Reese Witherspoon Finds Herself on the PCT in "Wild"

It's been somewhat of a rocky road for Reese Witherspoon ever since she won her Oscar for 2005's "Walk the Line". Though she's found box office success with films like "Four Christmases", she hasn't done anything that's lived up to the immense promise she showed in films like "Election" and "Legally Blonde". Not to mention that whole D.U.I. fiasco.

But if there's anything fallen actors/actresses have taught us in recent years, it's that comebacks are possible. Witherspoon smartly moved away from center stage and took supporting roles in the critically adored "Mud" and this year's much discussed "Inherent Vice", and worked behind the scenes as a producer to get "Gone Girl" made. All of this, led to the inception of Witherspoon's own personal project: the big screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's memoir "Wild", the story of Strayed's 1,100-mile journey on the Pacific Coast Trail.

Rob Marshall Brings 'Into the Woods' to the Big Screen

I've finally caught up with Rob Marshall's adaptation of "Into the Woods" after months of dying to see it. The hype from that DGA screening made the last month a little unbearable, but I'm here to report that it was well worth the wait.

Critics, Globes & SAG: What Do They Tell Us?

I can't remember the last time an Oscar race was so unpredictable; though "Boyhood" is the "critical favorite" of this year, I don't know if it's our Best Picture winner yet. "Birdman" is the film that's getting the most notices in many of the other craft categories, while "The Theory of Everything" and "The Imitation Game" are playing well for Academy members, and showed surprising strength over more ensemble-like fair such as "Into the Woods" with the Screen Actors Guild. Then there are critical favorites like "Nightcrawler" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" that are winning traction outside of the categories they were originally predicted in. Waiting in the wings, is Ava Duvernay's MLK biopic, "Selma", which is poised to one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, not to mention, it's Academy friendly material that appeals to the zeitgeist. In other words, it's a real toss up.

Let's see who is up and who is down after the busy week.

Golden Globe Nominations

See the full list of Film nominees below.

21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations

Full nomination list (and reactions) below.

LA, Boston and New York Online Critics Announce Winners

Good news for former outside looking in Best Actress contender Marion Cotillard! More critics stamped their seal of approval for her performances in "The Immigrant" and "Two Days One Night". With exposure such as this it's hard to imagine her not being named amongst the final 5. If she's nominated by SAG and/or the Globes, she's in.

Take a look below at who else cleaned up with the critics today.

Anna Kendrick is Stuck On The Steps of the Palace

Take a look at an exclusive clip of Anna Kendrick as Cinderella in Disney's "Into The Woods".

Kendrick performs Cinderella's iconic "On the Steps of the Palace" and to say she nails it is an understatement.

Watch the video, and hear the audio of the full song below.

The National Board of Review Puts "A Most Violent Year" on the Map

After yesterday's decision by the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review has named "A Most Violent Year" the best film of 2014, and gave it 2 other major awards.

Though far from being a huge indicator of Oscar success, this helps the film that was definitely in need of a push (that December 31st release date, and having a not so major studio behind it)

"Birdman" continued its success after the Gotham awards with 2 notices here, while Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" also showed strength.

It's still seriously wide open race at this point.

See the full list of winners below.

New York Film Critics Circle Winners

The first major awards voting body has selected their winners.

Click below to see who took home the first honors in film of the season and what it means for the race.

Into the Woods: A Serious Oscar Threat

"Into the Woods" has been a question mark in the awards race throughout the season. Though I have fearlessly (and a bit prematurely, I will admit) predicted the film to appear in categories such as Best Picture and Supporting Actress, most prognosticators have steered clear of placing their chips in Woods' favor. Though there have been film musicals such as "Chicago" and "Les Miserables" have had strong awards recognition, there have been those ("Hairspray", "Nine", "Grease", etc.) that have been largely ignored by the Academy. However, it's clear that after last night's DGA screening of Rob Marshall's adaptation that Into the Woods is coming to crash the party come December 25th. 

