 Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Friendly Film Fan! It’s been a little while since I made an update for this blog, but boy, am I glad to be back writing again. Hopefully I’ll be able to push out more reviews very soon, mostly of things I haven’t yet covered for Bitesize Breakdown, the other outlet that I write for (most of my reviews go up there first). Until that time, however, we’re going in a bit of a different direction. Awards season is upon us. Normally, I just make a casual post on my social media pages detailing the non-tentpole/blockbuster films I’m most looking forward to for the rest of the year in movies; that is not what is happening today. Due to the overwhelming amount of films due to release between this weekend and early-to-mid January, some delayed due to *gestures vaguely at everything*, some simply pushed back to alternative release dates for marketing purposes, the end-of-year schedule is packed to the gills with movies to get excited about. So, this year, I thought I would make a little bit of a guide for those who may not already know what films might be worth seeing outside of the flagship Marvel or other franchise properties. There are some exceptions to those parameters due to the fact that some tentpoles will likely compete for at least one or more Oscar nominations by my estimation, but for the most part, I try to stay as close as I can to non-tentpole material. (Not on this list, but I am looking forward to: Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Halloween Kills, The King’s Man, Lamb, The Matrix: Resurrections, Spider-Man: No Way Home). All that said, let’s jump right into it with…  Belfast Cast: Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Judi Dench Director: Kenneth Branagh Release Date: November 12 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Kenneth Branagh’s most personal work to date is fresh off its Audience Award win at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), plus boasts a very solid trailer full of spirit and excellently-framed black-and-white cinematography. Many have described this as Branagh’s Roma, and while I personally think they’re wildly different films based on the marketing alone, I can see why people would compare the two. As of this moment, Belfast looks like the Best Picture front-runner for the Oscars; if it wins, it could be seen as a retroactive symbolic win for stories like this, and if anyone’s the absolute best at rewarding something far too late, it’s the Academy. (Yes, I’m still mad Roma lost to Green Book, sue me.)  C’mon C’mon Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Norman, Gaby Hoffman, Scoot McNairy Director: Mike Mills Release Date: November 19 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Mike Mills is no stranger to the awards conversation; in fact, his last film (20th Century Women) was Oscar-nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category, and now he’s teamed up with A24 once again for this black-and-white (there’s a lot of those this year) story of a radio journalist – played by none other than recent Best Actor winner Joaquin Phoenix – cross-country traveling with his young nephew. Those that have seen it describe it as Mike Mills’ signature light, sweet piece with just the right touch of sentimentality, and that sounds like a very nice time.  Cyrano Cast: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Ben Mendelsohn, Kelvin Harrison Jr. Director: Joe Wright Release Date: December 25 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: The last musical to be released in 2021, this adaptation of the 1987 play Cyrano de Bergerac stars Peter Dinklage, and from what’s been said of his performance in the film, he may well fill that 5th Best Actor spot that seems to be shifting around. While little else is known about the film (there’s not been any trailers or major marketing pushes yet), it did have its world premiere at Telluride earlier this month, and Joe Wright films – while they have a tendency to go either way – are usually pretty special when he’s really on his game.  Don’t Look Up Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hill, Meryl Streep, Ron Perlman, Matthew Perry, Ariana Grande, Tyler Perry, Mark Rylance, Himesh Patel, Kid Cudi, Rob Morgan Director: Adam McKay Release Date: December 24 Where to Watch It: Netflix Why You Should Watch For It: I personally wasn’t a fan of McKay’s previous work, Vice, despite the great performances in it, but The Big Short helmer is a movie star magnet whose scripts range from painfully condescending to unexpectedly brilliant, often within the same few pages of dialogue. If for nothing else, see this one just to see which direction it goes, and if DiCaprio and J-Law can pull off performances on a McKay script that are impressive enough to actually boost their Oscar nomination chances.  Dune (2021) Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Dave Baustista, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, David Dastmalchian Director: Denis Villeneuve Release Date: October 22 Where to Watch It: In Theaters and on HBO Max Why You Should Watch For It: The first true tentpole on this list, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the iconic sci-fi novel Dune is already off to an extremely strong start at the international box office. Combine those odds with a director whose filmography boasts at least one of the signature films of the 21st century in Arrival (and includes other beloved features like Prisoners, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049), who has a knack for getting fantastic performances out of great actors, and whose films often are absolutely stunning to look out, beautifully scored, and thrillingly faithful to the worlds they inhabit, this first part of the Dune story is sure to be a must-watch on the biggest screen you can find. (Oh, and it is actually Dune: Part One. Whether they even shoot the second half is based on this film’s box office, so make sure to go to the theater for this one!)  