This Paramount release is coming in January, which suggests the studio doesn’t sense “Oscars” in a genre film that has long been an Academy favorite, but that maybe they had some notion it could be a contender.

Usually they advertise a film with Oscar hopes based on limited release “Christmas” or thereabouts.

TV star Kingsley Ben-Adir has the title role, and there’s not a lot of household names in the cast. The director of “King Richard” was behind the camera, so we’re allowed to hope for greatness.

Jan. 12