Fox Searchlight has a heavy slate this year with Birdman alone. Throw in Best Actress contender Reese Witherspoon for Wild and they have a pretty good shot at several nominations. Then there’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is a film of a whole other character.

Birdman

Stars: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts
Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu
Premise: From IMDb: “A washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero must overcome his ego and family trouble as he mounts a Broadway play in a bid to reclaim his past glory.”
Oscar Chances: Excellent: The film is sure to secure nominations in several categories. Wins might be more difficult, though Original Screenplay seems like the film’s bet shot.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Alejandro G. Inarritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole)
• Best Director (Alejandro G. Inarritu)
• Best Original Screenplay (Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo)
• Best Ensemble (Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts)
• Best Actor (Michael Keaton)
• Best Supporting Actor (Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton)
• Best Supporting Actress (Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts)
• Best Film Editing (Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione)
• Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki)
• Best Production Design (Kevin Thompon, George DeTitta, Jr.)
• Best Costume Design (Albert Wolsky)
• Best Sound Mixing (Thomas Varga, Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montano)
• Best Sound Editing (Martin Hernandez, Aaron Glascock)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Judy Chin, Jerry Popolis)
• Best Visual Effects (Ara Khanikian, Ivy Agregan)
• Best Original Score (Antonio Sanchez)

Rotten Tomatoes:
94% (162 critics; as of 11/27/14)
Metacritic:
89 out of 100 (46 critics; as of 11/27/14)

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson
Director: Wes Anderson
Premise: From IMDb: “The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.”
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Had the quality of productions kept pace with the early part of the year, the fall would have been devoid of serious contenders, giving Wes Anderson’s latest a chance at a Best Picture nomination. As it stands, the film will be lucky to pick up nomination in Production Design.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steve Rales, Jeremy Dawson)
• Best Ensemble (Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Lea Seydoux, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson)
• Best Director (Wes Anderson)
• Best Original Screenplay (Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness)
• Best Actor (Ralph Fiennes)
• Best Supporting Actor (F. Murray Abraham, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tony Revolori)
• Best Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton)
• Best Film Editing (Barney Pilling)
• Best Cinematography (Robert Yeoman)
• Best Production Design (Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock)
• Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero)
• Best Sound Mixing (Pawel Wdowczak, Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio)
• Best Sound Editing (Wayne Lemmer, Christopher Scarabosio)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (France Hannon)
• Best Visual Effects (Gabriel Sanchez, Jenny Foster)
• Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat)

Rotten Tomatoes:
92% (227 critics; as of 11/27/14)
Metacritic:
88 out of 100 (48 critics; as of 11/27/14)

Wild

Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Premise: From IMDb: “A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe.”
Oscar Chances: Good: Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress are very thin this year, meaning both Witherspoon and Dern could get nominations. Witherspoon has the better chance, but Dern is Hollywood royalty.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, Bill Pohlad)
• Best Director (Jean-Marc Vallee)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Nick Hornby)
• Best Actress (Reese Witherspoon)
• Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
• Best Supporting Actor (Thomas Sadoski)
• Best Film Editing (John Mac McMurphy, Martin Pensa)
• Best Cinematography (Yves Belanger)
• Best Production Design (John Paino, Robert Covelman)
• Best Costume Design (Melissa Bruning)
• Best Sound Mixing (Dick Hansen, Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee)
• Best Sound Editing (Ai-Ling Lee, Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Robin Matthews, Miia Kovero)

Rotten Tomatoes:
90% (29 critics; as of 11/27/14)
Metacritic:
75 out of 100 (8 critics; as of 11/27/14)