Encanto Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, Diane Guerrero, Wilmer Valderrama, Angie Cepeda, Rhenzy Feliz, Carolina Gaitan, Jessica Darrow, Adassa, María Cecilia Botero, Mauro Castillo Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith (co-director) Release Date: November 24 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Disney animation has stepped up their game in tremendous ways recently outside of their Pixar properties, and this is yet another in the chain of 2021 films with songs written by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda (he also wrote the music for Netflix’s Vivo and Tick, Tick…Boom!, directing the latter himself). Whatever you may think of Hamilton as a show (or apparently an Emmy-winning variety special?), Miranda is one hell of a writer and creative personality, so combining him with Disney is almost always a sure bet for success. The last time Disney released two non-Pixar animated films in the same year was 2016 with Zootopia in March and then Moana in November, and the last time Miranda wrote the songs for a DA musical, it was for the latter. Who knows which way this could actually go once the film releases, but for now, all signs point way upward.  Eternals Cast: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Barry Keoghan, Kit Harrington, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie Director: Chloé Zhao Release Date: November 5 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: The second tentpole feature on this list (and the only MCU entry), Eternals may not get much closer to Oscar gold than a visual effects nomination, but it is helmed by none other than reigning Best Director and Best Picture champion Chloé Zhao, who won both awards for the aching and sincere Nomadland last year. In addition, Zhao directed Academy Award-Winner Frances McDormand to yet her third Oscar, bringing her one step closer to outpacing the late Kathrine Hepburn’s all-time record. All this to say, Kevin Feige – the producer and shepherd of the MCU – has been raving about how Zhao has made a Marvel Studios project unlike anything we’ve seen before, which he has not done for Shang-Chi or Spider-Man, so it’s safe to say Eternals is something genuinely special. Combined with a stunning second trailer for the film that shows off fantastic visual effects, breathtaking cinematography, beautiful lighting, the director’s name in the trailer itself (which an MCU film has never done) and a credit for composer Ramin Djwadi, this film – even in small ways – could be a bigger awards contender than anybody is currently anticipating.  Flee Cast: Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari, Belal Faiz, Zahra Mehrwarz, Sadia Faiz, Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen Release Date: December 3 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Having seen the film myself out of TIFF, and having a published review available for reading on Bitesize Breakdown’s Instagram page, I can say with complete confidence that Flee truly is unlike anything I’ve seen before in filmmaking. An animated documentary told partly in English, partly in Danish, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s tale of Afghan refugees fleeing their home country is a harrowing tale filled with some of the most moving moments the year has seen in cinema, and perhaps that cinema has ever seen at all. It truly is a triple threat in the International, Documentary, and Animated Feature categories, and if I had my way, I would implore the Academy to put it in Best Picture as well. It is the film of 2021 that I would genuinely recommend as essential viewing, so if it’s playing in a theater near you once it releases, go and see it. I could not be more serious.  The French Dispatch Cast: Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Adrien Brody, Toheeb Jimoh, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Jeffrey Wright, Owen Wilson, Christoph Waltz, Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Liev Schreiber, Rupert Friend, Angelica Huston (voice – narrator), Jason Schwartzman, Henry Winkler, Tony Revolori Director: Wes Anderson Release Date: October 22 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Read the cast list again. Read the director’s name again. That is all.  The Hand of God Cast: Filippo Scott, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo, Marlon Joubert, Luisa Ranieri, Renato Carpentieri, Massimiliano Gallo Director: Paolo Sorrentino Release Date: December 15 Where to Watch It: Netflix Why You Should Watch For It: A stunning first trailer for this film from the director behind The Great Beauty is most of what recommends it to this list; that’s not to say that’s the only reason one should watch for it, just the only reason I know enough about to approve its entry. Lush cinematography and what looks like a coming-of-age story of sorts could land this amongst the stronger of Best International Feature contenders this year, and the music sounds beautiful as well. There’s no much else to say, except that you should definitely keep it on your radar.  