Theory of Everything is too Conventional for its Own Good

Both Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne have been on the brink of career breakthroughs for several years now. Jones won acclaim for her naturalistic performance in 2011's "Like Crazy", which failed to nab her substantial awards attention, and any success with meaty roles. Redmayne has been apart of several high profile projects, namely 2012's "Les Miserables" which, I believe almost nabbed him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

So, it makes no sense then that 2 actors on the verge of mainstream success team up in a buzzy, high-profile biopic detailing the relationship between the brilliant Stephen Hawking and his incredibly strong (now ex) wife Jane. Directed by James Marsh, the film has enjoyed much acclaim, especially for Redmayne's performance. which requires a vast amount of physical commitment from the young actor.

But despite the Oscar buzz, "Theory of Everything" is far from relevatory, and in fact, is just an ordinary biopic.

Birdman Leads Independent Spirit Award Nominations

Read below to find out which films were nominated and which films were left out.

The Independent Spirit Awards will be held on February 21st, 2015.

Oscar Contenders: Who is Up and Who is Down?

"American Hustle" racked up 10 nominations last year, and you can attribute that to buzz 100%. By the time nomination ballots were filled out, the film had been anointed as the frontrunner by the New York Film Critics Circle (the first major group to hand out awards). The NYFCC blatantly changed their awards date to be the first, before the Los Angeles critics and before the National Board of Review, but this was no accident. It's universally accepted that the group wanted to establish their impact as an organization, and they did by shoving American Hustle firmly into the race. They gave the film Best Picture, Screenplay and Supporting Actress honors, with director David O. Russell coming in 2nd to Steve McQueen, and Amy Adams placing 2nd to Cate Blanchett. The film had a strong early reception from industry insiders, all of which had taken place before anyone of importance had actually seen the film.. and thus it walked away with 10 Oscar nominations. But when voters and audiences sat down to watch the film, the reception had become more divisive. In the end, it walked away with 0 Oscars of those 10 nominations. This is an example of how buzz and hype can build your film up, but also how it can tear you down.

Hype now dominates the Oscar race. What films have the most hype? What are people on the internet talking about? Which films are being talked about the most? Following a film's buzz is arguably the best way to guess where its Oscar standing is. It's been about a month since we last sat down and looked at the Oscar race. Several high profile contenders have been released since, but have they stuck their landing? Let's see where they stand. 

Christopher Nolan Reaches for the Stars in Interstellar

Sci-Fi is enjoying something of a resurgence at the moment, one that began last year with Alfonso Cuaron's brilliant "Gravity". Though undoubtedly one of the most popular genres out there, these stories have always felt anything but human; the familiar themes that we are exposed to in other genres (such as love, jealousy, grief) always bat second to the eye-popping visual effects employed throughout, a serious case of style vs. substance.

What was so special about "Gravity", was that despite being a film filled with revelatory, groundbreaking technology, at its center was an all too familiar theme: survival. Though faced with a lack of oxygen and metal hurtling at dangerous speeds, Dr. Ryan Stone (played superbly by Sandra Bullock in the best performance of her career) had a bigger challenge facing her; believing in herself enough to find her way back to Earth. Cuaron may have placed us all in an unfamiliar setting, but the story was one everyone could relate to.

So it should come as no surprise then, that the man who redefined the superhero genre is one to continue this Sci Fi renaissance. As he did with "The Dark Knight", director/writer Christopher Nolan brings a gritty, emotional realism to an almost outlandishly cartoon-like genre.

Birdman Soars

There are not many actors or actresses working in Hollywood today that are so willing to have their personal, real life narratives, play alongside their character's as a way of constructing a performance. The reason why Natalie Portman's performance in "Black Swan" was such a triumph, was because the film was as much about Nina Sayers finding her inner Black Swan as it was Natalie Portman. Watching that movie, we not only saw the character go from being a meek, submissive girl into a complicated, strong woman, but we also saw a capable, yet underrated actress transform into a true leading lady.

That technique is front and center in director/writer Alejandro González Iñárritu's black comedy "Birdman", a film about a fading actor, once known for playing a superhero, trying desperately to be remembered for anything but playing a superhero. That actor, Riggan Thomson, is played by Michael Keaton, an actor that hasn't done much of anything since he played a superhero back in the 90's. Much like his character, Keaton was in need a project that showcased his acting talent. Birdman is that film, and then some.

Final Into the Woods Trailer

This trailer is giving me everything I had hoped for from the adaptation... Now to wait and see if this translates as well into the film, which is still over a month away.

The music sounds spectacular, and we finally get to see some more of the actors in action, though Meryl is so obviously front and center (and she looks great).

