Potpourri - Best Picture Contender Trailer Roundup

Haven't done a 'Potpourri' in a while, so I thought it might be worthwhile to do a roundup of some of the things that look like they might be in the Best Picture mix this year. While it's still early, we are in the thick of film festival season, and in recent years, the films that usually wind up making the cut are ones that made noise at festivals like Cannes and Venice. Here are a few such films and their cases for a Best Picture nod in February.

La La Land

Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons La La Land Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Emma Stone Movie A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. Subscribe to TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/sxaw6h Subscribe to COMING SOON: http://bit.ly/H2vZUn Like us on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/1QyRMsE Follow us on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/1ghOWmt The Fandango MOVIECLIPS Trailers channel is your destination for the hottest new trailers the second they drop.

Release Date: December 2, 2016

Damien Chazelle's follow-up to 2014's universally loved Whiplash is an original movie musical starring previous Oscar nominees Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. The film has received rapturous reviews out of Venice and Telluride, which is usually a surefire sign of a contender. It is hard to imagine this one disappointing when it is released on December 2. 

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

BillyLynn - In Theaters November 11 Director Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour.

Release Date: November 11, 2016

Director Ang Lee can already be described as legendary, with a career that already includes two Best Director Oscars (Brokeback Mountain; Life of Pi). This latest addition to his filmography tackles the story of a young soldier returning home from war. Shot in 4K and 3D at 120 fps, it is groundbreaking from a visual perspective. If that 'style' is met with 'substance,' this should be near the top of everyone's Oscar ballots. 

Loving

From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, "Loving" celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v.

Release Date: November 4, 2016

This quiet film is the latest effort from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special) and the reviews out of Cannes were solid. Telling the story of the couple at the center of the Supreme Court case that made interracial marriage legal, it is said to feature a wonderful lead performance from Ruth Negga. With each of Nichols' films receiving near-universal praise, he is definitely on the cusp of a breakout. Don't be surprised if this film ends up being his Oscar coming out party. 

Manchester By The Sea

Starring: Kyle Chandler, Michelle Williams, Casey Affleck Manchester by the Sea Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Casey Affleck Movie An uncle is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.

Release Date: November 18, 2016

While other films made bigger headlines out of Sundance, Kenneth Lonergan's film was always the one with the best reviews. Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams star in the family-themed drama that has some going so far as to call it a "Masterpiece." With a stellar cast and an awards-friendly release date, look for this one to make noise in several categories.

Moonlight

SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/A24subscribe From writer/director Barry Jenkins and starring Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, and Mahershala Ali. MOONLIGHT - Coming Soon.

Release Date: October 21, 2016

If there is a theme to this list, it is that good reviews get you early mentions. Moonlight, the second feature by writer-director Barry Jenkins, currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 100 on Metacritic. While it's still early, those kinds of lofty reviews are definitely impressive. It sounds like it may be the critics choice this year, which could go either way as far as predicting a Best Picture nomination. 

Arrival

Watch the new official movie trailer for Arrival. Coming to theatres November 11, 2016. When mysterious spacecrafts touch down across the globe, an elite team - lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) - is brought together to investigate.

Release Date: November 11, 2016

As perhaps the biggest outlier on this list, Arrival also represents the least sure thing. It stars Academy darling Amy Adams, but Oscar isn't always so friendly to sci-fi. The film is based on a well-received short story, so it could be the one 'genre' movie to make the cut, but reviews will be critical to get it over the hump. 

The Birth Of A Nation

In theaters October 7 Connect with The Birth of a Nation Online Visit The Birth of a Nation on our WEBSITE: http://thebirthofanationmovie.com/ Like The Birth of a Nation on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheBirthofaNation/ Follow The Birth of a Nation on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/natturnerfilm Follow The Birth of a Nation on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thebirthofanation/ #TheBirthOfANation

Release Date: October 7, 2016

Last and definitely hardest to predict, there is The Birth Of A Nation. A record purchase out of Sundance, many would have once called this the surest bet on the list. But with writer-director Nate Parker's past circling the film now, its prospects are anyone's guess. It definitely seems to have taken a hit and Oscar sometimes shies from controversy, but Woody Allen and Roman Polanski (among others) have both won Oscars post-sexual assault allegations, so this one has to be labeled TBD for now. 

Sully

In theaters September 9! http://sully-movie.com https://facebook.com/sullymovie Read the book that inspired the movie: http://goo.gl/8SzZrQ From Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood ("American Sniper," "Million Dollar Baby") comes Warner Bros. Pictures' drama "Sully," starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks ("Bridge of Spies," "Forrest Gump") as Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger.

Release Date: September 9, 2016

Because it's Clint. 

There are of course many other films in the mix, but they either (a) are not as good of a bet as these or (b) they haven't quite given us a trailer yet. For now, we have to wait another month or so for the season to really heat up!

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