Many people are looking at me with perplexed faces when I explain my theories about next years Oscars to them. "It's too soon!" they say. "We haven't seen the films yet!" True, we haven't, but let's be honest - do all the Academy members see all the films before they vote? No. They just vote the way they always vote (most of the time). So, I will continue predicting the way I always do, and let's be honest: it is for fun! I'm not a rocket scientist!
Anyway, the women seem to be in the attention now more than ever thanks to Kathryn Bigelow's Best Director win for The Hurt Locker. The Academy recognized her for her efforts, and although they returned to the middle-aged-white-male spectrum last year, there are more opportunities for women to shine this year. Oscar winning actress Angelina Jolie is set to release her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey, 'Queen of Pop' Madonna has her film W.E being distributed by the Weinsteins in December and The Iron Lady, starring Meryl Streep is being directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
The talking point at this stage is how these films will fare come 2012.
Firstly, In the Land of Blood and Honey is a love story set in Bosnia. The film stars local Bosnian actors and is being distributed by FilmDistrict. The most interesting thing however is that it was shot in two versions - the first in English and the second in BCS (the Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian language). We don't know much about the film other than that at the moment, but purely Jolie's involvement is getting it all the attention it needs. Because it is set in a foreign country and has unknown actors, that might be a problem in terms of getting votes. But, as I said - it's Jolie. She gets attention. And has friends.
Speaking of having important friends, there is another hotly anticipated film ready to be released. It is called W.E and is being directed by Madonna. W.E has two stories. The first is Abbie Cornish's character investigating the love story between King George VIII's abdication of the British throne due to his love for Wallis Simpson. The second of the intertwining stories is exactly that: the relationship between King George VIII and Simpson. In my head, it plays out like Julie & Julia meets The King's Speech. Doesn't that sound awesome? The film is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival and is being distributed by The Weinstein Company. You know, the company that The King's Speech provided the resurgence of? Yeah, them.
Speaking of the Weinsteins, they also have their hands on the Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady. Despite sounding like Meryl Streep's best chance for her third Oscar in years, the film is being directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Lloyd's last feature was the mediocre Mamma Mia! also starring Streep. Admittedly, this isn't the best sign of success I've ever seen, but sometimes directors surprise us. They will come out with an awful first feature, then make up for it with a great film. AND it's those damn Weinsteins again. You know they will focus the campaign on Streep, and the rest of the film may fall into the background, but it is in the conversation nonetheless.
So, what do we think about the triple-play of females in the directors chair this year?
Do you think anybody has a chance of nabbing a nomination?