Take a look below.

New Trailer for "A Most Violent Year"

J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year" is undoubtedly one of the biggest question marks in the Oscar race. It's got the prestige: Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, while being written and directed by J.C. Chandor. It's an Academy friendly story: Set in New York City in the winter of 1981 (a record breaking violent year for the city), the story focuses on an immigrant and his family capitalizing on the growing violence and unrest in the city, trying to make a name and a life for themselves.

The problem? The film's profile is curiously quiet, and it's being distributed by the tiny studio A-24, who have yet to have a film earn an Oscar nomination.

Dear Oscar

Dear Oscar,

I know that awards season can get really crowded with so many high profile films and contenders vying for your attention. It must get tricky being able to remember films from the beginning of the year when several presumed juggernauts don't even premiere until the end of December. Yes, it must get hard when you have actors losing weight, or donning prosthetics in flashy biopics. Yes, I know it's hard, but before the endless onslaught of awards movies, I ask you to hear me out.

I'm sure you've heard how Rosamund Pike is fantastic in David Fincher's "Gone Girl", a film that has crossed $100 million in just 3 weeks since premiering, and I'm sure a Best Actress nomination would seem fitting as a reward for that film. I'm also sure you've heard Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Jones, and Amy Adams are all great in their respective films. It must be hard to see past all of these flashy, very familiar names; some of these women are past winners, or multiple time past nominees. But I'm asking you to look past those names for a moment, to consider Marion Cotillard's groundbreaking work in James Gray's, "The Immigrant".

Most Deserving Oscar Wins of the 2010's

My idol Nathaniel Rogers (who I had the pleasure of interviewing last semester) posted a list yesterday of his favorite Oscar wins from the past few years; the 2010's, which got me thinking about my favorites. Looking back, I see some really.... not so great wins, but among the rubble, there are some truly deserving, rich wins that I applaud the Academy for. Let's take a look, shall we?

Go Into the Woods with a Sneak Peek Featurette

As discussed to almost ad-nausium, the marketing for Disney's "Into the Woods" has been curiously quiet; from that quiet, yet exhilarating teaser dropped back in summer, to the confusing reports of the film's development and Oscar strategy, we don't know a whole lot about it.

In fact, despite being my most anticipated release of the year, I was starting to worry about the film's quality; can it stick the landing? Disney's track record as of late has not been all that promising...

But this morning, a 4 minute featurette was released with new footage (yes! we have some singing finally) and cast interviews that have restored my faith in this adaptation. Though I'm still hesitant, I fully believe there will be more bad, than good to come out of this.

Take a look below.

The Calm Before the Storm: Where are we in the Oscar Race?

"Boyhood", "The Imitation Game", "The Theory of Everything", "Birdman", "Foxcatcher" and "Gone Girl" all look like Best Picture nominees, but who is leading?

The Oscar race is a fickle thing; the slightest bit of negative buzz can all but deter a film on the winning track to implosion. Your buzz can never peak too early, and your release date can't be too far away from the end of the year. Sure, you can skip the festivals (New York, Cannes, Venice, Telluride) but you better have a hell of a box office success story, or Meryl Streep playing a Holocaust victim in a film backed by Harvey Weinstein if you want to secure some major nominations.


At this point last year, we had "Gravity" breaking box office records, and "12 Years A Slave" had won the top prize at the Toronto Film Festival; these were undisputed frontrunners. It was going to come down to these 2 (and it did, with some heat from "American Hustle"). I can honestly say that as of right now, I have no idea what film will win Best Picture; we don't really have a front runner.

Gone Girl Review (SPOILER HEAVY)

For those of you who haven't already read the book or seen the movie, I encourage you stay away from this review until you do both. However, if you can't help yourself, then at least I can say you were warned.

Bill Hader Won't Be Nominated for an Oscar this Year, but He Deserves to Be

The Oscars and comedy do not always get along, in fact, it's safe to say that the Oscars have a habit of merely tolerating comedy in the same way you tolerate that friend you can't stand that's friends with all of your other friends. Sure, you may be seen in the same company as them from time to time, but you keep your distance from them, if you can help it. The same can be said with the Academy recognizing films and performances with comedic roots.

