Meet This Year's Best Picture Contenders
Which films from 2019 could contend for a best picture Oscar in early 2020? We have surveyed industry experts, reviewed the reviews, and examined the top performers at this year's major film festivals to come up with a list of 20-ish potential contenders. (They're listed alphabetically in the gallery above.) Of course, the ultimate best picture nominee list will include 10 or fewer titles (likely fewer), so not every one of these films will secure a nomination—but it's likely that all of the eventual nominees will be found in our list. The biggest wildcards are the handful of films that have yet to be screened for anyone; we'll point those out as we get to them.
What is it? It sounds like a lawsuit, but it's actually a dramatic look at a 24-hour endurance auto race in 1966, when an underdog but visionary team backed by Ford Motor Company took on the dominant Ferrari-backed heavyweights.
Why is it a contender? The cast is led by Matt Damon and Christian Bale, and reviews have been solid since the film's unveiling at Telluride in August. It's easy to see Academy voters drawn in by an old-fashioned underdog tale pitting scrappy Americans against a group of arrogant Europeans.
What are its chances? Decent, but it's far from a lock. Critics at Telluride seemed to like the two lead performances far better than James Mangold's unremarkable direction (though the race itself is exciting) or the film as a whole, and Ford's Oscar chances may hinge upon whether the film finds an audience when it opens next week.
When can I see it? November 15th.
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