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10 movies you have to see before the 2017 awards season

Cape Town – The box office fare hasn't had much of a variety, the year so far has been filled with superhero movies and lacklustre sequels.

The latter part of the year sees a fresh slate of true life dramas, book to film adaptations and original movies just in time for the 2017 awards season. 

Releases such as Birth of Nation, Jackie and La La Land have already generated Oscar buzz at festival screenings. 

Here are 10 movies you have to see before the Oscars

1. Arrival (11 November)

Why should you watch it? After alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist (Amy Adams) is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

It screened at the 2016 Venice Film Festival where critics have praised both the movie and Adams' performance. 

See the trailer here:

2. Allied (2 December)

Why should you watch it? It stars Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. Do you need another reason?

In 1942 intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt) meets resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard). Forced to work together to complete their mission the pair pretend to be married.  Reunited in the London the pair fall in love and start a family.

See the trailer here:

3. Passengers (31 December)

Why should you watch it? The much-anticipated sci-fi flick starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt has all the makings of a fan favourite. The pair are two passengers on board a spaceship transporting them to a new life on another planet. The trip takes a deadly turn when their hibernation pods mysteriously wake them 90 years before they reach their destination.  

See the trailer here:

4. Manchester By The Sea (6 Jan)

Why should you watch it? The better acting Affleck brother Casey stars in it. The film has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with high praise for his 'acting chops'. After the death of his brother an uncle (Affleck) is forced to return to his home town to take care of his teenage nephew and deal with family issues. 

See the trailer here:

5. Birth of a Nation (20 Jan)

Why should you watch it? Nate Parker's slave rebellion took top honours at Sundance Festival. Although it has been surrounded by controversy after rape allegations about Parker resurfaced it has still been lauded as an important film to see. 

It tells the true story of Nat Turner, a slave who taught himself to read and became a preacher before ultimately leading a deadly rebellion that wiped out 60 slave owners.

See the trailer here:


6. La La Land (27 Jan)

Why should you watch it? Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star in their third film together. It won the coveted audience prize at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival. The musical pays tribute to the Golden Age of American musicals, honouring classics from Top Hat to Singing in the Rain to Grease.

See the trailer here:

7. Patriots Day (27 Jan)

Why should you watch it? This is one of three films set to be released about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Mark Wahlberg stars in and produces the film shot in and around Boston. The movie does not recreate any of the shootings and instead focuses on the manhunt to catch the perpetrators. 

See the trailer here:

8. Loving (3 Feb)

Why should you watch it? The film is based on the true story of interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving, the plaintiffs in the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

It received a standing ovation at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and is set to receive the Social Justice Award by the 2016 Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF.)

See the trailer here:

9. Hidden Figures (24 Feb)

Why should you watch it? Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae star in the incredible untold true story of three African-American women working at NASA.

See the trailer here:

10. Fences (10 Feb)

Why should you watch it? Denzel Washington stars in and directs the film adaptation of August Wilson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play. From the trailer the film looks to be an emotionally drenched drama which also stars Viola Davis. 

See the trailer here:

*Jackie is not in this list as there is no official release date for South Africa.

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