5) By The Sea
Potential nominations: Best Actor, Best Actress, Art Direction, Cinematography
Considering it’s the first screen pairing of two of Hollywood’s biggest stars (and its most famous couple) in a decade, there have curiously only been mumblings so far about the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie-starring By the Sea. Whether Jolie – who also writes and directs – has grown as a filmmaker since the tepid Unbroken will be decisive in the film’s Best Picture and Best Director chances. Actor and Actress are both good bets though – the Academy just loves to nominate its biggest, most beautiful stars when they’re being all emotionally raw.
Judging by the trailer, meanwhile, the film is gorgeously lensed and luxuriously designed (it’s a period piece, about a married couple falling out of love by the ocean – plenty of opportunities for attention-grabbingly pretty shots). That bodes well for the film’s Art Direction and Cinematography chances.