STAN & OLLIE



If there's one thing the Academy loves more than World War II, it's films about the entertainment industry. So it's with great interest movie buffs are keeping an eye out for Stan & Ollie, which is based on the true story of comedy duo Laurel and Hardy going on a tour through post-war Britain. Sony Pictures Classics bought the rights, and seeing that they don't have much else to campaign for, they'll put everything they have behind this one. John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan star as the iconic pair, and fans are waiting for the first trailer to see what they have in store.

Stan & Ollie actually has some Oscar pedigree behind it. Coogan is a two-time nominee for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay on Philomena (which was co-written by Stan & Ollie scribe Jeff Pope). Reilly himself is a nominee, scoring a Best Supporting Actor nod for Chicago. Nobody is expecting Stan & Ollie to go all the way and pull off a surprise upset, but if the cards fall right once it starts screening, it could fall into the second tier of contenders in Best Picture.

Of course, this list is not meant to be all-inclusive. These are merely a brief collection of titles that stand a chance at landing a spot on the Best Picture list. Surely, the lineup will continue to evolve until the nominations come out in January. Awards season is just getting started, so it's time to buckle up.