Focus Features has sent us two films from their 2014 releases for consideration. The Boxtrolls and The Theory of Everything.

The Boxtrolls

Stars: Ben Kingsley, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Dee Bradley Baker, Steve Blum, Nika Futterman, Pat Fraley, Fred Tatasciore, Max Mitchell, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, Maurice LaMarche, James Urbaniak, Brian George, Toni Collette, Simon Pegg
Director: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable
Premise: From IMDb: “A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Based on the children’s novel ‘Here Be Monsters’ by Alan Snow.”
Oscar Chances: Good: Laika has produced or done contract work on three Best Animated Feature nominees. It has produced only two films directly and both were Oscar nominees. The problem is, those two films were incredibly well received, this one struggled with critics, which makes it vulnerable. The film could also make an appearance in Best Original Song as that category has absolutely no traditions that make any of their choices obvious, so this one has as good a shot as any.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Animated Feature (Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable)
• Best Director (Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Irena Brignull, Adam Pava, Based upon the book “Here Be Monsters” by Alan Snow)
• Best Cinematography (John Ashlee Prat)
• Best Film Editing (Edie Ichioka)
• Best Production Design (Paul Lasaine)
• Best Costume Design (Deborah Cook)
• Best Sound Editing (Ren Klyce, Tom Myers)
• Best Sound Mixing (Tom Myers, Ren Klyce, Nathan Nance)
• Best Visual Effects (Brian Van’t Hul, Steve Emerson)
• Best Original Score (Dario Marianelli)
• Best Original Song (“The Boxtrolls Song” words and music by Eric Idle; “Quattro Sabatino” music and lyrics by Dario Marianelli)

Rotten Tomatoes:
74% (141 critics; as of 11/20/14)
Metacritic:
63 out of 100 (36 critics; as of 11/20/14)

The Theory of Everything

Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, Simon McBarney, Daview Thewlis, Harry Lloyd
Director: James Marsh
Premise: From IMDb: “A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.”
Oscar Chances: Excellent: In at least one category, this film is sure to be the frontrunner: Best Actor. Eddie Redmayne has been getting heaps of praise for his performance. The film is doing well also, but has stiff competition in nearly every other category. Its best chances are Best Picture, Actress (Felicity Jones), Adapted Screenplay and possibly Makeup and Hairstyling. Everything else depends on how well it does as a cross-over box office performer.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten)
• Best Cast
• Best Director (James Marsh)
• Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne)
• Best Actress (Felicity Jones)
• Best Supporting Actor (Charlie Cox, Simon McBarney, Daview Thewlis, Harry Lloyd)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Anthony McCarten, Based on the book “Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen” by Jane Hawking)
• Best Cinematography (Benoit Delhomme)
• Best Film Editing (Jinx Godfrey)
• Best Production Design (John Paul kelly, Claire Richards)
• Best Costume Design (Steven Noble)
• Best Make-Up and Hair Styling (Jan Sewell)
• Best Sound Editing (Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker)
• Best Sound Mixing (Ian Tapp, Adam Scrivener)
• Best Visual Effects (Tim Caplan, Adam Gascoyne)
• Best Original Score (Johann Johannsson)

Rotten Tomatoes:
81% (116 critics; as of 11/20/14)
Metacritic:
72 out of 100 (43 critics; as of 11/20/14)