OSCAR 2013: BEST PICTURE CONTENDERS

After a great Oscar night (Meryl's third!; THE ARTIST!; HUGO!), it's time to start thinking about next year. Here is a list of the possible Oscar contenders for best picture. Expect some big epic productions to finally return.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Academy changed the best pic contenders to 10 after THE DARK KNIGHT and WALL.E failed to get an Oscar nod. It's time to reward the final chapter of Nolan's trilogy. The movie won't have an acting nod (Heath Legder won as Joker; this time, it's difficult to have a contender). I hope some final sympathy for Nolan direction.

ANNA KARENINA
A big epic production will easily impress in the techns cathegories. Keira Knightley can be nominated again.

THE HOBBIT
Everybody will say THE LORD OF THE RINGS was better, but THE HOBBIT is still a trong contender.

LES MISERABLES
Tom Hooper is back with this musical that can easily score a Golden Globe for best comedy/musical. After that, it can have an Oscar nod. Or it can sink like NINE.

LINCOLN
Steven Spielberg directs Daniel Day-Lewis. An actor never won an Oscar in a Spielberg movie. With two already, it will be difficult for Day-Lewis to get his third. But a nod is a strong possibility.

THE MASTER
Paul Thomas Anderson is back and brings Phillip Seymour Hoffman with him.

BRAVE
After a bad year (that only happens when they bet on CARS), Pixar wants to get its groove back and BRAVE seems to be the right way.

WON'T BE BACK
The drama that can get some recognition with Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal on the cast.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES:
DJANGO UNCHAINED
THE GANGSTER SQUAD
TEH GREAT GATSBY
KILL BIN LADEN
LIFE OF PI
THE SILVER LINING PLAYBOOK
THE SURROGATE
TROUBLE WITH CURVE
HYDE PARK ON HUDSON