7. Labor Day
Grade: B+My Take: Based on the novel by Joyce Maynard, Labor Day is director Jason Reitman's attempt at doing "grown-up" work. Although the wunderkind has enjoyed a very successful start to his career making dramedies with sarcastic posturing, but warm, fuzzy humanist hearts at their centers, in Labor Day, Reitman abandons all 21st Century cynicism for some good old-fashioned heart-felt drama. The result is a largely successful tale about a single mother (Kate Winslett) and her son (Gattlin Griffith) who are forced to spend the long Labor Day Weekend in their home as hostages of an escaped convict (Josh Brolin). With strong performances from the three leads and assured direction from Reitman, Labor Day is a measured piece that delicately works over the emotions of its audience. However, even though I enjoyed the movie, I have to admit it is one of the films I have thought about least since the festival, and in retrospect, Reitman probably overcompensated with the tenderness of his touch in his attempt to go "serious". Labor Day is a fine movie, but it's no revelation.
Oscar Prospects: Somewhat akin to Rush, Labor Day has really faded away in the post-festival analysis, although in Labor Day's case, the buzz began dissipating literally minutes after its screening. That's not a knock on the film's critical reception, which was largely positive, but the simple fact of the matter is there were many more shinier objects and impactful films making the rounds of this year's festival circuit. There's always a chance the film will find its feet upon Labor Day's actual release, but given the fact that so far most of the big prestige films have been the real deal, this scenario is getting more and more unlikely. Labor Day's best shot at sneaking into the Oscar race will be in the Best Actress race, where Kate Winslett, a undeniable favorite of the Academy, may have a chance at breaking into the field of five. The category is pretty top heavy this year though, and at the moment, Winslett is probably on the outside looking in. Brolin's name will likely be bantered about for the Best Supporting Actor category as well, and it's not out of the question, but with the usually stuffed-to-the-brim field in this category, it's probably unlikely.