Awards Insights

Category: Lists, News, and Other Editorials

  • AFI Establishes the Top Contenders of This Season

    AFI Establishes the Top Contenders of This Season

    The American Film Institute released their list of the top 10 films and TV shows of the year. As always, AFI is the first major predictor of what the Best Picture slate is going to look like. Here are their picks:

    AFI MOTION PICTURES OF THE YEAR

    “Anora”

    “The Brutalist”

    “A Complete Unknown”

    “Conclave”

    “Dune: Part Two”

    “Emilia Perez”

    “Nickel Boys”

    “A Real Pain”

    “Sing Sing”

    “Wicked”

    AFI TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

    “Abbott Elementary”

    “The Bear”

    “Hacks”

    “A Man on the Inside”

    “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”

    “Nobody Wants This”

    “The Penguin”

    “Shogun”

    “Shrinking”

    “True Detective: Night Country”

    AFI SPECIAL AWARD

    “Baby Reindeer”

    Source: The Wrap

     

    In past years, AFI has one of the best track records when it comes to predicting the Oscar nomination slate.

    • 2024 – 8 of the 10 Oscar nominees received a nod from the AFI (Missed: Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest
    • 2023 – 8 of 10 (Missed: Triangle of Sadness and All Quiet on the Western Front)
    • 2022 – 9 of 10 (Missed: Drive My Car)
    • 2021 – 6 of 8 (Missed: Promising Young Woman and The Father)
    • 2020 – 8 of 9 (Missed: Ford v Ferrari)
    • 2019 – 6 of 8 (Missed: Vice and Bohemian Rhapsody)
    • 2018 – 7 of 9 (Missed: Phantom Thread and Darkest Hour)
    • 2017: 7 of 9 (Missed: Lion and Hidden Figures)
    • 2016: 6 of 8 (Missed: The Revenant and Brooklyn)

    (Note: The AFI Top 10 can only include American films but in 2022, 2020 and 2019, The Banshees of Inisherin, Parasite and Roma, respectively, won AFI Special Awards)

    Here’s every film that did not make the AFI cut but received either a Golden Globe, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA, or National Board of Review nod on their way to becoming a Best Picture nominee.

    • Anatomy of a Fall – Nominated at BAFTA and Golden Globes
    • The Zone of Interest – Nominated at the Golden Globes
    • All Quiet on The Western Front – Nominated at BAFTA (won as well)
    • Triangle of Sadness – Nominated at the Golden Globes
    • Drive My Car – none (won LAFCA, NYFCC, NSFC trifecta though)
    • The Father – Nominated at BAFTA and at the Golden Globes
    • Promising Young Woman – Nominated for Best Picture at Critics Choice. Also nominated by the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the National Board of Review.
    • Ford v Ferrari – Nominated for Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards and by the National Board of Review
    • Vice – Nominated at both Golden Globes and Critics Choice
    • Bohemian Rhapsody – Nominated at Golden Globes (won as well) and SAG
    • Phantom Thread – Nominated by National Board of Review
    • Darkest Hour – Nominated at BAFTA and at Critics Choice
    • Lion – Nominated at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice
    • Hidden Figures – Nominated at SAG (won as well) and picked by the NBR
    • The Revenant – Nominated by Golden Globes (won as well), BAFTAs (won as well), and the Critics Choice Awards
    • Brooklyn – Nominated at the Critics Choice Awards

    It seems likely that around 1 to 3 of the 10 films chosen by AFI will miss, and if three films do miss my picks for what those will be are (in order from most to least likely to miss): Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, and A Complete Unknown.

  • Venice and Toronto Recap: ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘The Life of Chuck’ Join the Fold

    Venice and Toronto Recap: ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘The Life of Chuck’ Join the Fold

    As Venice and Toronto have wrapped up, many under-the-radar contenders have emerged as major contenders. At Venice, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door won the Golden Lion, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist won Best Director for Corbet, and Halina Reijn’s Babygirl won Best Actress for Nicole Kidman. The Brutalist was immediately cemented as a top five contender. Every year, Venice sees at least one top three Picture contender and The Brutalist, which has been dubbed “an instant classic” definitely seems to be this year’s iteration of that trend. The Room Next Door also has a possibility of making it into Best Picture but with a 70 Metascore and a 6.7 IMDb, I’m not sure if there’s enough passion behind this film to push it into the Best Picture slate (granted, it did win the Golden Lion so I may be wrong about this).

