Chance: A Good Gamble Alexander Payne is no stranger to golden glory, what with his last film The Descendants not only being for Best Picture, but actually winning Best Adapted Screenplay in the same breathe. While his work might seem like a safe inclusion, it's more of a safe outside pick for each year. Payne's films aren't always accessible (even to Oscar voters) and they're so distanced in terms of release dates that the momentum of The Coens or Scorsese isn't quite there. Still, a character introspection is an Oscar trope, and it's one that doesn't seem too indulged upon this year. (Gravity and Inside Llewyn Davis seem to be the closest competition in that sort of subgenre.) Still, Bruce Dern has been gaining buzz for his performance, and the film managed a surprising nod for Best Comedy at the Golden Globes, which puts this movie in striking distance for a nomination. A win, however, is more of a gamble than a certainty.