7. Captain Phillips
Tom Hanks could earn a Best Actor nomination for his role as the titular captain of a cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates in this true-life drama. The trailers have highlighted Captain Phillips‘ thrilling story more than Hanks’ performance thus far, but such a hefty role could be a slam-dunk for Hanks, who has built his career around anchoring character-driven dramas like Cast Away and Forrest Gump.
Director Paul Greengrass is known for his shaky-cam style, which I can’t see meshing well with the Academy, but there’s always a possibility that the compelling story could launch Captain Phillips to the awards circuit. Check out the trailer below:
Apart from a very possible Best Actor nomination for Hanks, it’s hard to gauge whether Captain Phillips will be a significant player at this year’s Oscars. I’m giving the movie the benefit of the doubt and saying it could be a contender for Best Picture, especially considering that last year’s true-life hostage drama, Argo, played so well.
Captain Phillips opens October 11.