    At Toronto, Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck won the People’s Choice first place award, while Emilia Perez and Anora won the second and third place awards respectively. The Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award is one of the biggest indicators of Oscar success. Since 2012, every winner of the award has been nominated for Best Picture and at least three other awards.

    Here are the Best Picture nominees that went to Toronto from the past 11 years:

    2023 – Special Presentations: American Fiction (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), The Zone of Interest

    2022 – Special Presentations: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans (People’s Choice Award 1st Place), Triangle of Sadness, Women Talking (People’s Choice Award 2nd place)

    2021 – Gala Presentations: Belfast (People’s Choice Award 1st place); Special Presentations: Drive My Car, The Power of the Dog (People’s Choice Award 3rd place); Special Events: Dune

    2020 – Gala Presentations: Nomadland (People’s Choice Award 1st place); Special Presentations: The Father

    2019 – Gala Presentations: Ford v Ferrari, Joker; Special Presentations: Jojo Rabbit (People’s Choice award 1st place), Marriage Story (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), Parasite (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2018 – Gala Presentations: Green Book (People’s Choice Award 1st place), A Star is Born; Special Presentations: Roma (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2017 – Gala Presentations: Darkest Hour; Special Presentations: Call Me By Your Name (People’s Choice Award 3rd place), Lady Bird, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (People’s Choice Award 1st place)

    2016 – Gala Presentations: Arrival; Special Presentations: La La Land (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Lion (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), Manchester by the Sea; Platform: Moonlight

    2015 – Gala Presentations: The Martian; Special Presentations: Brooklyn, Room (People’s Choice Award winner), Spotlight (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2014 – Special Presentations: The Imitation Game (People’s Choice Award 1st place), The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

    2013 – Special Presentations: 12 Years a Slave (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Philomena (People’s Choice Award 2nd place)

    From this, it seems likely that three to five films that played at TIFF will make it into Best Picture. In order of likelihood, Anora, Emilia Perez, and Conclave have the best chances, but The Life of Chuck, The Piano Lesson also have a chance as well, especially if Gladiator II ends up being underwhelming.

    Blitz has yet to premiere but stay tuned for its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in the next week.

  • Venice and Toronto Release Lineups: ‘Queer’, ‘Conclave’, ‘Joker’ Will Premiere

    Venice and Toronto Release Lineups: ‘Queer’, ‘Conclave’, ‘Joker’ Will Premiere

    VENICE

    The lineup for this year’s Venice Film Festival was just announced. This is the first major festival lineup announcement of the Oscar season and it gives us our first introductory look at this year’s possible contenders. In seven of the past eight years, a top two Picture contender has played at Venice and this trend shows no signs of stopping.

    In my predictions from this month, I have one of the films that have shown up in the Venice lineup in the top 10: Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. However, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door, Todd Phillips’s Joker: Folie a Deux, Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, Pablo Larrain’s Maria, and Justin Kurzel’s The Order are films to look out for. If any one of these films leave Venice highly-acclaimed and/or win one of their top prizes, their chances of being a Best Picture contender expand greatly. While I’m not confident that any of these films will become a top 2 Best Picture contender this season, I’m essentially guaranteeing that one of them will end up being a top 5 contender.

