Oscars: Spielberg, Streep, Daldry, Fincher Films Now Become the Focus

With Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” not getting big Oscar type raves from its premiere, the Oscar focus for Best Picture now changes. The films no one’s seen that could be contenders include two from Steven Spielberg and one each from Stephen Daldry and David Fincher. They are respectively, “War Horse,” “The Adventures of Tin Tin,” “Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud,” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Everyone involved in the Oscar game is eager to see those four films. A fifth but maybe outside contender is Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult,” which screens tonight and said to be very funny. Also a complete question mark: Phylidia Lloyd’s “Iron Lady,” starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. And then there’s the short list of possible Best Picture nominees: “Midnight in Paris,” “The Artist.” “Moneyball,” “Ides of March,” “My Week with Marilyn,” “Hugo,” and “The Help.”