After years of clear races between two or three films for the Academy Award for Best Picture, this year’s Oscar winner will be way less predictable. This season’s top films included some from every genre, from science fiction to historical drama to musical comedy. One element ties many of these top contenders together: four out of six are based on true stories. Here are The Black & White’s picks for top movies of the year:
1. Gravity: Alfanso Cuaron’s sci-fi thriller contains many common elements of an award-winning flick: a stellar cast (Sandra Bullock shines as Dr. Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first mission in space), eternal themes of death and survival and advanced special effects. Similar to “Avatar” in 2009, this box office hit is a strong Best Picture contender.
2. 12 Years a Slave: This historical drama flew under the radar for weeks until its acclaimed reviews began to increase its appeal. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup, a free-born African American who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. A film made for history buffs, “12 Years a Slave” tells an obscure story of the struggle for freedom and an escape from a life not worth living.
3. Inside Llewyn Davis: Brothers Joel and Ethan Cohen returned to the forefront this year with their acclaimed comedy-drama about a folk singer in the 1960s. The movie features original songs from Justin Timberlake (who also co-stars in the film) and Marcus Mumford, helping to highlight the struggle of many artists during this era.
4. American Hustle: Director David O. Russell’s film could be a dark horse for Best Picture, with a superb cast featuring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, among others, and the riveting plot line of a 1970s FBI sting operation. Russell’s combination of witty humor with great dialogue could make this into a massive hit among critics and moviegoers.
5. Captain Phillips: This could be the best thriller of the year, with Tom Hanks starring as the cool and confident Richard Phillips, the skipper of a cargo ship that gets taken over by hostages in 2009. Though the facts (based on Phillips’ book) are disputable, Hanks offers a realistic look at the fears associated with this type of haunting event.