    Here is the Venice slate for this year:

    In Competition

    The Room Next Door, dir. Pedro Almodóvar

    Campo di Battaglia (Battleground), dir. Gianni Amelio

    Leurs enfants après eux (And Their Children After Them), dir. Ludovic Boukherma, Zoran Boukherma

    The Brutalist, dir. Brady Corbet

    Jouer avec le feu (The Quiet Son), dir. Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin

    Vermiglio, dir. Maura Delpero

    Iddu (Sicilian Letters), dir. Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza

    Queer, dir. Luca Guadagnino

    Kjærlighet (Love), dir. Dag Johan Haugerud

    April, dir. Dea Kulumbegashvili

    The Order, dir. Justin Kurzel

    Maria, dir. Pablo Larraín

    Trois amies (Three Friends), dir. Emmanuel Mouret

    Kill the Jockey, dir. Luis Ortega

    Joker: Folie à Deux, dir. Todd Phillips

    Babygirl, dir. Halina Reijn

    Ainda estou aqui (I’m Still Here), dir. Walter Salles

    Diva Futura, dir. Giulia Louise Steigerwalt

    Harvest, dir. Athina Rachel Tsangari

    Qing chun gui (Youth – Homecoming), dir. Wang Bing

    Stranger Eyes, dir. Yeo Siew Hua

    Out of Competition (Fiction)

    Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, dir. Tim Burton

    L’orto americano (The American Backyard), dir. Pupi Avati

    Il tempo che ci vuole, dir. Francesca Comencini

    Phantosmia, dir. Lav Diaz

    Maldoror, dir. Fabrice du Welz

    Broken Rage, dir. Takeshi Kitano

    Baby Invasion, dir. Harmony Korine

    Cloud, dir. Kurosawa Kiyoshi

    Finalement (Finally), dir. Claude Lelouch

    Wolfs, dir. Jon Watts

    Se posso permettermi Capitolo II, dir. Marco Bellocchio

    Allégorie citadine (An Urban Allegory), dir. Alice Rohrwacher, JR

     

    Here are the Best Picture nominees that went to Venice from the past 8 years:

    2023 – In Competition: Poor Things (Golden Lion winner), Maestro

    2022 – In Competition: Tar (Best Actress winner), The Banshees of Inisherin (Best Actor and Best Screenplay winner)

    2021 – In Competition: The Power of the Dog (Silver Lion winner); Out of Competition: Dune

    2020 – In Competition: Nomadland (Golden Lion winner)

    2019 – In Competition: Joker (Golden Lion winner), Marriage Story

    2018 – In Competition: The Favourite (Grand Jury Prize and Best Actress winner), Roma (Golden Lion winner); Out of Competition: A Star is Born

    2017 – In Competition: The Shape of Water (Golden Lion winner), Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Best Screenplay winner)

    2016 – In Competition: Arrival, La La Land (Best Actress winner); Out of Competition: Hacksaw Ridge

    Based on this, it would be reasonable to suspect that at least two fiction films from this year’s in competition and out of competition slates will make it in Best Picture. I don’t really see anything from the out of competition slate becoming a Picture contender but in terms of likelihood, the films from the competition slate that I think have a best chance of receiving a Picture nomination are, Queer, Joker: Folie a Deux, The Room Next Door, I’m Still Here, Maria, The Order, and Wolfs. Like with Joker back in 2019, Warner Bros. has submitted ‘Folie a Deux’ in competition at the festival, possibly indicating their confidence in its quality. There’s never been a year with three blockbuster sequels in the Best Picture nominee slate but if Joker 2 and Gladiator 2 play well, we could see them join Dune 2 as Best Picture nominees.

    This is the rest of the Venice slate:

     

    Out of Competition (Non-Fiction)

    Apocalipse nos trópicos (Apocalypse in the Tropics), dir. Petra Costa

    Bestiari, erbari, lapidari (Bestiaries, Herbaria, Lapidaries), dir. Massimo D’Anolfi, Martina Parenti

    Why War, dir. Amos Gitai

    2073, dir. Asif Kapadia

    One to One: John & Yoko, dir. Kevin Macdonald, Sam Rice-Edwards

    Separated, dir. Errol Morris

    Israel Palestina på svensk TV 1958-1989 (Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989), dir. Göran Hugo Olsson

    Russians at War, dir. Anastasia Trofimova

    TWST / Things We Said Today, dir. Andrei Ujică

    Riefenstahl, dir. Andres Veiel

    Pisni zemli, shcho povilno (Songs of Slow Burning Earth), dir. Olha Zhurba

    Out of Competition (Series)

