In a decade-long absence, Disney has not provided us with screeners. That changed this year Brave, Frankenweenie and Wreck-It Ralph. Granted, it’s only their animated slate, but it’s a start. DreamWorks sent over Lincoln and Paramount sent Flight. My weekend is dreadfully busy as it is. This just makes it worse.

Brave

Stars: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Premise: From IMDb: “Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.”
Oscar Chances: Solid: Only one Pixar film hasn’t been nominated for the big prize and that’s because it was roundly panned by critics. While Brave isn’t the best reviewed of the Pixar stable, it’s still better rated than a lot of animated films and should result in a nomination for Best Animated Feature if nowhere else.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Animated Feature (Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman)
• Best Director (Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman)
• Best Original Screenplay (Mark Andrews, Steve Purcel, Brenda Chapman, Irene Mecchi)
• Best Film Editing (Nicholas C. Smith, Robert Grahamjones)
• Best Art Direction (Steve Pilcher)
• Best Cinematography (Robert Anderson, Danielle Feinberg)
• Best Visual Effects (Bill Wise, Steve May, David MacCarthy, Michael K. O’Brien)
• Best Sound Mixing (Gary Rydstrom, Tom JOhnson, Bobby Johansen)
• Best Sound Editing (Gary Rydstrom, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle)
• Best Original Song (“Touch the Sky” music by Alex Mandel, Lyrics by Mark Andrews, Alex Mandel, Performed by Julie Fowlis)
• Best Original Song (“Learn Me Right” music and lyrics by Mumford & Sons, Performed by Birdy (with Mumford & Sons))
• Best Original Score (Patrick Doyle)

Rotten Tomatoes:
78% (212 critics; as of 12/8/12)
Metacritic:
69 out of 100 (37 critics; as of 12/8/12)

Flight

Stars: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Brian Geraghty, James Badge Dale, Kelly Reilly, Tamara Tunie, Melissa Leo
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Premise: From IMDb: “An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.”
Oscar Chances: Good: Apart from Denzel Washington’s performance, which is a strong contender for a nomination, the film seems best poised for nods in editing, sound mixing and sound editing if anywhere. John Goodman has gained a bit of ground in conversations for a Supporting Actor nomination, but the film’s only other real chance is in screenwriting.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture of the Year (Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke)
• Best Director (Robert Zemeckis)
• Best Original Screenplay (John Gatins)
• Best Actor (Denzel Washington)
• Best Supporting Actor (Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Brian Geraghty, James Badge Dale)
• Best Supporting Actress (Kelly Reilly, Tamara Tunie, Melissa Leo)
• Best Cinematography (Don Burgess)
• Best Film Editing (Jeremiah O’Driscoll)
• Best Production Design (Nelson Coates, James Edward Ferrell Jr.)
• Best Original Score (Alan Silvestri)
• Best Costume Design (Louise Frogley)
• Best Sound Mixing (William B. Kaplan, Randy Thom, Dennis Leonard, Dennis Sands)
• Best Sound Editing (Dennis Leonard, Randy Thom)
• Best Makeup & Hairstyling (Nikoletta Skarlatos, Teressa Hill)
• Best Visual Effects (Kevin Baillie, Michael Lantieri)

Rotten Tomatoes:
77% (168 critics; as of 12/8/12)
Metacritic:
76 out of 100 (39 critics; as of 12/8/12)

Frankenweenie

Stars: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell, Atticus Shaffer
Director: Tim Burton
Premise: From IMDb: “Young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.”
Oscar Chances: Strong: Whether it can win remains to be seen, but the film seems like a stronger and stronger bet for a nomination as the time progresses onward. The only hitch is the failure to register very well with the Annie Awards, a group that typically forecasts major Oscar attention (when not playing politics, of course).
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Animated Feature (Tim Burton)
• Best Director (Tim Burton)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (John August, Lenny Ripps, Tim Burton)
• Best Film Editing (Chris Lebenzon, Mark Solomon)
• Best Art Direction (Rick Heinrichs)
• Best Cinematography (Peter Sorg)
• Best Visual Effects (Tim Ledbury)
• Best Sound Mixing (Michael Semanick, TOm Johnson, Christopher Boyes)
• Best Sound Editing (Oliver Tarney)
• Best Original Song (“Strange Love” written by Karen Orzolek, performed by Karen O)
• Best Original Socre (Danny Elfman)

Rotten Tomatoes:
89% (185 critics; as of 12/8/12)
Metacritic:
74 out of 100 (38 critics; as of 12/8/12)

Lincoln

Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill, Tim Blake Nelson, Joseph Cross, Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Peter McRobbie, Gulliver McGrath, Gloria Reuben, Jeremy Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Boris McGiver, David Costabile, Stephen Spinella, Walton Goggins, David Warshofsky, Colman Domingo, David Oyelowo, Byron Jennings, Julie White, Richard Topol, Dakin Matthews, Bill Raymond, Mike Shiflett, Gregory Itzin, Stephen McKinley, Henderson, S. Epatha Merkerson
Director: Steven Spielberg
Premise: From IMDb: “As the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.”
Oscar Chances: Superb: Unlike Spielberg’s last few films, Lincoln is receiving universally positive notices, which could presage a big tally at the Oscars. Apart from being one of the year’s top nominees (I’m fairly certain), it could be Spielberg’s shot at entering the 3-Oscar pantheon that few directors can achieve. Every category and individual specified below seems a solid bet to be nominated at the Oscars, which could mean 14 nominations. If it has weaknesses, it’s in Sound Mixing and Sound Editing, but even those don’t seem that weak.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Picture (Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy)
• Best Director (Steven Spielberg)
• Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis)
• Best Supporting Actress (Sally Field)
• Best Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Tony Kushner)
• Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski)
• Best Art Direction (Rick Carter, Jim Erickson)
• Best Film Editing (Michael Kahn)
• Best Sound Mixing (Ronald Judkins, Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom)
• Best Sound Editing (Ben Burtt, Richard Hymns)
• Best Costume Design (Joanna Johnston)
• Best Makeup (Lois Burwell, Kenny Myers, Kay Georgiou, Jasen Sica)
• Best Original Score (John Williams)

Rotten Tomatoes:
90% (178 critics; as of 12/8/12)
Metacritic:
86 out of 100 (41 critics; as of 12/8/12)

Wreck-It Ralph

Stars: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Joe Lo Truglio, Ed O’Neill, Dennis Haysbert, Edie McClurg
Director: Rich Moore
Premise: From IMDb: “A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.”
Oscar Chances: Decent: 2012 has not been a strong year for animates films. Many of the most anticipated failed to live up to expectations. This is one that exceeded expectations and this one could slide in because of it.
Campaign-Proposed Categories:

• Best Animated Feature (Rich Moore)
• Best Director (Rich Moore)
• Best Original Screenplay (Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee, Rich Moore, Jim Reardon
• Best Film Editing (Tim Mertens)
• Best Art Direction (Mike Gabriel, Ian Gooding)
• Best Cinematography (Adolph Lusinsky, Rob Dressel)
• Best Visual Effects (Scott Kersavage, David Hutchins, Cesar Velazquez)
• Best Sound Mixing (David E. Fluhr, Gary Rizzo, Doc Kane)
• Best Sound Editing (Gary Rydstrom, Frank Eulner)
• Best Original Song (“When Can I See You Again?” written by Adam Young, Matthew Thiessen; performed by Owl City)
• Best Original Score (Henry Jackman)

Rotten Tomatoes:
86% (118 critics; as of 12/8/12)
Metacritic:
73 out of 100 (33 critics; as of 12/8/12)