1 Nov 2014 1:57 PM PT
Today Deadline Hollywood held an invitation-only broadcast event to talk about the Oscar Contenders, where studios unveiled their awards season slates. Many trailers were also shared. We bring you the trailers for the films they discussed (if a trailer is available), based on following their live-blog of the event. As we are updating this live as the event continues to take place, please check back for updates!
Full Deadline Hollywood Studio #TheContenders Session
The Imitation Game
Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.
Benedtict Cumberbatch, Kiera Knightly, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Mark Strong – Black Bear Pictures
Birdman
Riggan Thomas(Keaton), once known quite well to movie theater goers as an iconic super hero called “The Birdman” had recently turned down a fourth installment of the franchise. Now washed up, he attempts to reinvent himself as a director by staging a new retelling of a classic Broadway dramatic play called “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”. The events leading up to the Saturday night premiere prove to be one disaster after another as the original lead actor is injured while on set and Riggan scrambles to find a replacement, but the replacement proves to be exactly who he needs – a method actor who takes the job way too seriously. But Riggan has a hard time juggling between the set, his replacement actor, his equally washed up daughter, and a host of other disasters that prevent a proper staging of the play. Meanwhile, a New York Times critic who Riggan has to woo threatens to shut down production of the play before it even starts with a scathing review of the opening night ..
Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts – New Regency Pictures/Worldview Entertainment
The Theory of Everything
A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.
Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson – Wroking Title Films, Focus Features
Gone Girl
On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?
Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry – 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises
Boyhood
Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s Yellow to Arcade Fire’s Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.
Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Elija Smith, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke – IFC Productions, Detour Filmproduction
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Epic adventure Exodus: Gods and Kings is the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion, Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Ben Mendelsohn, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley. – 20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment
Fault In Our Stars
Hazel (woodley) and Augustus (Elgort) are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that Hazel’s other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they meet and fall in love at a cancer support group.
Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, William Dafoe, Lotte Verbeek – Temple Hill Entertainment/20th Century Fox
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.
Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke – 20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment
How to Train Your Dragon 2
When Hiccup(Baruchel) and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. It’s been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Now, Hiccup and Toothless must unite to stand up for what they believe while recognizing that only together do they have the power to change the future of both men and dragons.
Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig – Dreamworks Animations
Big Hero 6
“Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.”
Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, TJ Miller, Genesis Rodriguez, Damon Wayans, Jr – Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Cake
The acerbic, hilarious CLAIRE SIMMONS becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman in her chronic pain support group. As she uncovers the details of Nina’s suicide and develops a poignant relationship with Nina’s husband, she also grapples with her own, very raw personal tragedy.
Jennifer Aniston, Misty Upham, Anna Kendrick, William Macy, Chris Messina, Sam Worthington – Echo Films, Cinelou Films, We’re Not Brothers Productions
Big Eyes
A drama centered on the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane(Adams), her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband(Waltz), who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.
Amy Adams, Krysten Ritter, Christoph Waltz, Jason Schwartzman – Silverwood Films, Tim Burton Productions
Whiplash
A young and talented drummer attending a prestigious music academy finds himself under the wing of the most respected professor at the school, one who does not hold back on abuse towards his students. The two form an odd relationship as the student tries to achieve greatness, and the professor tries to stop him.
Miles Teller, JK Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist – Blumhouse Productions
Foxcatcher
Based on the true story of Mark Schultz, an Olympic wrestler whose relationship with sponsor John du Pont and brother Dave Schultz would lead to unlikely circumstances.
Steve Carrell, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller – Annapurna Pictures/Media Rights Captial/Likely Story
Fury
April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank and his five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.
Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, Logan Lerman, John Bernthal – Columbia Pictures
American Sniper
American Sniper’s tale of veteran Chris Kyle, regarded as the nation’s deadliest sniper with more than 150 confirmed kills, didn’t have a book to act as a foundation. Instead, screenwriter Jason Hall met with Kyle met with the soldier and his buddies before Kyle was murdered in 2013. “It was a tough room,” he said of the first meeting. “These weren’t guys who were trained to come home. I didn’t know if he was going to make it back to society. But when I saw him see his wife and kids, I saw the lights flick on. I could see his life before the war.”
