Focus seems to be focusing on three films this year, though we only received screeners for two of them. The other (We Steal Secrets) is listed on their mailing, but is not included. Below is information on Dallas Buyers Club and Place Beyond the Pines. (NOTE: These arrived on 11/12/13)

Dallas Buyers Club

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Premise: From IMDb: “The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies.
Oscar Chances: Solid: The film has a strong chance of earning one or two nominations or more with stronger support from critics awards at the end of the year. Matthew McConaughey is very likely to appear in the lead actor slate while Jared Leto’s doing well enough he will probably show up in support.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Robbie Brenner, Rachel Winter)
• Best Cast
• Best Director (Jean-Marc Vallée)
• Best Actor (Matthew McConaughey)
• Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto)
• Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Garner)
• Best Original Screenplay (Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack)
• Best Cinematography (Yves Bélanger)
• Best Film Editing (John Mac McMurphy)
• Best Production Design (John Paino, Robert Covelman)
• Best Sound Editing (Martin Pinsonnault, Anton Fischlin)
• Best Costume Design (Kurt and Bart)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Robin Mathews, Adruitha Lee)
• Best Sound Mixing (Dick Hansen, Gavin Fernandes, Louis Gignac)
• Best Visual Effects (Marc Côté)

Rotten Tomatoes:
95% (7.8 average rating) (111 critics; as of 11/13/13)
Metacritic:
84 out of 100 (38 critics; as of 11/13/13)

The Place Beyond the Pines

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta, Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Premise: From IMDb: “A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective”
Oscar Chances: None
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Jamie Patricof, Lynette Howell, Alex Orlovsky, Sidney Kimmel)
• Best Cast
• Best Director (Derek Cianfrance)
• Best Original Screenplay (Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio, Darius Marder)
• Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Dane DeHaan, Emory Cohen, Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta)
• Best Supporting Actress (Eva Mendes, Rose Byrne)
• Best Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt)
• Best Film Editing (Jim Helton, Ron Patane)
• Best Production Design (Inbal Weinberg, Jasmine Ballou)
• Best Costume Design (Erin Benach)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Leo Won, Patricia Grande)
• Best Sound Editing (Dan Flosdorf)
• Best Sound Mixing (Damian Elias Canelos, Tony Volante)
• Best Visual Effects (Jim Rider)
• Best Original Score (Mike Patton)

Rotten Tomatoes:
82% (7.3 average rating) (190 critics; as of 11/13/13)
Metacritic:
68 out of 100 (42 critics; as of 11/13/13)