Into the Woods' Dilemma: The Case of the 3 Women

Disney's "Into the Woods" is arguably the biggest question mark in the Oscar race right now, next to J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year". The Rob Marshall directed musical has the prestige to at least be on the Oscar radar (Marshall directed "Chicago", another musical which won 8 Oscars including Best Picture), several Oscar nominated actors in its very starry cast (Meryl Streep, Anna Kendricks and Johnny Depp) and is based on an acclaimed stage play by Stephen Soundheim, who penned the likes of "Sweeney Todd" (the film adaptation was nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Actor for Depp). But the buzz on the film has been questionable at best; there were those early reports that the source material was facing "conservative changes", later reported to be false by Soundheim himself. Then there was the report that Streep's new song made special for her and the film itself, was cut, following rumors of a month of reshoots.

All this drama has me wondering about A.) The potential quality of the film and B.) The film's role in the Oscar race.

Hollywood is Terrifying in David Cronenberg’s “Maps to the Stars”

You can also read this review (and other writings) at my column for 'The Whit' here

David Cronenberg isn’t a director known for complying with any sort of “norms” when it comes to making films; as a filmmaker, he has been referred to as, “the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world.” So it comes as no surprise then, that the director’s latest is a (very) black comedy-satire about the poisonous Hollywood lifestyle. The only surprise about the project, is that it’s come so late in Cronenberg’s career. 

Amy Adams & Christoph Waltz Battle Over Big Eyes

After it was announced that Julianne Moore has just about dominated the Best Actress race, I suppose it was inevitable that we'd get a look at Amy Adams (the presumed front runner until Moore surprised us all) in "Big Eyes". Directed by Tim Burton, the film looks to be anything but the types of films we've come to expect from the creepy auteur... and it leaves a lot to be desired.

A Most Violent Year Rears its Head

The buzz on director/writer J.C. Chandor ("Margin Call", "All is Lost") has been suspiciously low the last few months. Though there have been some "reports" about the film's acting being incredible (I wouldn't expect anything less from the new Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, but that cast is incredible; Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks also star), nothing else about the film has been released. Distributor A24, though relatively new, is not really much of an awards player; though they did manage some critics' awards wins for James Franco last year, their Oscar pull is weak. That all could change, however; the trailer and a poster for the film has finally been released, and it's promising.

First Official Poster For Into The Woods; Meryl Front and Center

Disney's "Into the Woods" is largely a player in the Oscar race simply because of actress Meryl Streep, who plays the largely coveted role of The Witch in Rob Marshall's adaptation. The role has been played by veteran musical theater actresses Bernedette Peters and Vanessa Williams in the past on Broadway, so obviously Disney needed a huge name to put in the marquee role.

Though Meryl was nominated for a Golden Globe for her last musical project ("Momma Mia"), her performance outside of that lone nomination wasn't warmly embraced (the Globes nominate her more often than the Oscars do; she has a record 28 nominations). It's an easy call now to predict that she'll have 29 by the end of this year when the nominations are announced, but what is going on with Woods' Oscar chances?

Some Takeaways From TIFF & Telluride

Both the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals have become feverishly important events in the Oscar race, especially in recent years. Though some winners peak early in the year (for example, 2011's Best Picture winner, "The Artist" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival), more and more often it seems that Telluride and (especially Toronto) are 2 of the biggest places to build buzz.

It should come as no surprise then, that in the near aftermath of these 2 festivals, several contenders have built enormous amount of buzz, buzz that should very well carry them over the finish line.

Though the People's Choice Award (Toronto Film Festival's highest honor) has yet to be announced, here are some things we've learned over the last few days as films have had their premieres:

Reese Witherspoon & Benedict Cumberbatch: Serious Oscar Threats

About a month ago when "The Imitation Game"'s trailer debuted, there were some that thought that the film was one to watch on the Oscar circuit. A film backed by Harvey Weinstein featuring the internet's hero (and recent Emmy nominee) Benedict Cumberbatch about WWII (the Academy's favorite topic) is certainly something to watch out for. 

However, after watching the trailer, I felt like the film was very "been there done that", in the same way that I felt "The King's Speech" was, especially since this year we have film's like "Birdman" and "Interstellar" and even Disney's adaptation of dark musical "Into the Woods" on the horizon; in comparison, the film is reductive, it doesn't seem to be any different from the numerous amount of films that covered this subject matter before it. Besides, we have Angelina Jolie's WWII epic "Unbroken" coming out, which seems to be as every bit of inspirational and uplifting as The Imitation Game. 

