Best Picture Nominees — The Contenders

I continue my look at Best Picture nominees this week with a group I'm calling the contenders. These are three films with a pedigree that you could see winning, but are not considered frontrunners. (We'll look at the frontrunners next week).

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Starring: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Viola Davis, and Max Von Sydow

Synopsis: This is an obvious choice, and it isn't. Based on pedigree — including a decorated cast and director Stephen Daldry — it seems like a lock for serious consideration. The subject matter is compelling, and the story has all the elements. But it was a late entry into the fray and seems to have — to some degree — gotten lost in the shuffle. This is an excellent crop of films in the Best Picture race. When I was picking my favorite films I saw in 2011 (this film wasn't out yet, and thus wasn't in the discussion), I had trouble putting them in a definitive order at the top because so many were solid, quality films. That's where personal preference comes in. For me, this is the kind of film that holds strong, personal appeal. I was very drawn to the story and performances. It's an emotional film, and a beautiful film. That's why I think it is a contender. It has the pedigree, and there is something about the story that is totally compelling. It may have come late to the party, but I don't think it can be ruled out of stealing the big prize.

Rating: PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language

Verdict: Four stars out of four

Where Can You Find It: "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is now playing nationwide

Hugo

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Helen McCrory, Asa Butterfield, and Sacha Baron Cohen

Synopsis: This is a film that combines elements of two other nominees this year. First, it has the same kind of coming of age elements and journey for a central character as "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," but not quite the same emotional resonance for me. Second, it has the same kind of celebration of the history of cinema as "The Artist," but it's not done as well or as creatively. That makes "Hugo" an interesting film. It picked up the most nominations of any film this year, with 11, and it's a film that's universally liked. It's a good film, but perhaps not a great film. Normally the film with the most nominations is a favorite for Best Picture, yet "Hugo" isn't. It has a lot of elements that made me think it would win at the Golden Globe, hence me picking it and going against my heart, but more emotionally resonant films prevailed. There is a part of this story that is too whimsical, I think, and that hurts the parts that are beautiful beyond words. A few years ago I was critical of "Up," the animated feature. The first 15 minutes were brilliant — probably the most brilliant sequence of any film I saw that year. The rest of the film was ordinary and didn't match up. "Hugo" is like "Up" in reverse. The final act — particularly the work of Kingsley and McCrory — is brilliant. It's moving, emotional, and beautiful. But the rest of the film doesn't stack up. You could make an intellectual case for this film, and it wouldn't be a bad choice, I just don't think it's the best choice.

Rating: PG for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Where Can You Find It: "Hugo" is now playing in theaters nationwide

War Horse

Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddelston, and Emily Watson

Synopsis: This is a beautiful film, perhaps Steven Spielberg's best in several years. It's also a unique achievement. It is truly a film where the animal performers and the story are more captivating than any single human contributor. It's basically a series of vignettes through World War I that follow the lives of all those touched by this special horse. It's a beautiful and emotional movie. I think this was clearly one of the year's best films, and you could make a case for it being Best Picture. That being said, I think there are other films that had more of a hook and packed the same kind of emotional punch. In many of the previous years, this would have been an easy Best Picture pick. But 2011 boasts an incredibly deep field.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of war violence

Verdict: Four stars out of four

Where Can You Find It: "War Horse" is still playing in limited release.