5 Oscar Contenders You Might Not Have Heard Of (But Should Pay Attention To)

5. The Front Runner

Jason Reitman enjoyed great success with The Academy in 2007 and 2009 for his films, Juno and Up in the Air, respectively. Both were met with critical acclaim and were nominated for a multitude of awards, even winning some. However, Reitman’s career slumped with the tepid responses to both Labor Day and Men, Women, and Children. Neither film received any recognition from The Academy nor did they receive much positive buzz from audiences and critics alike.

2018 has been better to Reitman thus far, what with the release of his latest film Tully yielding strong reviews praising the script by Diablo Cody, the performances of Charlize Theron and Mackenzie Davis, and Reitman’s direction. His upcoming film, The Front Runner, follows the true story of the derailment of Senator Gary Hart’s 1988 Presidential campaign as a result of a love affair.

With a strong cast including Hugh Jackman (playing Hart), Vera Farmiga, and JK Simmons and script written by Reitman himself, along with journalist Matt Bai and American policy strategist Jay Carson, expect a powerfully performed and smartly written biopic. The relevance of a film dealing with political scandal during a Presidency full of them should undoubtedly strike a nerve with audiences and critics alike.

The Front Runner will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and will be released by Columbia Pictures on November 7.