According to many of those who caught the film at the Telluride Film Festival this past week, however, the film is a major player, and a real threat at winning some top awards.

Buzz For Birdman Out of Venice

"Birdman" has landed in Venice; the film has received a rapturous amount of praise by nearly everyone that's seen it. 

Take a look at some excerpts from the reviews below, which boost Birdman ahead as the strongest (seen) contender in the picture, director, acting, and tech categories.

Oscar Race: Turning Up the Heat

The end of the summer is upon us, and with the Venice Film Festival just around the corner (starting on the 27th and ending on the 6th of September), we're really about to get in the thick of Oscar season.

Of course, the summer has been dominated (mainly) by buzz; none of the films that are being predicted to be heavyweights in the season have premiered to the masses yet, except for Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" (more on that later). Of the films predicted to do well this season, even fewer have had premieres at all ("Whiplash" had Sundance, "Foxcatcher" had Cannes, "Birdman" will open Venice in a week's time); we've mainly been restricted to pictures, hearsay and trailers.

So, where does that leave us now?

Boyhood: A Film 12 Years in the Making

Our eponymous "boy" played by Eller Coltrane as he ages through the film's 164 minute duration. 

By now, I'm sure everyone has heard of Richard Linklater's "Boyhood"; its the film that took literally 12 years to make. Over this period of 12 years, for a few days, Linklater (serving not only as the film's director, but writer as well) and his cast and crew would assemble for a few days or so every year to revisit the characters, slowly inching towards its emotional conclusion.

Boyhood is a strangely simple title given the laundry list of themes the film explores. Sure, at the center is Mason (Coltrane) who we are watching literally age and grow up. But besides that, Linklater tackles abusive relationships, coming of age, falling in love, absent parents, and (briefly) sex, drugs and alcohol; with Boyhood, Linklater has taken snapshots in time and assembled them into the human experience.

Meryl Streep's Song Reportedly "Cut" From Into the Woods & Unbroken Test Screens

Meryl Streep as The Witch and Mackenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel in Disney's "Into the Woods".

Remember that wonderful news that composer Stephen Soundheim wrote a new song just for Meryl Streep for the onscreen adaptation of "Into the Woods"? Remember how excited she was? Remember how excited we were? Well unfortunately, director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") tells us that the song has been cut from the film.

New York Film Festival Reveals A Very Buzzy Line Up

The New York Film Festival has been the unveiling point and stateside release for several key films headed into the Oscar race in years past, and this year will be no different. Though it was previously announced that David Fincher's "Gone Girl" will have its world premiere here, the thriller will be joined by the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice", Sundance hit "Whiplash" and Alejandro González Ińárritu's "Birdman" (which will have its official unveiling at Venice weeks earlier).

The festival will take place from September 26, 2014 until October 12, 2014. Stars such as Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum and Jean-Luc Godard are expected to be in attendance.

Take a look at the full list of films that will play during the festival's duration below. If the film's trailer is available click on the film title to watch the trailer.

Looking Back: Robin Williams' 5 Greatest Performances

By now I'm sure you heard the world has lost one of its greatest talents; Robin Williams was found dead at his California home yesterday. Though nothing has been made official yet, it seems to have been suicide; the press release stated Williams died of asphyxiation.

That's what makes Williams' death so tragic; he was the light of so many peoples' lives, so effortlessly funny, that it's so upsetting he couldn't battle his inner darkness. If anything, this is a strong reminder that depression is no joke, and it can affect anyone despite their reputation of their behavior.

Having just completed work on 5 projects, including the reprisal of his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the newest "Night at the Museum" film, the Oscar winner was an extremely versatile performer gaining notoriety for not only being extremely funny (he was "the funniest man alive" according to Entertainment Weekly in an article they ran back in 1997), but being an adept dramatic actor. He is also one of the few actors that received formal instruction, being one of only 2 students being accepted into John Houseman's acting program at Julliard (the other was Superman himself, Christopher Reeve, who became a great friend to Williams throughout his life). Other actors to follow in Williams' footsteps at attending Julliard include 2 time Academy Award nominee Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain, the latter received a scholarship from Williams himself, and has gone on to be heralded as "the next Meryl Streep".

