The Oscar season breeds dark horse films like these and normally they find a way to squeeze into the nominations with pure admiration. Not necessarily in any major categories, but they do find a way to gain smaller, yet still prestigious nominations like screenplay or even acting. The trailer for “A Better Life” does radiate family values and the Academy usually thrives on those emotional dramas, so anything goes with a film such as this.

BEST PICTURE**
Produced by Paul Junger Witt, Christian McLaughlin, Chris Weitz,
Jami Gertz, and Stacey Lubliner

BEST DIRECTOR**
Chris Weitz

BEST ACTOR**
Demian Bichir

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY**
Screenplay by Eric Eason
Story by Roger L. Simon