A Hero Cast: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Fereshteh Sadrorafaii, Sarina Farhadi, Sahar Goldust, Ehsan Goodzari, Alireza Jahandideh, Maryam Shahdaei Director: Asghar Farhadi Release Date: January 7 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Farhadi’s last film, The Salesman, actually won the Best International Feature Oscar in 2016, and those that saw his latest out of Cannes earlier this year had high praise for the director’s latest feature. Given his history with the Academy, this could be a major player in the International Feature race, which often ends up being one of the most exciting races at the Oscars if one has seen the films in contention. The submissions have been coming in from different countries for some time, and while Iran has yet to officially submit a film to the race, it’s safe to say this will be their most likely choice.  House of Gucci Cast: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino Director: Ridley Scott Release Date: November 24 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Ridley Scott has not just one but two movies coming out within two months of each other this year – this is the latter, and by far the more anticipated amongst critics and pundits familiar with the director’s work. The ensemble cast is stacked with talent, the costume and makeup work looks absolutely stunning (Jared Leto is quite literally unrecognizable), it’s got a really great first trailer, and will likely be a major Oscar contender in several categories. For all intents and purposes, this is arguably the #1 most anticipated awards contender of the fall movie season that doesn’t have Paul Thomas Anderson at the helm, and it’s not difficult to determine why that might be.  The Humans Cast: Steven Yeun, Beanie Feldstein, Amy Schumer, Richard Jenkins, June Squibb, Jayne Houdyshell Director: Stephen Karam Release Date: November 24 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: The trailer itself doesn’t have much to brag about at an aesthetic level, but after premiering at TIFF, many critics have claimed Richard Jenkins to be the rival to Bradley Cooper in the Best Supporting Actor race (Cooper for Licorice Pizza, more on that later). Add to that an A24 studio label and a shot at the Adapted Screenplay category, and you’ve got something that will definitely be interesting – no matter which direction that interest ultimately goes.  King Richard Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Jon Bernthal, Dylan McDermott, Tony Goldwyn, Erin Cummings Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green Release Date: November 15 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: This film has been percolating in Hollywood for a few years, and it’s not hard to see why. Touted as perhaps the “feel-good” movie of the year by critics, King Richard is poised to win Will Smith his first Oscar for playing Richard Williams (father of tennis stars Venus and Serena) after decades of stellar work and two other nominations. It’s high time we got another inspirational sports drama in theaters as well, especially after the supremely underrated Ben Affleck vehicle The Way Back was one of the last to bow out before the pandemic shut movie theaters down across the country in early 2020. This one seems like it could set things on the right path again, and with a trailer like that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this sneak into that #10 spot in the Best Picture nominations, especially since the Academy has committed to a full 10-movie slate (as opposed to only having 7-9 nominees in an optional field of 10, as they have for the past few years).  The Last Duel Cast: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, Claire Dunne, Marton Csokas, Harriet Walter, Zeljko Ivanek Director: Ridley Scott Release Date: October 15 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: This is the first of the two films Ridley Scott has opening this fall season, and according to those critics that have screened it, the man is Ridley Scott for a reason. While I’m sure the overall film may not be as tight or magnificent as some other Scott productions have been in the past, Jodie Comer is boasting some serious Oscar nomination chances off the back of this tale, and screeners have stated that the titular final duel is every bit as gripping as the best of Scott-directed action sequences. Plus, this is the first script that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have co-written (alongside Nicole Holofcener) since first collaborating on Good Will Hunting, which won them their Original Screenplay Oscar. Perhaps this won’t be quite the awards contender that that film was, but things look pretty good going in.  