The 81st Annual Academy Awards, Most Important Yet?

[NeoBasch]

Has anybody else noticed how crazy this year has been with movie releases. Week after week, people are contemplating what will be the next big hit. I was pleasantly surprised to find some very good movies at the beginning of the year. I couldn't believe it. On top of that, this summer is turning out to be the best yet. Already people are looking for nominations for their favorites. Though, I think it is safe to say most speak with trepidation. There is no clear certainty in regards to this year. Every time I think of the past, present, and future of 2008 and how it will all culminate come awards ceremony, I shiver in anticipation. I don't think enough people are aware of what may happen, but I think 2008 will have a profound impact on the movie industry for years to come.

Let me further explain myself. This year will play host to dozens of movies that will vie for the distinguished and honorary awards. Never have I seen such immense competition. From Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" to Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road," there is no doubt in my mind people will be talking about this year for generations to come. To give you an idea, here is a string of details on some of the most vigilantly pursued films by avid cinema lovers.

As you can see, I wasn't joking when I said dozens. These are all destined to be top quality films. I'm sure I even forgot a couple. Where this all begins to affect us is that already there are huge amounts of fan bases for each film that claim their film will end up sweeping the awards, and for good reason. I have never seen this before. I mean, we got a taste of it last year, but nothing of this magnitude. It will be an exciting season for movie goers, even more so if "State of Play" finishes up in time, but it will be truly horrifying come awards season. I wonder how big the meltdowns will get this time. It just goes to show how great this year is shaping up to be.

Australia - Directed By Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman

One of the most notable characteristics this director holds is his ability to dramatically improve upon his previous works. This time, Luhrmann hopes to strike gold with this dramatic retelling of the events that led to the bombing of Darwin, Australia. An English aristocrat (Kidman) finds herself the owner of a ranch that makes entire cities pale in comparison. Due to surrounding barons plotting against her, she hires a stock-hand (Jackman). Together they try to drive over 2,000 heads of cattle through perilous landscapes.

Body of Lies - Directed By Ridley Scott (American Gangster, Alien, Blade Runner)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russel Crowe

The legend, Ridley Scott, returns; reuniting Russell Crowe for what will undoubtedly become yet another masterpiece for the duo's record. However, things are different this time around. Joining them are none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Strong. So you could say the casting seems pretty decent. You'd be missing half of the promise for the film if that was all you were thinking. Bringing to life these remarkable characters will be none other than William Monahan. Yeah, that's right. This will be Monohan's first outing since he captured Oscar gold for his screenplay in a film movie goers may have become all too familiar with... The Departed.

Brothers - Directed By Jim Sheridan (In America, In the Name of the Father)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire

Mr. Sheridan's latest may prove yet another formidable film. Test screenings have already been raising brows and has begun to receive a tremendous amount of buzz. Brothers tells the tale of a man who consoles his older brother's wife after he has gone missing in Afghanistan. The stellar cast already makes this a shoe in, but will it be enough?

Burn After Reading - Directed By Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country For Old Men, Fargo, The Big Lebowski)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton

Hot off the heels of their recent success, No Country For Old Men, the Coens are ready to get back into the Dark Comedies they are largely known for. With an all-star cast and intelligent humor, the Coens are looking to go 2 for 0. When the memoirs of a CIA agent go missing, winding up in the hands of two gym employees, who attempt to sell it to the highest bidder, any hope for a civil agreement gets thrown out the window.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Directed By David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton

Fincher has become a staple to the film industry. His history plays host to numerous cult classics that has formed the groundwork for his prestigious career. Looks like it paid off. The film has already received a substantial amount of buzz, if nothing else than for it's hauntingly beautiful trailer. Pitt and Blanchett are a dynamic pair as they proved in their last joint Babel. This time, however, they will be taking a rather obscure short story by world renowned American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. At it's essence, a love story, but when age becomes a factor the theme seemingly evolves. After all, how can love hold together a man that grows younger with each passing second, while his love grows older?

