If you’re a serious OscarWatcher, you know that today is exactly six months until next year’s Academy Awards ceremony. So on this Oscar equinox (if you will), my EW film-festival pal Missy Schwartz and I discuss three female-driven films that will certainly have moviegoers buzzing at the Toronto International Film Festival (which begins Sept. 10) and over the next few months: Precious, Bright Star, and An Education. Check back tomorrow and Wednesday for Part 2 and Part 3 of our Toronto preview. And please follow me on Twitter (@davekarger) for instant updates during the festival and beyond.
More on Toronto from OscarWatch:
Best Actor bets? Three to watch
Dave, you have to start analyzing the releasing films that have Oscar potential right away!
I’m looking forward to each of these films, definitely Precious to see what people are talking about. I never would have expected Mo’nique to ever earn an Oscar nomination, let alone for a dramatic role. As for the other films, Bright Star make me wonder too. I look forward to Jane Campion and enjoy her work, except for the fact that half a decade passes with each effort. She’s almost as bad as James Cameron or Terrence Malick in that regard.
An Education is dull, trite, unimaginative. Carey Mulligan deserves better.
You’ve seen the film all ready? I’ve only just seen the preview, but thought Mulligan looked endearing and charming. I think the premise of the film is unique, based on what I’ve read so far, and also because Hornby’s screenplays are perfection. I really hope this film does well!
Please, please screen Glorious 39! I’m dying to see it. Stephen Poliakoff is one of my favourite writer/directors.
I love Carey Mulligan and i can’t wait to see her in Education.
I’m so happy that Monique finally got a serious role. I can tell from the trailer that she gives an amazing performance in Precious.
OMG!!! i can’t wait to see all of these films especially bright star. love love ben whishaw. he’s the most talented young actor of our time and one of my favorite. also jane campion’s work is amazing love the piano and excited to see how abbie cornish do in this film ( oh yeah thomas sangster too). carey mulligan is the reason i want to watch an education. The last time i saw her was in pride and prejudice and didn’t recognized they were the same person. she’s such a lovely person. and for precious all the actors are the icing on all the cakes (loving me some mo’nique).
What is it with critics and “ugly beautiful people”? Whenever someone glamorous (Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, and in this case, Mariah Carey) takes off the makeup for a role, critics are just so amazed! and are automatically talking Oscar.
Did Dave just say Katie Holmes is a great actress?
It did sound strange for her to be grouped with Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron, didn’t it?
Yeah I thought that was just wrong – Nicole, Charlize, Katie? No sir!
i’m really suprised they didn’t talk about the lovely bones and saorise ronan (and ben whishaw). hopefully they do on the other parts. i also hope they bring up fifty dead men walking, brothers, and the young victoria.
I’m looking forward to Precious and an Education. I still can’t quite believe the hairy lady in the trailers is the same person that brought us one of the worst film “performances” of all time in Glitter. She really does look great, though. An education is going to be good, love Saarsgard and can’t wait to see what the lady that Shia LeBeuf finally settled down for will bring to the table.
I can’t wait to see Bright Star. I just hope this gives Abbie Cornish the recognition she deserves as an accomplished actress, versus being seen as tabloid fodder. It looks like a truly imaginative and lovely film.
actress Rachel Ward(she of ‘thorn birds, etc) is debuting her first feature at Toronto – “beautiful kate”. it’s getting raves so far & i’m most excited about that!!! i think we’ll hear much more as awards season approaches
So are Mulligan and Cornish more likely to be nominated/better than the Precious girl? Sounds like Mo’Nique is taking all the Oscar consideration for that film.
Why isn’t the video posting?
Could that wig that they put on Mariah look any more fake?