Dunkirk, The Last Jedi, and 6 More Movies That Might Win at the 2018 Oscars

Chris Tilly
Movies
Movies

They’ve only just handed out the 2017 Oscars. Some of them to the correct winners. But as we’re still in awards mode, there’s no time like the present to look ahead to 2018. So, the following are eight movies in with a chance of Academy glory this time next year.

Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan is yet to receive a Best Director Oscar, but that might just change with Dunkirk. Revolving around evacuation of Allied forces from the Dunkirk beaches during WWII, it’s the kind of epic tale of derring-do that the Academy loves to honour. The cast features the esteemed likes of Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Cillian Murphy, any one of whom could get a nod. Meanwhile, One Direction‘s Harry Styles makes his acting debut in a supporting role. He couldn’t, could he?

Coco

Pixar have a pair of movies out this year. And while Cars 3 will doubtless make a fortune at the box office/in spin-off toys, we reckon their other effort will be the one to watch. Coco concerns a young boy who travels to the magical ‘Land of the Dead’ to pursue his musical dream, and features Mexican music that might win in the Best Song category. Early word also suggests that – like the best of Pixar – this colourful comedy also packs an emotional punch, so it could also be the Animated Movie to beat in 2018.

Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Fashion Project

Daniel Day-Lewis doesn’t act all that often. But when he does, it normally results in his winning an Academy Award. He was named Best Actor for My Left Foot, There Will be Blood and Lincoln, and with Day-Lewis currently re-teaming with Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson, a foolish man would bet against him next year. The film – which is said to revolve around the London fashion scene in the 1950s – doesn’t have an official title yet. Though the above pictures suggest it will be called The Phantom Thread. And with Jonny Greenwood again on musical duty, expect this one to be up for Picture, Director, Actor, Score, and very probably a bunch more.

The Current War

The Academy loves a biopic that’s filled with intrigue and drama, and The Current War looks to be just that. The film details the race to “create a marketable and sustainable electricity system” in 19th-century America. In one corner you’ve got Benedict Cumberbatch as main man Thomas Edison. And in the other Michael Shannon is his great rival George Westinghouse. If the requisite acting sparks fly, both men could receive nominations, while support comes from Nicholas Hoult as competing physicist Nikola Tesla.

Beauty and the Beast

Disney’s live-action adaptation of the studio’s animated smash hits screens in mid-March. It’s already broken records for trailer views, and those stunning early glimpses suggest that Beauty and the Beast will have a chance in costume, make-up and production design. Alan Menken has written three new songs, each of which might have a chance in that category. And with the 1991 version being nominated for Best Picture, don’t be surprised to see this remake doing the same.

Stronger

Tatiana Maslany as Erin Haley and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jeff Bauman (Lionsgate).

Stronger is sure to tug on Academy heart-strings, as it’s based on Jeff Bauman’s moving memoir of the same name. Bauman lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing, and the film details his remarkable recovery, as well as his efforts to help identify the suspects while they were still at large. David Gordon Green directs, but this one’s best chance will probably come in the acting categories. Jake Gyllenhaal – previously nominated for Brokeback Mountain – plays Bauman, while Tatiana Maslany is the girlfriend Jeff was watching run that day.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The Star Wars movies have won a whole heap of Academy Awards, but they’ve all been in the technical categories. From visual effects and production design to sound mixing and editing, the films have traditionally dominated. But J.J. Abrams has been talking up Mark Hamill’s chances of an acting nod for his work as Luke Skywalker in the new film. “I think we are all going to be very upset if he does not win an Oscar,” he told the New York Daily News. Abrams might have been half joking, but rumours persist that Hamill delivers an amazing monologue in the movie. One that may indeed be award-worthy.

Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman is unrecognisable as Churchill (Universal/Jack English).

Gary Oldman is one of the best actors on the planet, and Darkest Hour sounds like it gives him a role worthy of his talents in the sizeable shape of Winston Churchill. Oldman obviously doesn’t look anything like the former Prime Minister, but the above make-up and prosthetics suggest that won’t be an issue. The film finds Churchill facing “one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation.” Atonement director Joe Wright helms, while in his final screen role, John Hurt plays Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.

Chris Tilly
Freelance writer. At this point my life is a combination of 1980s horror movies, Crystal Palace football matches, and episodes of I'm Alan Partridge. The first series. When he was in the travel tavern. Not the one after.