Oscar season is officially upon us. Although I received my first screener a few weeks ago, another batch arrived in the mail Friday. From this point until the end of the screener season, I’ll be posting the interesting tidbits I get in the mail. You’ll get pictures of the discs and the inserts that show the FYC notices plus any other pics I think you’ll be interested in. Today, I have that first disc I received back on October 15, Restrepo. In addition, the not-so-glamorous screener discs for Everyone Else, Marwencol and Sweetgrass.

Restrepo Genre: Documentary Directors: Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger Premise: A year in the lives of a single U.S. military platoon stationed in one of the deadliest valleys in Afghanistan. Rating: (R) for language throughout including some descriptions of violence. Oscar Chances: This was one of the earliest competitors for the Documentary Feature nomination and it’s very likely to be one of the final five nominees. Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Fresh (96 critics; as of 11/6/10) Metacritic: 85 out of 100 (33 critics; as of 11/6/10)

Everyone Else Genre: Drama, Romance Director: Maren Ade Starring: Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger, Hans-Jochen Wagner, Nicole Marischka Premise: A loving couple on a Mediterranean vacation find their relationship tested by their bond with another couple. Rating: Not Rated Oscar Chances: Foreign language films that aren’t also Oscar submissions rarely ever pull much attention. And without a buzz which seems to be lacking here, there isn’t much chance of a nomination in the major categories. Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Fresh (31 critics; as of 11/6/10) Metacritic: 71 out of 100 (16 critics; as of 11/6/10)	Marwencol Genre: Documentary Director: Jeff Malmberg Premise: Scarred and broke after a vicious attack, Mark Hogencamp has created a 1/6th-scale World War II-era town in his backyard. Rating: Not Rated Oscar Chances: While an interesting subject with a humanist bent, the Academy has a lot of other more prominent and “important” documentaries to vote on this year. Rotten Tomatoes: 100% Fresh (21 critics; as of 11/6/10) Metacritic: 80 out of 100 (7 critics; as of 11/6/10)	Sweetgrass Genre: Documentary Director: Ilisa Barbash, Lucien Castaing-Taylor Premise: A group of aging shepherds must guide their sheep through the perilous Beartooth Mountains in Montana. Rating: Not Rated Oscar Chances: It may have the harrowing success story attached, but this documentary doesn’t have the political orientation or the social relevance factor the Academy loves to honor. Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Fresh (43 critics; as of 11/6/10) Metacritic: Not Available