Here are the fall festival movie premieres that Oscar voters will be watching
Are we about to get our first look at the next Oscar best picture winner?
The last five movies to take that award premiered at one of the three fall film festivals – Venice, Telluride and Toronto – now upon us.
That could change this year as there are several intriguing, late-arriving titles, films from
FULL COVERAGE: Fall 2017 movie preview »
Still, the movies listed below — premiering at festivals in Venice, Telluride and Toronto — will likely comprise much of the meat of this year’s Oscar race. (Also factor in “Dunkirk,” Sundance standouts “Call Me by Your Name,” “The Big Sick” and “Mudbound,” and Cannes favorites “Wonderstruck” and “The Florida Project.”)
Here’s a look at how the upcoming premieres stack up.
Story:
Pedigree: Garfield earned an Oscar nom last year for “Hacksaw Ridge.” Costar Claire Foy received Emmy love for “The Crown.”
Best case: It’s a touching story of triumph and true love that reduces voters to puddles.
Worst case: Rookie director Serkis hews too closely to the conventions of the genre, and the film fails to earn crucial critical support.
Story: London judge (
Pedigree: The last Ian McEwan adaptation, “Atonement,” earned seven Oscar nominations.
Best case: Movie finds a distributor at Toronto eager to give it a prime release date and awards season push.
Worst case: Film leaves Toronto with an uncertain future.
Story: After losing his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing, Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal) adjusts to his new life and resolves to walk again.
Pedigree: Gyllenhaal joined the Oscar club 12 years ago with “Brokeback Mountain.”
Best case: Remember how Gyllenhaal was robbed for “Nightcrawler”? The reception for his work here rights that wrong.
Worst case: Gyllenhaal winds up better remembered this year for his nutty turn in “Okja.”
This story is part of our fall 2017 movie preview. Check out the complete coverage here. »
Twitter: @glennwhipp
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