161 million opening weekend and onward to $438 million and counting. But if you pay close attention, you'll notice something: all four films were certified fresh coming in at 84%, 92%, 77%, and 87% respectively. In fact, this year's top seven highest grossing movies are certified fresh. If people like what they see, they'll shell out the money.

But that's the problem: we have too many movies nowadays that leave people underwhelmed.

So I call on Hollywood to step up their game....now. Quit talking about how bad the box office is and instead, give us those movies we all want to see instead of the ones we feel obligated to see.

Wake up, Hollywood! You've created this mess with your lack of creativity and sloppy moviemaking! Now, you fix it! We're just the buyers of your great product, and we want to buy your product, but if your product isn't worth buying, we'll simply stay away. Give us reason to buy, and then we'll happily see you at the movies again.