With only a short amount of time left before the 2015 Oscars on February 22, Australian cinemas will be flooded with the best in film.

The following six films are all generating significant awards season hype, with particular standout performances coming from Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game, Steve Carell in Foxcatcher and Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.

· The must-see films of 2014
· The 14 most overlooked movies of 2014

The Imitation Game

Kiera Knightley, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game. Photo: Supplied

Director: Morten Tyldum
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kiera Knightley, Matthew Goode, Mark Strong

The Imitation Game is the tragic true story of a tormented and brilliant man relentlessly at odds with his times. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as genius British logician and cryptologist Alan Turing, who triumphs as a key figure cracking Germany’s Enigma Code that helped the allies win the Second World War against Germany, only to have his life and reputation destroyed as he is prosecuted for maintaining a homosexual relationship. Cumberbatch is the current frontrunner for best actor at the Academy Awards.

The Imitation Game is released on January 2, 2015.

American Sniper

Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller in American Sniper. Photo: Supplied

Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller

Clint Eastwood directs Bradley Cooper in the true story about Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in American military history. Kyle is a Navy SEAL who serves four tours of duties in Iraq with the sole mission of protecting American military life in exceedingly explosive situations. As Kyle’s reputation grows amongst his colleagues, so too does it grow amongst rebel insurgents, making Kyle increasingly vulnerable to enemy attack. After returning home from his decorated career, Kyle sees he cannot leave behind the torment of combat.

American Sniper is released on January 22, 2015.

Foxcatcher

Channing Tatum and Steve Carell in Foxcatcher. Photo: Supplied

Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo

Foxcatcher is the eerie and tragic true to life story of John du Pont (Steve Carell), a billionaire who started an immense wrestling facility on his estate. This drama focuses on du Pont’s relationship with Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum), a promising Olympian hoping to step out of the shadow of his more successful brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). However, du Pont starts to exert a dark psychological influence over Mark, forcing his self esteem to crumble whilst he simultaneously grows obsessed with recruiting Dave to the estate, leading all three into an unanticipated tragedy. The three performances from Carell, Tatum and Ruffalo have been called “astounding”.

Foxcatcher is released on January 2, 2015.

The Theory of Everything

Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything. Photo: Supplied

Director: James Marsh
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson, Charlie Cox

In 1960’s Cambridge University, future physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Remayne) courts and falls in love with fellow student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). With his whole life seemingly ahead of him, Hawking is struck down with his diagnoses of motor neuron disease, a degenerative condition that will sap the body of use of its faculties. With time of the essence, Hawking undertakes his ambitious and comprehensive study of time and overcomes incredible odds – with his wife’s relentless and steadfast support – to pioneer astonishing new grounds in the field of physics and grows to be regarded as one of the greatest minds of his time. Redmayne’s performance is “towering”.

The Theory of Everything is released on 29 January, 2015.

Inherent Vice

Joaquin Pheonix and Benicio Del Toro in Inherent Vice. Photo: Supplied

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Martin Short, Katherine Waterston

Written and directed by filmmaking maestro Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood), Inherent Vice is the first adaptation from literary titan Thomas Pynchon to grace the silver screen. It’s the story of a stoner detective Doc Sportello (Jaoquin Phoenix) hired to investigate the disappearance of a real estate tycoon who becomes embroiled in the crazy politics and drug soaked subcultures of Southern California in 1970. Inherent Vice features an all star cast that includes Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Benicio Del Toro, Reese Witherspoon, and Martin Short.

Inherent Vice is released on February 5, 2015. 

Blackhat

Tang Wei and Chris Hemsworth in Blackhat. Photo: Supplied

Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tang Wei, Viola Davis

From action maestro Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) and starring Australian leading man Chris Hemsworth comes this international cyber thriller. Nicholas Hathaway (Hemsworth) is released from prison and assigned to help Chinese and American authorities to pursue a mysterious cyber terrorist, setting off a global manhunt that stretches from the streets of Chicago to the murky world of the Chinese criminal underworld.

Blackhat is released on February 19, 2015.