But rather than focus on the sadness of losing many potential great Robin Williams performances, let's look back on the great ones he left us with, the ones that will continue to inspire and entertain people forever.

First Into the Woods Trailer

Well well well, just as I mentioned last night that Disney was being curiously aloof about not yet releasing a trailer for "Into the Woods", one pops up the next day, and boy does it do the job.

The trailer does a great job at not only introducing the scope of the film (which is seriously epic), but all of the principal players, with Streep at the forefront. It seems like she's going to be the film's main selling point... smart strategy.

Take a look below.

First Official Images from Disney's "Into the Woods"

The promotion for the upcoming musical adaptation "Into the Woods" has been strangely very quiet... though it's not due out until Christmas Day, you'd think there would be at least a teaser trailer out at this point (Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken", which also is opening on Christmas Day, has released 2 trailers thus far). The musical is increasingly popular, however, so I guess Disney is relying a lot on the core, die hard audience (in the same way "Les Miseerables" did back in 2012). I'm sure they're waiting to strike, and with such a starry cast, there's no doubt in my mind that box office success will elude the film.

That being said, Disney has released some really gorgeous looking stills from the film, never seen before featuring Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Christine Baranski and a glimpse of Johnny Depp as The Wolf.

Take a look below at the stills.

Interstellar Could Be Christopher Nolan's (Oscar) Breakthrough

"The Dark Knight snub" is a term that many Oscar pundits and fanboys alike have attributed to the expansion of the Best Picture field; when "The Reader" was nominated over The Dark Knight in 2008, many took it as a flat out snub. It was one of the most (if not the most critically acclaimed film of the year), and received 8 other nominations, including a win for Heath Ledger's now iconic performance as the Joker. Nolan himself was also left out of the Best Director lineup, even though he received a nomination from the Director's Guild, and other major critical precursors.

After the expansion of the Best Picture category (from 5 to 10 films), his follow up film "Inception" received a nomination, but Nolan was once again snubbed from the directors in the Academy, despite once again being recognized by his fellow directors at the DGA.

Based on the early reports and first trailer, it seems that Nolan is bringing a level of A-game we haven't yet seen from him; Interstellar looks to be Nolan's most visually, and thematically cohesive project yet, and a the new trailer confirms that this is going to be the film that may just finally get him that elusive Oscar nomination.

Begin Again is this Summer's Perfect Film

Every summer, there's that one movie that comes along that no one sees coming that's just a huge ball of, for lack of a better word, fun; it's sunny, breezy and just an all around delight, much like summer vacation.


"Begin Again" is from the director and writer John Carney who brought us the lovely musical "Once" (I'm sure you all know the song Falling Slowly, and if you don't make sure you know it, and watch the film), starring Academy Award nominees Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo as 2 people who meet at an unexpectedly sour crossroads in their lives, but help, and inspire one another to get back on the right track through creating an album no one believed they could make on their own. Carney obviously has a passion for music, and this film is his love letter to the medium; The film is a testament to the power of music, and how much of a labor of love it is, but ultimately how much of an impact it has on our lives.

Toronto Film Festival Lineup

TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival) has announced its official lineup this morning. Running from September 4th to the 14th, several films will have their official world premiere here, while some holdovers from Cannes will also appear to build upon the buzz they got (or didn't get) there.

TIFF is an even more important, and influential Oscar precursor than Cannes; last year's winner of the People's Choice Award "12 Years A Slave" won the Oscar for Best Picture, with almost all of the other recipients following suit, or winning other Oscars including: "Silver Linings Playbook", "The King's Speech", "Precious", "Slumdog Millionaire", Whale Rider" and "American Beauty" have all been recognized in some way by the Academy Awards.

Take a look at the full list below (I've also included trailers for the films if they're available by making the film title a link).

The Rest of Our Acting Contenders: Old and New Faces

Emma Stone and Michael Keaton could receive their first Oscar nominations for "Birdman"

A few days ago, I ran through our long list of Best Actress contenders (a list that doesn't even really encompass all of the hopefuls this season has to offer, just those with the best chances at even being recognized). Though Best Actor is even more stacked than last year's massive pool, the Supporting categories are as weak as ever (at least they are right now), especially Supporting Actor.