Last Night in Soho Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, Dianna Rigg, Terence Stamp, Jessie Mei Li, Elizabeth Berrington, Synnove Karlsen, James Phelps Director: Edgar Wright Release Date: October 29 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Stylish, slick, watchable, and boasting a damn good soundtrack. Those four things are true of virtually every movie Edgar Wright has ever made, and certainly true of his last two features. For this, Wright is diving deeper into the horror sphere, and a stunning, nearly dialogue-less first trailer (along with a very fun second) clearly inspired by the films of Dario Argento is all one needs to get on board with what he’s doing here. Thomasin McKenzie is sure to get a lot more deserved attention after this is released, and now that the whole world knows the name of Anya Taylor-Joy thanks to The Queen’s Gambit, it’s sure to receive a lot more notice than Wright’s films have previously had, even pre-Covid. This won’t make up for the crime that was the world letting Scott Pilgrim flop, but a time travel murder mystery set in 1960s London with this cast? Sign me up.  Licorice Pizza Cast: Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, Skyler Gisondo, Maya Rudolph, John C. Reilly Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Release Date: November 26 Where to Watch: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Paul Thomas Anderson is as much a staple of American cinema as Steven Spielberg’s filmography or Meryl Streep’s countless Oscar nominations. The director is such a force of creative and artistic energy that many of his films are considered some of the all-time greats, including Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Phantom Thread. That first one seems to be the vibe that Anderson is attempting to capture again in what was recently revealed by a great poster and fantastic trailer to be Licorice Pizza, a tale of a successful child actor and high school student set in the 1970s in the San Fernando Valley (“Licorice Pizza” is also the name of a record store there.) The film’s A-list cast includes star Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and all signs point to Bradley Cooper winning Best Supporting Actor, ironically for playing Jon Peters, producer of the 1976 version of A Star Is Born (Cooper directed and starred in the 2018 version, and was nominated for Best Actor but snubbed of a Best Director spot). PTA films vacillate on whether they appeal to their viewers from time to time, but he is always, undeniably, PTA, and this should be no exception.  The Lost Daughter Cast: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jack Farthing, Ed Harris Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal Release Date: December 31 Where to Watch It: Netflix Why You Should Watch For It: Maggie Gyllenhaal makes her directorial debut here, and if one can believe it, it looks like star Olivia Colman will be in contention for yet another Best Actress Oscar. The film is based on the titular novel by Elena Ferrante, with Gyllenhaal herself adapting the screenplay. It also stars Dakota Johnson in a supporting part, plus Jessie Buckley and Normal People breakout star Paul Mescal. Little else is widely known about the film – which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, and has gone on to play Telluride and will play at several others, including NYFF (New York Film Festival) – but even without a trailer to speak of, this is one Netflix awards release you can get excited about.  Mass Cast: Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton Director: Fran Kranz Release Date: October 8 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: One of the other films I saw at TIFF which has yet to be released, Mass is every bit as worthy of acclaim as the largest of films on this list, even with how small it is. I can’t say much more about it until the review is released, other than that I hope Jason Isaacs and Ann Dowd are Oscar-nominated, and the film itself deserves to be recognized in at least the Original Screenplay category. Picture might be a difficult road to travel for the Bleecker Street release, and Director is out of the question simply due to the sheer number of other contenders, but if anyone works as hard on this film’s FYC campaign as Next Best Picture’s Matt Neglia, it could have a decent shot at the big prize as well.  Nightmare Alley (2021) Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe, Toni Collette, Mary Steenburgen, Ron Perlman, Holt McCallany, David Strathairn, Tim Blake Nelson, Clifton Collins Jr., Richard Jenkins Director: Guillermo Del Toro Release Date: December Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: A remake of the 1947 film by Edmund Goulding, this is director Guillermo Del Toro’s first feature since 2017’s The Shape of Water, which won 4 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Del Toro. Although the first trailer isn’t the most mind-blowing thing to see, the all-star cast looks spectacularly dressed, and the production design is sure to nab some awards attention. Del Toro has become quite a beloved figure amongst the Academy, and his films are always singularly visionary, so expect this to be a major Oscars player in several categories, likely including Picture and Director for Del Toro once again.  No Time to Die Cast: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, Ana de Armas, Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Release Date: October 8 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: The third and final tentpole film on this list is, of course, the final bow for Daniel Craig’s James Bond in No Time to Die, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Fukunaga’s previous work includes Netflix’s very first original film, Beasts of No Nation, which astounded critics in 2015 and was widely held as worthy of Oscar consideration, especially for supporting actor Idris Elba, even if original streaming films were still far too new of a format for anyone to believe the Academy would take it seriously at the time. Fukunaga also went on to direct the award-winning first season of HBO’s True Detective, and the 2018 miniseries Maniac. His work beyond recommends him, and with a cast that adds the brilliant Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch to the mix, plus a script co-written by none other than Phoebe Waller-Bridge of Fleabag, this will be one Bond film audiences likely won’t soon forget. Plus, it was shot by none other than La La Land DP Linus Sandgren, who won an Oscar for his previous work, and scored by the iconic Hans Zimmer. Who can’t look forward to this?  