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Gold Standard: Oscar Watch: ‘Bridge of Spies’ and ‘Room’ bow at academy; ‘Big Short’ a December surprise?

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Oscar Watch, charting the smiles, the frowns, the ups and downs of the awards season, comes to you every Monday from now through the end of February.

This week, we're looking at the weekend academy response to two movies that couldn't be more different -- "Bridge of Spies" and "Room -- as well as voters' (initial) resistance to the searing war drama "Beasts of No Nation" and the strong buzz surrounding "The Big Short," a December release about the 2008 financial meltdown.

Tom Hanks in a scene from "Bridge of Spies."

Tom Hanks in a scene from “Bridge of Spies.”

(Jaap Buitendijk / Associated Press)

'Bridge of Spies'

Leaving the academy's screening of Steven Spielberg's latest, the Cold War espionage thriller "Bridge of Spies," one Oscar voter turned to his wife and said, "The was pretty much perfect, wasn't it?" The look on her face, he recalled later, didn't exactly affirm his enthusiasm. "She thought it was a bit slow," he said. "She liked 'The Martian' better."

"Spies" played to a full house Saturday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater with Spielberg taking the stage afterward to cheers. The comments from academy members afterward focused on the film's impeccable craft. Indeed, it's easy to see "Spies" being nominated in several categories, including nods for cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (a two-time winner), production designer Adam Stockhausen (who won an Oscar just last year for "The Grand Budapest Hotel"), editor Michael Kahn (a three-time winner), composer Thomas Newman (a 12-time nominee) and costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone. (Tom Hanks' overcoat is practically a character in the film.)

Spielberg's team has a ton of history with the academy, which could translate into several below-the-line nominations, leading to a nod for the film itself. Spielberg's status is iffier because there are still three movies -- David O. Russell's "Joy," Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight" and Alejandro G. Inarritu's "The Revenant" -- arriving in December from filmmakers whom the directors branch loves. Of course, with seven nominations, Spielberg can count himself a member of the club.

Hanks, who plays a virtuous attorney tasked with defending an accused Soviet spy, hasn't been nominated since "Cast Away" and seems something of a long shot to make it in for "Spies." That's not because of the quality of the work, which is nimble and generous, but because the character embodies the sort of decency and integrity that we've seen Hanks play before. Never quite like this, I'd argue -- but probably to deaf ears. Look for his co-star, Mark Rylance, to receive a supporting actor nomination though for his magnificent, restrained turn as the spy Hanks defends -- and befriends.

Ultimately, "Bridge of Spies'" Oscar potential could be tied to its commercial fortunes, which, this weekend, were a mixed bag. "Spies" opened to a per-screen average of around $5,500, less than a third of "Lincoln's" total when it opened wide three years ago. "Spies" could be a grower, though, both with audiences and the academy. Keep it under surveillance for now.

Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star in "Room."

Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star in “Room.”

(Ruth Hurl / Element Pictures)
Idris Elba stars in the Netflix original film "Beasts of No Nation."

Idris Elba stars in the Netflix original film “Beasts of No Nation.”

(Netflix / TNS)

'Beasts of No Nation'

"Room" has an aggregate review score of 82 on Metacritic. "Bridge of Spies" sits at 81, as does "The Martian." 

"Beasts of No Nation," a horrifying look at a war orphan who becomes a child soldier in an unnamed African nation, is right in the neighborhood at 78.

But the Netflix release, which debuted on the streaming service Friday and struggled to find an audience in its limited theatrical opening, feels destined to remain on the fringes of the Oscar conversation. Unlike "Room," this isn't a movie that academy members seem eager to see.

"Remember how everyone wrote about voters' queasiness over '12 Years a Slave?'" one academy member tells me. "'Beasts' makes '12 Years' look like a Wes Anderson movie by comparison."

Resistance to "Beasts" is indeed high. For it to break through, its handlers are going to have to convince academy members to not just dutifully put it in their viewing queues, but to watch it. The academy screening is on the calendar for Nov. 1, mid-afternoon on a Sunday with writer-director (and producer and cinematographer) Cary Fukunaga and remarkable young actor Abraham Attah attending. Hopefully, the room will be at least half-full.

Steve Carell is seen on the set of "The Big Short."

Steve Carell is seen on the set of “The Big Short.”

(Alo Ceballos / Getty Images)
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