"Birdman" has 3 contenders hoping for a nomination; leading man Michael Keaton, best known for his role in Tim Burton's "Batman" films, along with co-stars Ed Norton (a previous 2 time nominee) and Emma Stone (it would be her first Oscar nomination. She also will be seen in Woody Allen's "Magic in the Moonlight"), while the men of "Foxcatcher" all seem like safe bets in their respective categories; at this point, Leading Actor is between Steve Carrell and Channing Tatum, with Carrell having a slight edge (he has goodwill from being left out for "Little Miss Sunshine" a few years ago).

But enough yammering on, let's go through the rest of the acting categories. Take a look at my FULL list of nominations here

A Few Words on our Best Actress Contenders

At this point in the game, we have a rousing 17 contenders (that stand a good chance) at being nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. As we all know, however, there can only be 5, and even though we're going purely on buzz at this point, it's pretty easy (based on Oscar's own predictability) to narrow it down to at least 2 or 3 nominees.

There really aren't a whole lot of contenders (particularly in this category) from films that have premiered thus far to compete against the women who are waiting in the wings. Sure, there's Shailene Woodley from "The Fault in Our Stars", and while critics are banging the drum for her now, will they still be banging when "Big Eyes" premieres? Or when Meryl Streep and the rest of the "Into the Woods" women show up onscreen? It's hard to say.

But as I said before, there's at least 2 or 3 that you can (probably) safely bet on seeing next year at the Oscar telecast.

Reese Witherspoon gets Wild

Trailers upon trailers upon trailers.

In the midst of a comeback of sorts, Reese Witherspoon has a busy year ahead of her. Teaming up with "Dallas Buyers Club" director Jean-Marc Vallée backed by Oscar heavyweight Fox Searchlight, "Wild" will certainly be one of the films in the Academy Award conversation this year.

The film is based on a true story, adapted from the popular best selling memoir written by Cheryl Strayed.

This looks to be Witherspoon's meatiest role in years (since her Oscar win for 2005's "Walk the Line"), certainly more so than her role in "The Good Lie". The film looks beautifully shot, and with the hot momentum of Dallas Buyers Club (those 3 Oscar wins and a nomination for Best Picture are nothing to ignore), this film could be even more financially successful, and rake in more awards. Partnered with her supporting turn in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice", this should almost definitely land Witherspoon a nomination in Best Actress.

Take a look at the trailer below. Wild will be released December 5th.

Angelina Jolie's Unbroken Leaps Ahead to Become Our Oscar Frontrunner

Any project Angelina Jolie committed herself to as director would receive an instant laurel of prestige. Throw in WWII, sweeping music, epic cinematography and being based on a true story and you have a film that seems destined for Oscar glory.

We've already discussed why Jolie's adaptation of real life Olympic winner/WW II vet Louis Zamperini is as buzzy as it sounds. But with the recent passing of Mr. Zamperini, one can't deny there is a timeliness in telling this incredible true story, and while Jolie isn't the most seasoned director (this is only her second time behind the camera), the results look astounding in this new trailer.

Handsomely mounted, and (from the looks of it) acted masterfully by Skins alum Jack O'Connell, "Unbroken" is sure to be a hit, and Oscar heavyweight.

Watch the new trailer below. Unbroken will be released everywhere on Christmas Day.

New Gone Girl Trailer

"Gone Girl" is gearing up to be David Fincher's most intense effort yet. Following that effectively creepy first teaser, this new full length trailer is unrelentingly intense in its own right.

There's not much else I can say, just watch the trailer.

Academy Award Winner Mo'Nique is Back Everyone

It's been 5 years since Mo'Nique's titanic performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire" won her the Oscar and 500 other acting awards. In fact, it's also been 5 years since Mo'Nique has been in a movie; after winning her trophy, the actress has been shopping around for the right project to star in. The last time we heard from her, she informed us she had purchased the rights to fellow Best Supporting Actress winner Hattie McDaniel's life story, and that director Lee Daniels would direct her in the title role. No news on that particular, film, however, Mo'Nique is ready to break her acting hiatus with a film that looks like another huge opportunity.

