Oscar Outlook 2012: Anna Karenina

Joe Wright takes on Leo Tolstoy's epic novel in a supposedly scaled down non-accented version.  The tale centers around Anna Karenina, a wealthy Russian socialite who abandons her marriage for another man and the tragic repercussions which follow, to take a rather complicated story and condense it to a few words.  This will be Wright's third outing with star Keira Knightley, who played his Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, as well as appear in the BP Oscar-nominated Atonement.  Their first collaboration resulted in an AMPAS nod for Knightley, and considering the prospects of their latest endeavor, she currently sits atop my list of most likely-to-be-nominated for Best Actress this year.  What other categories could this film score in?

[Pictures via Pride & Prejudice 2005]

I haven't read the novel yet, so I don't know which other roles might qualify for consideration.  The supporting cast is steller (and includes some actors from previous Wright productions): Jude Law, Aaron Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Olivia Williams, Emily Watson, Matthew Macfadyen, and Holliday Grainger.  Tom Stoppard adapted Leo Tolstoy's epic novel.  He scored an Oscar for writing Shakespeare in Love, and a nomination for Brazil.  The playwright was also responsible for Empire of the Sun and adapting his Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead for the big screen.  Producer Tim Bevan has worked on United 93, Elizabeth, Atonement, Tinker Tailor, Frost/Nixon, Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Senna, as well as with the Coen brothers.  His list of upcoming credits include The History Keepers, I Give It a Year, About Time, Untitled International Suspense Thriller, Bridget Jone's Baby, Les Misérables, and Hippie Hippie Shake.  Also producing are Alexander Dostal and Alexandra Ferguson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).  Film Editor Melanie Oliver is from television.

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey scored a nod for Atonement, as well as lensed the moody The Hours and We Need to Talk About Kevin.  You'll also be seeing his more upbeat work in The Avengers this May.  Production designer is Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer.  They received nods for their work on Sherlock Holmes, Atonement, and Pride & Prejudice, and work often with Wright.  Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran scored nominations for Atonement and Pride & Prejudice, and her work can also be seen in Tinker Tailor, and Vera Drake.  Composer Dario Marianelli won for Atonement and got nominated for Pride & Prejudice.  He also created the score for the recent little-seen (but big-budget flop) Agora.

Let's keep in mind that none of the previous incarnations of Karenina have landed any Oscar nods.  However, based on anticipation and previous track records of Wright productions, nominations for Actress, Art Direction, Costume Design, and Score, seem almost inevitable.  Best case scenario would also include Picture, Screenplay, Cinematography, and Director, amongst perhaps a couple of others.  Wright filmed his movie last Fall in Russia and England.  Focus Features has scheduled release for the 9th of November.

Also on the Radar:

Anna Karenina     Argo     Beasts of the Southern Wild     The Bourne Legacy     The Dark Knight Rises     Dark Shadows     Django Unchained     Gangster Squad     Great Expectations     The Great Gatsby     The Hobbit     Hope Springs     The Hunger Games     Hyde Park on the Hudson     Lawless     Lincoln     Lola Versus     Lovelace     Low Life     Magic Mike     The Master     Les Misérables     Life of Pi     Moonrise Kingdom     People Like Us     Prometheus     To Rome with Love     Ruby Sparks     Savages     Seeking a Friend for the End of the World     The Silver Linings Playbook     Smashed     The Surrogate     Trouble with the Curve     Won't Back Down 


The Avengers     The Amazing Spider-Man     Men in Black III