    Disclaimer (Chapters 1 – 7), dir. Alfonso Cuarón

    Los años nuevos (The New Years) (Ep. 1 – 10), dir. Rodrigo Sorogoyen del Amo, Sandra Romero, David Martín de los Santos

    Familier som vores (Families Like Ours) (Ep. 1 – 7), dir. Thomas Vinterberg

    M – Il figlio del secolo (M – Son of the Century) (Ep. 1 – 8), dir. Joe Wright

    Out of Competition (Special Screenings)

    Leopardi. The Poet of the Infinity (Part 1 & 2), dir. Sergio Rubini

    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, dir. Peter Weir

    Beauty Is Not a Sin, dir. Nicolas Winding Refn

    Horizons Competition

    Nonostante, dir. Valerio Mastandrea

    Quiet Life, dir. Alexandros Avranas

    Mon inséparable (My Everything), dir. Anne-Sophie Bailly

    Aïcha, dir. Mehdi Barsaoui

     

    TORONTO

    In the last ten years, the eventual Best Picture winner has played at TIFF six times. As a result, it has garnered a reputation as the most important festival in the Oscar race. Additionally, in the last 10 years, excluding the COVID year 2020, at least three films that screened at TIFF were nominated for Best Picture later that season. This year, Sean Baker’s Anora, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, Edward Berger’s Conclave, Malcolm Washington’s The Piano Lesson, Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here, Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, John Crowley’s We Live in Time, and Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside are some of the most high-profile films being shown. Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing which is undoubtedly in the running this year as a major Best Picture nominee contender, played at TIFF last year.

     

    Galas 2024

    *previously announced

    “Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe,” Cosima Spender | UK
    World Premiere

    “Better Man,” Michael Gracey | USA
    Canadian Premiere

    “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs,” Embeth Davidtz | South Africa
    Canadian Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“Eden,” Ron Howard | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“Elton John: Never Too Late,” R.J. Cutler, David Furnish | USA
    World Premiere

    *“Harbin,” Woo Min-ho | South Korea
    World Premiere

    “Meet the Barbarians,” Julie Delpy | France
    International Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“Nutcrackers,” David Gordon Green | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Oh, Canada,” Paul Schrader | USA
    North American Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band,” Thom Zimny | USA
    World Premiere

    *“Superboys of Malegaon,” Reema Kagti | India
    World Premiere

    *“The Deb,” Rebel Wilson | Australia
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Friend,” Scott McGehee, David Siegel | USA
    International Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Penguin Lessons,” Peter Cattaneo | Spain/United Kingdom
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Return,” Uberto Pasolini | Italy/United Kingdom
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Shrouds,” David Cronenberg | Canada/France
    North American Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“The Wild Robot,” Chris Sanders | USA
    World Premiere

    “Unstoppable,“ William Goldenberg | USA
    World Premiere

    “Will & Harper,” Josh Greenbaum | USA
    International Premiere

    Special Presentations 2024

    *Previously announced

    “40 Acres,” R.T. Thorne | Canada
    World Premiere

    “All of You,” William Bridges | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “All We Imagine as Light,” Payal Kapadia | France/India/Netherlands/Luxembourg
    Canadian Premiere

    “Anora,” Sean Baker | USA
    Canadian Premiere

    “Bird,” Andrea Arnold | United Kingdom
    North American Premiere

    “Bring Them Down,” Christopher Andrews | Ireland/Belgium
    World Premiere

    “Can I Get A Witness?” Ann Marie Fleming | Canada
    World Premiere

    “Carnival is Over,” Fernando Coimbra | Brazil/Portugal
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Caught by the Tides,” Jia Zhang-Ke | China
    North American Premiere

    “Conclave,” Edward Berger | USA/United Kingdom
    International Premiere

    “Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard | France/USA/Mexico
    Canadian Premiere

    “Hard Truths,” Mike Leigh | United Kingdom/Spain
    World Premiere

    “Harvest,” Athina Rachel Tsangari | United Kingdom
    North American Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Heretic,” Scott Beck, Bryan Woods | Canada
    World Premiere

