The Oscar gold rush swings into action at the Toronto International Film Festival. George Clooney. Penelope Cruz. Viggo Mortensen. George Clooney again. These and other Hollywood heavyweights could spin their turns at TIFF into a race to the Oscar podium.

CTV.ca's Constance Droganes makes her picks...

Agora, Alejandro Amenabar
Rachel Weisz could score Oscar No. 2 for her performance as Hypatia, the ancient Egyptian philosopher and atheist. As pagans and Christians clash in Alexandria’s streets, Hypatia and her disciples are trapped inside the city’s famed library. A perilous love triangle unfolds as she tires to save the wisdom of the ancient world.

Antichrist, Lars von Trier
This disturbing flick was the sensation of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and scored Charlotte Gainsbourg a Best Actress win. Sex, violence, guilt, rage... Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe dig into the dark side of marriage in this creepy drama set in a secluded cabin. But their "healing" retreat quickly turns evil.

Bright Star, Jane Campion
A sure Oscar contender, starring Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish. Campion delivers a gorgeous glimpse into the secret, three-year love affair between 19th-century English poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, an outspoken student of fashion. Their obsessive liaison goes from bad to worse, culminating with Keats’ death at 25.

Broken Embraces, Pedro Almodovar
Jealousy, treachery, betrayal and guilt churn in Pedro Almodovar’s latest collaboration with muse Penelope Cruz. Journeying between the past and present, a blind film director recalls how he lost his sight and the love of his life, Lena -- a call girl and aspiring actress. Full of the twists, turns and melodramatic meat that only Almodovar can deliver.

Capitalism: A Love Story, Michael Moore
Twenty years after “Roger and Me” Michael Moore delivers another dauntless expose of greed in America. From Middle America to Washington and Wall Street the Oscar-winning director lays bare the many ways mighty corporations have screwed everyday Americans.

Creation, Jon Amiel
Paul Bettany stars as Charles Darwin, the English naturalist and controversial author of “The Origin of Species.” Crushed by the death of his eldest daughter, Darwin conceives his revolutionary book while living in a small English village. There he becomes torn between his love for his devout wife and his growing disbelief in God.

Dorian Gray, Oliver Parker
Oliver Parker bravely revisits the 1945 Hollywood classic, based on Oscar Wilde’s famed 19th-century novel. Ben Barnes is the handsome Dorian Gray. He vows to give anything, even his soul, to keep his youth and beauty forever. His prayer is answered. A new portrait painted by his closest friend begins to bear all the ugly sins of Dorian’s corrupt life.

Harry Brown, Daniel Barber
Sir Michael Caine gives a tour-de-force performance in this thriller about an elderly ex-serviceman with vengeance on his mind. Harry Brown has lived to see his community ruled over by a gang of teenage thugs. After his best friend is brutally murdered and the gang leader walks free, Harry doles out his own form or justice.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam
This fantastical morality tale was Heath Ledger’s last film. For that alone audiences will flock to see this wild story about Dr. Parnassus and his travelling mind show. After making a deal with the devil for certain gifts, Parnassus can take audiences through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations. But the price for his talents is one that costs Parnassus dearly.

The Men Who Stare At Goats, Grant Heslov
George Clooney headlines this dark comedy about a reporter who lands the story of a lifetime. Ewan McGregor plays newsman Bob Wilton, who meets Clooney’s madman in Iraq. He claims to be a psychic soldier for a secret unit in the U.S. army and reveals all kinds on conspiracies.

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, Werner Herzog
Inspired by the true-life story of murderer Mark Yarovsky, Werner Herzog and producer David Lynch collaborated on this searing TIFF entry. An aspiring actor lands a part in the Greek tragedy “Orestes.” He then enacts his character’s crime by killing his mother with a sword. A searing mix of ancient myth and modern-day madness, look for great performances by Willem Dafoe and Michael Shannon.

Ondine, Neil Jordan
Colin Farrell steals the show in this modern fairy tale about an Irish fisherman whose life is transformed when he catches a mysterious woman in his nets. The town buzzes with theories about where the beauty came from. Amidst that frenzy the fisherman falls for the stranger. But the romance quickly takes a dark turn.

Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, Lee Daniels
Raped by her father twice, Clareece “Precious” Jones leads a life of misery. Illiterate and poor, the pregnant African-American teenager lands in an alternative school. There she finds the courage to escape her abusive past. Look for good performances from Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Rebecca Miller
Rescued from her promiscuous, drug-addled life, Robin Wright Penn’s character marries a knight in shining armour 30 years her senior. After his heart attack the N.Y. couple to a retirement community in Connecticut. Pippa gets restless. She soon beds the neighbour’s son, played by Keanu Reeves. Suddenly her idyllic world and “perfect” persona go all to hell.

The Road, John Hillcoat
Viggo Mortensen headlines this post-apocalyptic tale from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy. A father and son journey across a burned, barren America after a cataclysm strikes. With one pistol, a rusting shopping cart and scavenged food the pair head south fighting off cannibalistic bands along the way. Grim but great, “The Road” could be Mortensen’s lucky Oscar charm.

A Serious Man, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
The Coen bothers return to TIFF with another black comedy. Set in 1967, Midwestern professor Larry Gopnik suddenly sees his life come apart. His wife leaves him. His kids are disappointments. His loser brother lives on his sofa. Struggling for equilibrium, frazzled Larry consults three rabbis to get his life back on track.

Up in the Air, Jason Reitman
George Clooney and Jason Reitman, the Oscar-nominated director of “Juno,” join forces in this quirky new comedy. Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert, loves his life on the road. Within a hair’s breadth of reaching 10 million frequent flyer miles, Bingham’s plan gets shot to hell when he meets the woman of his dreams.

The Vitner’s Luck, Niki Caro
Set in a luscious vineyard in 19th-century Burgundy, an ambitious peasant hungers to create the perfect wine. But he’s caught between his lowly station in life and the three great loves of his life. With an angel’s help the winemaker pursues his ultimate vintage, sating all his appetites along the way.

The Young Victoria, Jean-Marc Vallee
Co-produced by Martin Scorsese and Sarah, Duchess of York, the costume drama/love story showcases the turbulent start to Queen Victoria’s reign and her marriage to Prince Albert. Starring Emily Blunt, this lavish pic also explores the idea of instant celebrity even back in Victoria’s day.