Defiance - Directed By Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Glory, The Last Samurai)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schrieber, Jamie Bell

What more needs to be said? Edward Zwick loves his war films, but as always they prove to be of the highest quality. Packed full of emotion and set to inspire, three Polish brothers are forced to flee their homeland. Rather than wait out the approaching storm, they choose to strike. Together they build a refuge for the hundreds of oppressed Jews they rescued. While providing warmth and protection, they train so that one day they will be able to strike back at the Nazi regime. Did I mention this was all based on a true story?

Doubt - Directed By John Patrick Shanley
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams

While known more for his writing, John Patrick Shanley will be directing an adaptation of his own play for the silver screen. His play has won countless awards including the Tony for Best Play. With a proven script, the movie might be one to watch for. Some big names are attached to this project, if Meryl Streep wasn't enough to convince you of that. The tale follows a nun who's early suspicions of a fellow Priest abusing a black student leads to an ongoing case in which she tries to win the support of her colleagues. Remember when I said big names? This will be Roger Deakins second project in which he is in charge of photography for for this year.

The Exchange - Directed By Clint Eastwood (Letters From Iwo Jima, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby)
Starring: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jason Butler Harner

Clint Eastwood steps into the fray again. This time with a period piece about a mother, who's son was kidnapped. Never giving up hope that someday she would see him again, her prayers were answered... At least so she thought. Slowly, she begins to realize the kid returned to her is not her kid at all. The movie has already received a large following due to its screening at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. While it didn't win the Golden Palm award, it has, nevertheless, been thought of as an Oscar nominee.

Frost/Nixon - Directed By Ron Howard (Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man)
Starring: Michael Sheen, Frank Langella, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell

Frost/Nixon recounts the events that followed Richard Nixon's resignation over the Watergate incident. The story plays out through a series of interviews conducted by David Frost, a British talk-show host. The film is based off the play by Peter Morgan. Both Michael Sheen and Frank Langella starred in the London and Broadway productions of the play.

Milk - Directed By Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting)
Starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Josh Brolin

The story covers the assassinations of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, and San Francisco's Mayor, George Moscone. Accompanied by a nice ensemble cast, Gus Van Sant looks to take this biopic to soaring new heights when it debuts during the holiday season.

Miracle at St. Anna - Directed By Spike Lee (25th Hour, Malcolm X)
Starring: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso

Regardless of whatever recent controversies the two rival directors may have stirred up (Eastwood and Lee), Miracle At St. Anna is shaping up to be one hell of a film. Lee's track record is one for the books, and having the author of the book the film was inspired by as the writer in charge of the screenplay adaptation is always a plus. The film follows the story of four black Americans who get trapped in a small Tuscan village after rescuing an Italian boy.

Revolutionary Road - Directed By Sam Mendes (American Beauty)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates

Based on the novel by Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road follows a young dysfunctional couple: Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) Wheeler. Together they try to live up their dreams as best they can in the suburbs of Connecticut while raising two children of their own. Mendes reunites the crew from Titanic for perhaps their most important roles yet. DiCaprio and Winslet have both been long overdue for their awards. Could this be their year? With Roger Deakins in charge of photography, that could be a very resounding yes.

The Road - Directed By John Hillcoat (The Proposition)
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall

After making his way into the spotlight with the successful No Country For Old Men, Normac McCarthy has yet another book turned movie to keep an eye on. Imagine, will you, a post-apocalyptic world, where snow falls in ashen gray tones continuously. The savage world has warped the people left in it. Fighting for survival, most have turned cannibals. All the while, a boy and his father traverse the ruined landscape in hopes of discovering safety. Their path is treacherous, and the boy's father will see to it that he makes it to the coast; even if it means losing his humanity. For what promises to be an epic emotional case study of just what it means to be human, its hard not to get excited about this upcoming film.

The Soloist - Directed By Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener

The new and upcoming director has already proved his guff and is now taking on this big screen adaptation of Steve Lopez's novel. Unlike his previous works, the Soloist looks to etch its own identity in the form of a dramatic biopic. A homeless schizophrenic dreams of the day when he will be able to play at Walt Disney's Concert Hall. This film may prove as yet another defining moment in this director's early career.