8. Inside Llewyn Davis
The Coen brothers’ latest, a musical drama set in 1960s New York, has been receiving rave reviews since its premiere at Cannes earlier this year.
Inside Llewyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac as the titular singer-songwriter, in addition to Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, and Garrett Hedlund, all proven talents with considerable vocal chops. John Goodman also shows up as a sleazy producer. The trailer looks great, highlighting the film’s gorgeous folk music and nostalgic tone.
Other than the obvious nominations for the film’s music, Oscar Isaac would be a shoe-in for a Best Actor nomination in a less-crowded year but is a less certain bet with this year’s furious competition. According to reviews, he’s outstanding, bringing to life a sympathetic, well-rounded character while also delivering beautiful music. Whether the Coen brothers can score a Best Director nomination is also hard to judge, though the movie’s small scale may turn off some voters. It could either be as much of a hit with voters as Crazy Heart or, like Once, only score a nomination for Best Original Song. It’s really too early to tell.
Inside Llewyn Davis opens wide December 6.