Image Credit: Claudette Barius
Despite what you have seen in the trailers, director Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion is really the Valentine’s Day of global pandemic thrillers. I’m joking, of course. But just as last year’s romantic-comedy invited a gaggle of beautiful Hollywood stars, including five Oscar nominees, to fumble for the glory of love, Contagion features eight actors in its cast who’ve been nominated by the Academy: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, John Hawkes, Elliott Gould, Jude Law, and Laurence Fishburne. While not unprecedented — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 also boasted eight performers who’ve been so honored by their industry — it’s a mighty deep pool of talent. (Mind you, that’s not even counting the likes of Jennifer Ehle and Bryan Cranston, who also have roles.)
But while Valentine’s Day and the upcoming New Year’s Eve — five eight Oscar-nominated thesps — rely on stunt casting and Harry Potter is all about arming prestigious Brits with mighty wands, Contagion appears to be a uniquely collaborative superstar effort. Credit Soderbergh, who specializes in sprawling, multi-layered storytelling that lures serious actors and Hollywood stars to even minor supporting roles (See: Traffic, Out of Sight, Ocean’s Eleven). Or maybe Soderbergh simply tells his actor friends in each case that this movie is really really really going to be his last movie before he retires.
Can you think of a past movie that can give Contagion‘s cast a run for its money?
Read more:
‘Contagion’ review
25 Fall Movies We Can’t Wait to See
Oh my God: Steven Soderbergh killed Gwyneth!
Richard Altenbough (pleas forgive the mispelling of his last name) certainly layered his films with superstars/actors. His last one on the fashion industry is a good ex
For pedigree casts, look no further than Robert Altman.
you can also add Jennifer Ehle as a Tony Award-winner!
Who’s bright idea was it to have this movie the same weekend as the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11. I’ll be looking for a light hearted comedy. The last thng I wanna do is watch a disaster movie this weekend!!!i
New Year’s Eve has six Oscar-nominees (Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Hilary Swank, Abigail Breslin, and Greg Kinnear), not five. Just sayin’.
Actually I don’t see anywhere where Greg Kinnear is in it. It has de Niro, Breslin, Pfeiffer, Swank, Berry, John Lithgow, and Julie Andrews. That’s 7. Greg Kinnear is not listed on IMDB but he is listed in Wikipedia. So I’m not sure who is right. John Lithgow and Julie Andrews are listed on IMDB but not Wikipedia
jeffrey wright does not have a roll in contagion. just sayin’.
Too bad having multiple Oscar nominees cannot guarantee a great movie. Just look at the 1978 stinker, “The Swarm,” which had a whopping 9 previous nominees and (at that time) 5 previous Oscar winners among its cast – Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland, Ben Johnson, Lee Grant, Jose Ferrer, Patty Duke, Henry Fonda, Katharine Ross, and Richard Widmark!
It won’t matter bc everyone will be going to see Warrior this weekend. No stunt casting. Just superb filmmaking! I predict it will sweep this years Oscars. Saw a sneak preview and was blown away
Warrior is not going to sweep the Oscars. I guarantee it.
Nine (which came out a few years ago to mostly bad reviews) had a slew of Oscar winners and nominees; Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, etc.
I agree with Jack920- I don’t want to see a depressing movie the same weekend of 9/11.
I don’t know if any of these stars will win an oscar but maybe a nom
Paul thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights
and Magnolia had nominated actors, a future winner, future nominees, and actors nominated for their roles in both movies.
Boogie Nights:
Mark Walhberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly.
Magnolia:
Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, Jason Robards William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
And even PT Anderson was nominated for writting the screenplays for both movies, and Aimee Mann was nominated as well for her song Save Me, just sayin’.
Still doesn’t top “The Swarm.” See my post above.
Cradle Will Rock was my first instinct. They weren’t all nominees yet at the time, but there were 7 by my count: Joan Cusack, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Emily Watson, Bob Balaban (he acted in CWR but was nommed for producing), and Paul Giamatti.
Plus Tim Robbins, a winner for acting, directed and wrote. Jack Black, John Cusack, Cherry Jones, Hank Azaria, John Turturro, and Audra McDonald all have various Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony nominations too.
Cradle will rock is one of the most underrated movies.
Barnard Hughes was also an Emmy winner.
Ruben Blades has also been nominated for the Emmys.
Ocean’s Eleven – Clooney, Gould, Roberts, Damon, Cheadle, Aflleck and Pitt. And also the director.
The Departed.
Leonardo Dicaprio
Matt Damon
Jack Nicholson
Mark Wahlberg
Alec Baldwin
Martin Sheen
Gosford Park, Murder on the Orient Express,