The Weinstein Company looks to be shut out of the Best Picture Oscar race this year.
The company, which has dominated the race over the past five years, has seen six Best Picture nominees including two winners, "The King's Speech," and "The Artist."
This year the company has four potential films, none of which are generating the necessary buzz or precursor awards necessary for an Oscar nomination. The films include "Philomena," which is nominated for the Golden Globe and scored rave reviews. "Lee Daniel's The Butler" is also a top contender. The movie scored Screen Actors Guild nominations but was shut out of the Globes and was disliked by the critics.
"Fruitvale Station" is also on the company's radar but has been ignored by every big organization and has not been able to break out of the "first film" categories. The last hopeful is "August: Osage County." That movie is comprised of every big Hollywood star but has not generated a single Best Picture nomination in any precursor. The film is expected to get acting laurels but Best Picture does not seem likely.
The recent development is one of the most surprising as the company is known for its incredible campaigns. Harvey Weinstein is known for saying that the only way to get nominations is for voters to see the film. As a result, there is no doubt that his movies have been seen.
The most probable reason for the films not garnering the awards Weinstein desires is that 2013 was a very crowded year filled with stronger contenders.
The Weinstein Company still has two weeks left to make its case. Oscar nominations will be released on Jan.16.