Fast and Furious 7
A Navy S.E.A.L. recounts his military career, which includes more than 150 confirmed kills.
Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman, Kyle Gallner – Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures
The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies
Mere seconds after the events of “Desolation”, Bilbo and Company continue to claim a mountain of treasure that was guarded long ago: But with Gandalf the Grey also facing some formidable foes of his own, the Hobbit is outmatched when the brutal army of orcs led by Azog the Defiler returns. But with other armies such as the elves and the men of Lake-Town, which are unsure to be trusted, are put to the ultimate test when Smaug’s wrath, Azog’s sheer strength, and Sauron’s force of complete ends attack. All in all, the trusted armies have two choices: unite or die. But even worse, Bilbo gets put on a knife edge and finds himself fighting with Hobbit warfare with all of his might for his dwarf-friends, as the hope for Middle-Earth is all put in Bilbo’s hands. The one “precious” thing to end it all.
Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett – New Line Cinema, MGM, WingNut Films
The LEGO® Movie
The LEGO Movie is a 3D animated film which follows lead character, Emmet a completely ordinary LEGO mini-figure who is identified as the most “extraordinary person” and the key to saving the Lego universe. Emmet and his friends go on an epic journey to stop the evil tyrant, Lord Business.
Willima Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Jonah Hill – Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures
Life Itself (Roger Ebert)
‘Life Itself’ recounts the surprising and entertaining life of world-renowned film critic and social commentator Roger Ebert – a story that’s by turns personal, wistful, funny, painful, and transcendent. The film explores the impact and legacy of Roger Ebert’s life: from his Pulitzer Prize-winning film criticism and his nearly quarter-century run with Gene Siskel on their review show, to becoming one of the country’s most influential cultural voices, and finally to Roger’s inspiring battles with cancer and the resulting physical disability – how he literally and symbolically put a new face on the disease and continued to be a cultural force despite it
Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog – CNN Films, Film Rites, Kartemquin Films
Wild
A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe.
Reese Witherspoon, Gaby Hoffmann, Laura Dern – Fox Searchlight Pictures
Inherent Vice
In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles detective Larry “Doc” Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.
Jena Malone, Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Joseh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro – Warner Bros.
Kill the Messenger
Based on the True story of Journalist Gary Webb(Renner). The film takes place in the mid 1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA’s past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. Despite enormous pressure not to, Webb chose to pursue the story and went public with his evidence, publishing the series “Dark Alliance”. As a result he experienced a vicious smear campaign fueled by the CIA. At that point Webb found himself defending his integrity, his family, and his life.
Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims, Robert Pralgo – Bluegrass Films
Selma (no trailer yet available, just this stills video)
Martin Luther King, Lyndon Baines Johnson and the civil rights marches that changed America.
Giovanni Ribisi, Tim Roth, David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Dylan Baker – Cloud Eight Films/Harpo Films/Celador Films
Get On Up
On route to the stage, singer James Brown recalls a life with a turbulent childhood where music was his only constructive release for his passions. A chance demonstration of that in prison led to a new friend who helped get him out and into a musical career. With his fire and creative daring, Brown became a star who defiantly created new possibilities in show business both on and behind the stage in face of racism and conventional thinking. Along the way, James would also become a peacemaker who redefined and raised the African-American community’s feeling of self-worth when it was needed most. However, those same domineering passions would lead James Brown alienating everyone around him as his appetites became ever more self-destructive. Only after he hit rock bottom with a serious mistake does Brown realize what he needs to do make his life as the Godfather of Soul truly worthwhile.
Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Dkroyd, Viola Davis, Lennie James – Imagine Entertainment
St Vincent
A young boy whose parents have just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic war veteran who lives next door.
Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd,Terrence Howard – Chernin Entertainment/Crescendo Productions/Goldenlight Films
Full Session of Deadline Hollywood’s #TheContenders Session
Check out Deadline Hollywood’s Life Blog for comments from Studio Execs.
Jennifer Aniston’s “Cake” sells to upstart Cinelou