Parallel Mothers Cast: Penélope Cruz, Rossy de Palma, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Daniela Santiago, Milena Smit, Julieta Serrano, Israel Elejalde Director: Pedro Almodóvar Release Date: December 24 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Pedro Almodóvar may not be a household name to American audiences, but Spanish filmgoers know the directors work very well. His films are often sensuous bursts of color and life, and his last film – Pain and Glory – earned star Antonio Banderas a Best Actor nomination at the 2019 Oscars (plus a Best International Feature nomination for itself). Almodóvar always gets great performances out of his leading actors, and with Penélope Cruz on a resurgence of late (she’ll be starring in the Jessica Chastain action flick The 355 in January), there could be yet another shakeup in this year’s Best Actress race.  Petite Maman Cast: Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne, Margot Abascal, Florès Cardo, Josée Schuller, Guylène Péan Director: Céline Sciamma Release Date: October 15 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: The director of Portrait of a Lady on Fire had her latest film premiere at TIFF (I wasn’t able to get to this one), and while viewers have claimed it’s not quite as iconic as the 2019 masterpiece, they have been overwhelmingly fond of the film, praising Sciamma’s ability to inject warmth and heart into a narrative about maternal love and genuine friendship. Sciamma’s filmography can sometimes be a bit hit or miss, but none of it is disinteresting or in any way lacking depth. There really is not much else to say of this one without having seen it, but clocking in at just 72 minutes, it is absolutely one you should see if you can find a time and place to do so.  The Power of the Dog Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie Director: Jane Campion Release Date: December 1 Where to Watch It: Netflix Why You Should Watch For It: Jane Campion’s first directorial effort in 12 years emerged as the first of the Oscar front-runners for Best Picture fairly early on, and after premiering at Venice to rapturous acclaim (plus screening at TIFF and Telluride), it seems people were right to expect great things of the Netflix-produced film. Campion won the Silver Lion at Venice for Best Direction, and has remained a staple of Best Director prediction since before this film even premiered, so it’s safe to say she – and the film – aren’t going anywhere once awards season begins. The film is primed for a December 1 release date on Netflix, and if early word is any indication, both star Benedict Cumberbatch and supporting actress Kirsten Dunst are going to be nominated for acting Oscars, with the film itself scoring several other nominations, likely leading the pack once those are released. After an unsettling and deeply captivating first trailer featuring stunning cinematography by Ari Wegner, this one has nowhere to go but up.  The Rescue Cast: Thanet Natisri, Jim Warny, Mikko Paasi, John Volanthen, Rick Stanton, Vern Unsworth, Mitch Torrel Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Release Date: October 8 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: A NatGeo doc from the helmers of Best Documentary Feature winner Free Solo, The Rescue covers the iconic 2018 retrieval of the Wild Boars youth soccer team from a cave in which they were trapped. Having premiered at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month, it has since received great acclaim, and will likely compete for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars this year. According to those that have seen the film, it is a harrowing examination of genuine heroism, and the re-creation sequences are virtually indistinguishable from actual camera-capture documentary footage, lending to the film’s uncanny realism. Even if you’re not particularly interested in documentaries as a form of filmmaking, this is going to be one to watch for, if only to experience the story up close.  Spencer Cast: Kirsten Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Nielen, Freddie Spry, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris, Stella Gonet, Richard Sammel, Elizabeth Berrington, Lore Stefanek, Amy Manson, Sally Hawkins Director: Pablo Larraín Release Date: November 5 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: Pablo Larraín’s Jackie landed star Natalie Portman a Best Lead Actress nomination in 2016 – an award the star almost won – so it stands to reason that Spencer, a film that chronicles a tumultuous time in the life of one Princess Diana, the star would also receive a nomination. What was not expected was that that star would be Kirsten Stewart, and that not only would she be expected to receive a nomination, but to win Best Actress. Stewart is undeniably the front-runner for the award right now, with every critic that has screened the film raving over her performance. Many of them also believe Spencer is one of Larraín’s greatest works, and with a Jonny Greenwood score and cinematography by Portrait of a Lady on Fire DP Claire Mathon, it’s not surprising to learn so. Both trailers for the film have been excellent, and when it hits theaters on November 5, it’s sure to make quite an impression.  