4. The Monuments Men
UPDATE (10/23/13): The Monuments Men has been delayed until February of next year. For more information about why George Clooney made the change, check out our article here. Obviously, The Monuments Men is no longer in play for this year’s Oscars, which likely means that dark horse candidates such as Saving Mr. Banks and Dallas Buyers Club will have a much higher chance of earning nominations.
Filling this year’s Argo slot is The Monuments Men, a tense historical drama about a group of art experts who are recruited to recover artwork and other culturally important objects stolen from across Europe by the Nazis during World War II.
George Clooney is both directing the film and starring as George Stout, the leader of the Allied group. Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, and Bob Balaban also star.
Monuments Men takes place during the eleven-month period between D-Day and VE Day during World War II, and according to Clooney will include scenes from some of the war’s most famous battles as the Monuments Men attempt to protect important art from bombs, bullets, and destruction at the hands of Hitler’s army.
The film will be a strong contender for Best Picture, and it’s likely that Clooney will also nab a Best Director nomination. The acting categories are less certain, but Clooney, Damon, and Blanchett are certainly the most likely to receive awards attention.
The Monuments Men opens December 18.
