Is Sacha Gervasi's 'Hitchcock' Really Generating Oscars Buzz?

Is Sacha Gervasi's 'Hitchcock' Really Generating Oscars Buzz?

Read anything on Sacha Gervasi's new movie Hitchcock, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as the legendary Hollywood director, and you'll probably come across the phrases "Oscars buzz" and "Oscar tipped." The movie has enjoyed decent reviews from critics, though the press seem to have it nailed on for a nomination. It may well not be that straight forward.

History suggests that Hitchcock is the type of the movie the Academy will reward and with Hopkins and Dame Helen Mirren in the lead roles, it certainly boasts an appealing cast. However, the concluding months of 2012 have thrown up several serious contenders for the golden statuettes and Hitchcock may well be the movie to make way. Hopkins - who won Best Actor for Silence of the Lambs - has already decided to stop playing "nauseating games" with the Academy in order to win an Oscar and told Entertainment Weekly that he was too busy making films to launch a serious awards' season campaign for Hitchcock. "People go out of their way to flatter the nominating body [the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences] and I think it's kind of disgusting. Having to be nice to people and to be charming and flirting with them. That's always been against my nature", he added.

So what do the bookmakers think of Hitchcock's chances?

Well, the actual movie is a massive 100/1 outsider to win Best Picture. Argo, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Les Miserables, Life of Pi and The Master are all pretty short odds to scoop the prize, and it's likely the winner will come from one of these six movies. Sacha Gervasi is also 100/1 to win Best Director, which should go to either Ben Affleck of Steven Spielberg. Hitchcock has slightly better chances in the acting categories, with Hopkins available at around 16/1 to win Best Actor for the second time. Daniel Day-Lewis is the overwhelming favorite for his flawless performance in Lincoln, though Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) and Denzel Washington (Flight) have been tipped too. Helen Mirren is around 20/1 to win Best Actress, in a category expected to feature a straight battle between Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) and Sally Field (Lincoln).

So, is Hitchcock likely to get an Oscar nomination? The jury's out.

Is Hitchcock 'Oscar tipped'? Certainly not.