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? The latest drama from auteur Terrence Malick, which centers on the life of Franz Jägerstätter (August Diehl), an Austrian farmer who was executed for his refusal to fight for the Nazis and his attempts to undermine the regime.
Why is it a contender? Life's world premiere at Cannes in May was met with mostly positive reviews, and it's a lot more accessible than much of Malick's recent work.
What are its chances? Though the director refuses to campaign for nominations (as is his custom), distributor Fox Searchlight will certainly do so on his behalf after spending over $12 million to secure the rights to the film at Cannes. While it hasn't been universally praised by critics—some reviewers find it lifeless—it might register as an "important" enough film with the Academy and secure a nomination. (It certainly takes its subject matter more seriously than this year's other anti-Nazi contender, Jojo Rabbit—coincidentally, another Fox Searchlight release.)
When can I see it? December 13th.
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