Titane Cast: Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier, Laïs Salameh, Mara Cissé, Marin Judas, Diong-Kéba Tacu Director: Julia Ducournau Release Date: October 1 Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: After winning the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Julia Ducournau’s Titane has taken the movie world by storm, with many stating that the director deserved to be in consideration for Best Director by the Academy this year, regardless of how good of a chance the film has at appealing to the body’s interest in terms of other awards recognition. The Raw director certainly has blazed a trail through each festival the film has shown at, and with an unforgettably impactful first trailer, the film is set to premiere in North American theaters on October 1st. I’ll personally be seeing it that day, so you’ll know what I think quite quickly afterwards, but this is one I’ve been looking forward to ever since it traveled all the way through Cannes.  The Tragedy of Macbeth Cast: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Corey Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Harry Melling, Bertie Carvel, Kathryn Hunter, Moses Ingram, Ralph Ineson Director: Joel Coen Release Date: January 14 Where to Watch: Apple TV+ Why You Should Watch For It: Yes, there have been remakes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth ad nauseum, and in fact, the most recent was only released in 2015 by Justin Kurzel (that film starred Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard). However, an absolutely magnificent first teaser trailer showing off crisp 4:3 cinematography, and a truly gripping descent into madness by star Denzel Washington put this higher on the map than I think anyone expected. Those that have seen it rave about Joel Coen’s immaculate direction and the performances involved, as well as the apparently demonic take on the three witches by Kathryn Hunter. Pair that with a Frances McDormand fresh off her third Oscar win, and a prime awards season release spot, and you’re sure to get a truly special experience.  West Side Story (2021) Cast: Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ana Isabelle, Corey Stoll, Brian d’Arcy James, Rita Moreno Director: Steven Spielberg Release Date: December 10 Where to Watch It: In Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: While the abuse allegations against Ansel Elgort could damage the film’s reputation and awards chances a bit, I have a distinct feeling that Steven Spielberg’s remake of the iconic West Side Story will manage to have so much more to love that it can rise above that. First-time star Rachel Zegler, who already has an enormous fan following online (of which I am a part), has since been cast in Shazam: Fury of the Gods (which just wrapped principal photography last month) and made the star of Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White. She has quickly climbed the ranks of movie stardom and is about to shoot to the top of the ladder in a major way after this film premieres. On top of that, the film’s two trailers showcase a gorgeously-shot look with bright, colorful costumes and very dynamic performers. Ariana DeBose, who will be playing Anita, is also expected to be competing for the Supporting Actress Oscar. Whether this remake will live up to or even surpass the original film is anyone’s guess, but Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner often do great things together, so I remain optimistic about its chances.  The Worst Person in the World Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Maria Grazia Di Meo, Herbert Nordrum, Hans Olav Brenner, Vidar Sandem, Helene Bjørnebye, Anna Dworak Director: Joachim Trier Release Date: TBA Where to Watch It: In Select Theaters Why You Should Watch For It: While it has no official U.S. release date yet, Joachim Trier’s final film in his “Oslo” trilogy (which also includes Reprise and Oslo, August 31) has been met with such a level of critical acclaim, it would be difficult to imagine it not competing for Best International Feature this year, especially since star Renate Reinsve took home the award for Best Actress after the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival over the summer. Many have speculated it could also compete in the Academy’s Original Screenplay category as well, and I would not be surprised at all to see this happen (as much as I would love for Edson Oda’s Nine Days to get more love there). It’s anybody’s guess, but the film has taken on a charm across critical circles, so whenever it does release in the U.S., you can bet I’ll be there to see it, and you probably should be too. And that is every single awards season film that I could think of that YOU should be watching for. Are you anticipating any of the films on this list? What on here do you most want to see that’s a relatively small release? Let me know in the comments below, and thanks for reading! - The Friendly Film Fan Other Awards Contenders You Can Watch Now:
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