Get Used to the Phrase: 'Oscar Nominee Channing Tatum' (Feat. New Trailer)

There are still so many people who aren't aware of actor Channing Tatum's unusually talented gifts as an actor. Mistakenly labeled as simply "a meathead", "pretty face", etc, Tatum receives a lot of unwarranted flack despite consistently turning in very nuanced and unshowy work; in "21 Jump Street" (and its sequel), Tatum delivers the laughs and intricate character work. He's proven time and again he's capable of carrying films, and who remembers the surprising quality of "Magic Mike" (which Tatum helped produce)? 

Given his healthy box office receipts and the position of his career, one could certainly agree that an Oscar nomination is on the way. Good thing "Foxcatcher" is on its way then. And what's better? Distributor Sony Pictures Classics is focusing much of the marketing campaign on Tatum.

Halfway Mark: Worthy Oscar Contenders from the first Half of the Year

Today officially marks the halfway point of 2014, if you can believe it. I don't know about the rest of you but I feel as if this year has been a blur, and I can say that about a lot of the movies that have come and gone through the last few months.

There has been only one movie from this year, thus far, that's challenged anything on my top 10 list from last year (a truly banner year in film unlike one we've had in awhile). That being said, there are truly some memorable performances, and even details about those films that were standouts, even if the overall product wasn't as great as its little pieces.

So read on, to see a few worthy contenders I feel deserve to remain in the conversation come awards season time.

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Trailer: Jessica Chastain's 3rd Oscar Nomination?

Jessica Chastain is one of the busiest actresses working today. Look no further than her filmography from 2011 alone to prove that fact; "The Help", "Take Shelter", "Tree of Life" "The Debt" and "Coriolanus" all starred Chastain that year. A two-time Oscar nominated, and Golden Globe winning actress, 2014 stands to be another great year for her, as she's starring in some more high-profile films. Not only does she have a role in Christopher Nolan's "Interstellar", but there's buzz surrounding her performance in J.C. Chandor's "A Most Violent Year".

But it's her performance in the acclaimed romance "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" that has won her the best raves of her already well received career. Handled by the Weinstein Company, the film finally has a trailer. (Watch below)

Meryl's Birthday! 5 Favorite Roles

There's not much to say about Meryl Streep that hasn't been said already... she is the Mariah Carey of the film industry, with a record breaking 18 Academy Award Nominations and 3 trophies (2 Leading Actress wins and 1 Supporting Actress win), it's easy to say she is the best actress working today. She has also been nominated for 28 Golden Globes, won 2 Emmys 2 BAFTA's and even 5 Grammy nominations. Not to mention, she is one of the rare actresses over the age of 40 that continues to land challenging roles (unlike her counterpart Glenn Close).

The last time you saw Streep, she was earning her 18th Oscar nomination for "August: Osage County" (not her best, but she gets nominated for everything it seems), and the next time you'll see her will be later this year in Tommy Lee Jones' "The Homesman", the film adaptation of the popular book "The Giver" (alongside Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift) and the film adaptation of the popular musical "Into the Woods" (alongside Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt and Chris Pine).

Today, Streep turns 65. In honor of the legendary queen of the film awards, lets count down her 5 best performances:

Reese Witherspoon's Comeback?

I for one, used to be a fan of Reese Witherspoon. In her early years, Witherspoon delivered a string of great performances ("Election, Freeway), and her breakout work in "Legally Blonde" turned the film into a phenomenon (I for one believe it was work worthy of an Oscar nomination, but you know how the Academy is with comedy). After solidifying herself as one of Hollywood's most bankable leading ladies ("Sweet Home Alabama", "Legally Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde") she took home the Oscar for Best Actress and a dozen other awards for her portrayal of country music singer June Carter-Cash in "Walk the Line". And then... nothing.

Since her Oscar win, Witherspoon's work has not only grown less enthusiastic, but her project choices have become less inspired. She had a small supporting role in last year's "Mud" alongside Matthew McConaughey, but it was McConaughey that won the raves, while Witherspoon was a forgotten element of the film.

Partnered with that embarrassing DUI arrest, it's safe to say that she's in need of a career resurgence/renaissance, which might just be this year.

Into The Woods Receives "Conservative" Changes

"Into the Woods" is one of the more curious films to land this year. For one thing, its source material is the heavily acclaimed musical by Stephen Soundheim. Not to mention that director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") is directing, with a cast including Emily Blunt, Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Chris Pine and James Corden.