This is a thread I like to do every year where I trudge through IMDB's release schedule database and try to find all those hidden contenders we don't know exist now, but should. In recent years, many of the early frontrunners like Australia, Memoirs, Dreamgirls have fallen dead, while smaller films like Juno, Slumdog, Capote come out of nowhere to replace them. At this time, a number of these films are simply names on imdb

In 07, Juno and Michael Clayton were succesfully spotted for one of the first times on this list. Diving Bell and the Butterfly also showed up

08 was less succesful because I did the list in early July instead of late August, stupidly. As a result I whiffed on Slumdog. However The Reader and Rachel Getting Married showed up. The Reader shouldn't have been a surprise, but at the time it was wrongly passed over

This year with 10 nominees, it's increasingly likely many of these smaller films will come into play.

Here's the list I've put together so far. If I find more after I'll post them:

All Good Things - A detective mystery type drama involving a missing person and the possible death threat of a New York real estate heir. Stars Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Kristen Wiig

Come Back to Serrento - A mid-life romance about a music teacher and a housewife with lost dreams. Based off a David Mamet play. Stars William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman.

The Men Who Stare at Goats - A comedy about a reporter in Iraq who meets a guy who claims he used to part of a battalion using paranormal powers. Stars George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, JK Simmons

Gentlemen Broncos - Teenager attends a writing convention and finds his idea stolen by a novelist. Stars Sam Rockwell, Jennifer Collidge. Indie comedy alert!!! Poster is made out very very Little Miss Sunshine/Juno.

The Young Victoria - A drama about the early years Queen Victoria. It stars Emily Blunt.

An Education - A coming of age romance in 1960s London. It stars Peter Saarsgrad, Rosamund Pike, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson. Getting buzz

The Tempest - An adaptation of the Shakespear play directed by Julie Taymor, with a lead gender reversal. Studded cast including Helen Mirren (as "Prospera"), Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, Djimon Hounsou, David Straithairn

Biutiful - Innaritu's followup to Babel. *gag* Involves a drug dealer and a cop. Stars Javier Bardem

Glorious 39 - A period piece about a british family on the eve of WWII - Stars Romola Garai, Bill Nighy, Julie Christie

Creation - Charles Darwin biopic with Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly that takes on science vs religion debate. Like The Reader last year, this is a big big player that's just flown under the radar, especially in Best Actor. It debuts in Toronto.

Mother and Child - A drama involving Annette Benning, Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, David Morse. Involves a mother, her long ago left for adoption child, and a woman looking to adopt. Sounds bleh

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Werner Herzog's new film. Man investigates killing of Senegalese immigrants. Cast includes Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Coolidge. Debuts at Venice

A Single Man - An English Professor's partner (lover? worker?) dies, he has to go on with his life. Stars Colin Firth, Julianne Moore. Debuts at Venice

Leaves of Grass - Edward Norton plays twin brothers a la Jeremy Irons and Nic Cage... one is a teacher, the other is a pot grower. Also stars Susan Sarandon

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits - A woman has difficult relationship with her stepson and his estranged mother. Stars Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow

Whip It - Ellen Page plays a roller derby girl. Directed by Drew Barrymore. Possible indie comedy alert

Movies I don't really think will do much but I'll mention them anyways

Black Mass - A Jim Sheridan movie about FBI and Witness Protection Program. Unlikely it gets released this year as the cast list isn't even up yet

Serious Moonlight - A lawyer duct-tapes her cheating husband to toilet, then burglers entered the house.. that's all I know. Stars Kristen Bell, Justin Long, Meg Ryan. But the real reason I put it on this list is the late Adrienne Shelley is the writer. In all liklihood though, it'll be nothing

Brooklyn's Finest - 3 Cops end up in one location and confrontation. Stars Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes. Doesn't sound like an Oscar movie but we'll see

The Big Gay Musical - It doesn't star anyone but the title is catchy and maybe it'll score some relevance votes

The Private Lives of Pippi Lee - A drama about a housewife headed towards a nervous breakdown after her older husband retires. Includes Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin

The Boys Are Back - Sports writer becomes single parent. Stars Clive Owen. From director of Shine

Isn't An Education on everyone's radar? At least for Best Actress.

The Boys Are Back might produce a dark horse Best Actor contender in Clive Owen. And the Colin Firth movie--his gay lover dies, he has to move on--might get attention for his performance.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans seems too weird and violent. And Brookyln's Finest is supposedly terrible--and it's not as if We Own the Night or Pride & Glory were big hits at the Oscars.

Isn't Biutiful 2010? It's definitely one to watch, though. The Academy adores Iñárritu and Javier Bardem, too.

Whip It? No.
Gentlemen Broncos looks like a piece of turd as well.
Young Victoria has no chance.
Men Who Stare At Goats won't turn up either.
All Good Things has been delayed forever.
Since I haven't heard of the others, save An Education which isn't Oscar winner type anyway, they probably have a chance.
They aren't on BOM schedule though many have big names in them.
When's Venice?
oh and Babel was shit so fuck inaritu.

What about "Chloe" ?
Premiering at TFF.

Julie Taymor films see some support in the tech field (Titus, Frida)... alas, The Tempest has been moved to 2010.

Weird, random fact: All three of her films have received Costume Design nominations! In the cases of Across the Universe and Titus, they're actually their only nominations.

Good trivia!

When does Alfonso Cuaron's 1970s family drama come out?