The Oscar season tends to be reliably biopic-heavy, but is Mira Nair's Amelia flying in at the end of a trend? The suddenly expanded crop of potential Best Picture nominees is actually an eclectic group for once, and virtually nowhere to be found is the usual childhood flashback-triggered story of an entire, famous life. Now, Fox Searchlight has released the trailer for Amelia, and amidst an upcoming slate of splashy musicals, soccer dramas, and harrowing urban masterpieces, this conventional story of the famed aviatrix looks a little square.
Still, "square" has never been so pretty! Perhaps it's telling that in this Oscar bait drama starring a two-time Academy Award winner, the only thing that seems unexpected is how gorgeous Stuart Dryburgh's cinematography looks. Otherwise, Hilary Swank plays Earheart pretty much exactly how you'd picture her, Ewan McGregor puts in the required counterweight to the "It can't be done, Amelia!" scenes, and Richard Gere beams proudly, which is now all that is required from him when acting opposite a woman. Never have I wanted such a smooth flight to throw in a little turbulence.
VERDICT: Wake me when we land.