3. Period Piece
While not always seeming to be the case, an Oscar Film set in a different period helps captivate the mind by how different it all is. Lincoln gave an accurate portrayal of the politics involved in the 19th century, while Django studied how one breaks social conventions at such an age. Even modern pieces like Silver Linings Playbook or Zero Dark Thirty help measure the consequences of actions and societys effect on the lives of individuals. Films that embrace the social conventions of the day and bring such oddities to the forefront greatly increase their chance of nominations.