Bridge of Spies Lands A New York Film Festival and The Martian Makes a Bundle

So two major updates in the Oscar race, and both make me lean towards Best Picture nominations.

First and foremost, Bridge of Spies, the Cold War-era Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks thriller premiered at the New York Film Festival to pretty good reviews. It looks like Spielberg has another historical hit on his hands, and let's remind ourselves, that Spielberg + History = Best Picture Nomination. Just look at Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, War Horse, Lincoln, and now probably Bridge of Spies which is said to be a rousing Cold War drama that is well-acted, impeccably crafted, and incredibly entertaining. This feels like the perfect fit for those older voters of the Academy, and actually could inspire a lot of support across the branches. Tom Hanks missed out for Captain Phillips (a crime to this day in my opinion), and apparently, while he is convincing, it is not a stretched performance, and Amy Ryan has not had any reviews to suggest good or bad (and that category has a lot of contenders this year, so good will is probably not enough). But Mark Rylance is getting rave reviews, is a beloved stage actor with a ton of Tonys, and received an Emmy nomination this year, there could be some space for him in the Best Supporting Actor race.

Then there is the story of The Martian. It is a beloved film among critics, with pretty great reviews backing it, and it is a hit with audiences. It is technically superior from a legendary director, with a popular leading man, and has just raked in one of the biggest hauls in October history, almost beating Gravity, with $55 Million over the course of its opening weekend. Basically, this feels like the movie that Interstellar wanted to be. It has the heart, and the brains, and while it is clearly not a perfect movie, its box office haul proves it is one that is enticing a lot of folks. Popularity isn't everything, but this movie feels like the kind of film that Oscar voters need to embrace. Maybe they want, but after this weekend, this will be a film that is hard to ignore over the next couple of months.