Last Updated on November 24, 2023, 11:29 PM | Published: November 24, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — Anyone who follows the annual ebb and flow of movie release schedules knows that the after-Thanksgiving period is all about that sweet, sweet awards bait as Oscar season finally ramps up to nearly unbearable levels.
That means period pieces, animated masterworks, and to-the-rafters performances galore, with every studio and distributor looking to shore up their chances at awards gold (and the massive ticket sales bump that comes with it) before the year-end submission deadlines.
And not only is this year no different, it’s actually looking to be something of a textbook case, with Oklahoma City theaters set to feature some likely contenders in practically every major category throughout December.
So if you want to get a leg up on your Academy Awards ballot before the nominees are named on January 23rd, here are the films to catch over the coming month.
‘Napoleon’ – Now Playing – Harkins Bricktown, Flix Brewhouse, Cinemark Tinseltown
The kind of film that just screams “Oscar,” directing legend Ridley Scott is aiming to do with “Napoleon” what even the untouchable Stanley Kubrick never could by bringing the super-sized life of the 19th Century’s greatest conqueror to the silver screen.
But where Kubrick famously struggled to stick obsessively close to pure historical accuracy in his attempt at bringing Bonaparte’s life to film (eventually canceling the project when it became impossible,) Scott is openly unbothered by such concerns.
In fact, while elements such as production design, costumes, and of course former Best Actor winner Joaquin Phoenix’s appropriately outsized performance are all likely to clinch nominations, the film’s chances overall might be hampered by some controversial historical inaccuracies already making headlines.
‘Priscilla’ – Now Playing – Harkins Bricktown, Cinemark Tinseltown; Oklahoma City Museum of Art – December 15th through December 23rd
If you, too, were left underwhelmed, unimpressed, and at times even nauseated by Baz Luhrmann’s bloated, interminable, and unforgivably hero-worship-y “Elvis” last year, then nepotism’s favorite daughter, Sofia Coppola, is here to set the record a bit straighter with “Priscilla.”
Telling the story of Elvis Presley’s turbulent, over-the-top life through the eyes of his young wife Priscilla, Coppola attempts a more honest look at “The King” by focusing on the realities of infidelity, possessiveness, and the often-ignored fact that Priscilla was only a teenager when she met an adult Elvis.
The fact that the Presley estate refused Coppola the rights to any of Elvis’s music tells you that the subject matter is likely to be uncomfortable and unflattering to the icon, but star Cailee Spaeny has already snagged some major awards, so expect to see her name on Oscar ballots.
‘The Boy and the Heron’ – Rodeo Cinema Stockyards – December 8th
Arguably the most respected and acclaimed name in the history of film animation, the great Hayao Miyazaki returns to the writer/director game after ten years of “retirement” with “The Boy and the Heron,” a characteristically magical exploration of humanity, loss, and conflict.
The story centers on a Japanese boy who lost his mother during WWII and his tense relationships with his new step-mother, his school, his own adolescence, and of course, a talking gray heron that might just come from a fantastical parallel world.
The plot is classic Miyazaki, as is his insistence that the entire film be hand-drawn and traditionally animated, creating a striking, exquisitely gorgeous example of a true cinematic craft so rarely achieved these days.
You can safely expect a Best Animated Feature nod for this one.
‘Ferrari’ – Oklahoma City Museum of Art – December 29th through January 7th
Another period-set biopic, another obvious contender come nomination time, but this one has something that the others don’t and something that no film has had for nearly a decade:
Michael Mann in the director’s chair.
The filmmaking force behind award-winning classics like “Heat,” “The Insider,” and “The Last of the Mohicans,” Mann is one of the form’s greatest purveyors of quietly obsessive stories steeped in questions of honor, loyalty, and reputation.
“Ferrari” fits that bill perfectly.
Adam Driver continues his quest toward eventual Oscar gold by inhabiting automotive giant Enzo Ferrari at one of the most tumultuous and consequential crossroads of his life and career, alongside the always explosive Penelope Cruz as his wife Laura.
But lest you forget that Mann is also one of the most kinetic and electrifying directors in the game, he intertwines the drama surrounding Enzo and Laura with the adrenaline and rush of death-defying 1950s motorsport with a cinematic eye and energy that can’t be replicated.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
