In the summer, the Weinstein Company released one of the most upbeat and feel-good films of the year.

The movie was "Begin Again" starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo and was directed by the acclaimed director John Carney. 

The movie received rave reviews and Latin Post called it "a feel-good movie that feels genuine and one that will resonate with viewers in search of an uplifting journey." However, the movie underperformed and quickly faded out. 

The Weinstein Company released it in September to begin its awards campaign, but the only thing that has resonated is the movie's song "Lost Stars." Many call it the front-runner to win the Best Song Oscar, but it has been ignored in the rest of the categories. 

The movie will undoubtedly be a Golden Globe nominee in the musical category for Best Picture as it has the Weinstein Company backing the campaign, but it is a trickier sell for the Academy Awards as it has a lightness that is not Academy-quality. 

However, "Begin Again" has many qualities that deserve consideration. Keira Knightley's performance in particular is one of her strongest to date. Latin Post called her performance "subtle" and "magnetic." In the movie, Knightley is not only charming and likeable in the film, but she also sings throughout the movie. This, of course, is appealing to the Academy as it shows her diversity and her range as an actress. 

It also gives audiences a chance to see the actress out of the period film. Knightley has become known for working in period films and scored her only nomination for "Pride and Prejudice." Other films that she obtained buzz for were "Atonement," "Anna Karenina," "A Dangerous Method" and "The Duchess." This year, she is also a likely nominee in the Best Supporting Actress category for "The Imitation Game," another period film. The aforementioned movies are all dramas and have shown the strength of her work.

However, "Begin Again" shows her in a comic light, which audiences are not used to seeing her in. 

Knightley could get into the Best Actress category especially since many pundits have been talking about how weak the category is. Additionally, all the actresses who are currently top contenders portray dramatic roles and this could differentiate Knightley since she is in a comedy. 

Other categories that "Begin Again" could compete in are the Best Actor category for Ruffalo, who is also likely to get a nomination in the supporting category for "Foxcatcher." However, in "Begin Again," he demonstrates his comic timing as well as his dramatic range. 

Hailee Steinfeld also holds up well in the film and with a weak Supporting Actress category, Steinfeld could get her second nomination. Steinfeld's work in the movie is moving and also her best performance since "True Grit." 

Even Adam Levine could get nominated for his debut performance in the Supporting Actor category. He is suave and holds up well with the rest of the veteran actors. However, a nomination for Levine could be good for ratings. Even if he is not nominated, Levine is likely to be at the Academy Awards if the songs are nominated because he will most likely be performing. 

"Begin Again" could also be nominated for "Best Original Screenplay" and even Best Sound Mixing. 

Like most early releases, it will be up to the strength of the company's campaign and critics' awards. "Begin Again" already has support for Best Song, but it will be up to the Weinstein Company to raise Knightley's profile in the Best Actress category. Since the movie is on DVD, it will be available for all Academy voters to see.

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