    “I’m Still Here,” Walter Salles | Brazil/France
    North American Premiere

    “I, the Executioner,” Ryoo Seung-wan | South Korea
    North American Premiere

    *“K-Pops,” Anderson .Paak | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Love in the Big City,” E.oni | South Korea
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Millers in Marriage,” Edward Burns | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Misericordia,” Alain Guiraudie | Spain/Portugal/France
    Canadian Premiere

    *“Nightbitch,” Marielle Heller | USA
    World Premiere

    “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl,” Rungano Nyoni | Zambia/United Kingdom/Ireland
    North American Premiere

    “Piece by Piece,” Morgan Neville | USA
    International Premiere

    “Quisling – The Final Days,” Erik Poppe | Norway
    International Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Relay,” David Mackenzie | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Rez Ball,” Sydney Freeland | USA
    World Premiere

    “Riff Raff,” Dito Montiel | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Rumours,” Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson | Canada/Germany
    North American Premiere

    “Sharp Corner,” Jason Buxton | Canada/Ireland
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“Shepherds,” Sophie Deraspe | Canada/France
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Sketch,” Seth Worley | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Assessment,” Fleur Fortuné | United Kingdom/Germany/USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Cut,” Sean Ellis | United Kingdom
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The End,” Joshua Oppenheimer | Denmark/UK
    Canadian Premiere

    “The Fire,” Inside Rachel Morrison | USA
    World Premiere

    “The Girl with the Needle,” Magnus von Horn | Denmark/Poland/Sweden
    North American Premiere

    “The Last Showgirl,” Gia Coppola | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    *“The Life of Chuck,” Mike Flanagan | USA
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “The Order,” Justin Kurzel | Canada/USA
    North American Premiere

    “The Piano Lesson,” Malcolm Washington | USA
    International Premiere

    *“We Live in Time,” John Crowley | United Kingdom/France
    World Premiere

    “Went Up the Hill,” Samuel Van Grinsven | New Zealand/Australia
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Without Blood,” Angelina Jolie | USA/Italy
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

    “Young Werther,” José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço | Canada
    World Premiere
    Sales Title – Rights Available

     

    Here are the Best Picture nominees that went to Toronto from the past 11 years:

    2023 – Special Presentations: American Fiction (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), The Zone of Interest

    2022 – Special Presentations: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans, Triangle of Sadness, Women Talking

    2021 – Gala Presentations: Belfast (People’s Choice Award 1st place); Special Presentations: Drive My Car, The Power of the Dog (People’s Choice Award 3rd place); Special Events: Dune

    2020 – Gala Presentations: Nomadland (People’s Choice Award 1st place); Special Presentations: The Father

    2019 – Gala Presentations: Ford v Ferrari, Joker; Special Presentations: Jojo Rabbit (People’s Choice award 1st place), Marriage Story (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), Parasite (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2018 – Gala Presentations: Green Book (People’s Choice Award 1st place), A Star is Born; Special Presentations: Roma (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2017 – Gala Presentations: Darkest Hour; Special Presentations: Call Me By Your Name (People’s Choice Award 3rd place), Lady Bird, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (People’s Choice Award 1st place)

    2016 – Gala Presentations: Arrival; Special Presentations: La La Land (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Lion (People’s Choice Award 2nd place), Manchester by the Sea; Platform: Moonlight

    2015 – Gala Presentations: The Martian; Special Presentations: Brooklyn, Room (People’s Choice Award winner), Spotlight (People’s Choice Award 3rd place)

    2014 – Special Presentations: The Imitation Game (People’s Choice Award 1st place), The Theory of Everything, Whiplash

    2013 – Special Presentations: 12 Years a Slave (People’s Choice Award 1st place), Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Philomena (People’s Choice Award 2nd place)

    Based on this, I think it’s reasonable to expect that four to five of the films playing at TIFF will end up as Best Picture nominees. I’m not confident on whether this year’s Best Picture winner will play at TIFF, but history says that at least two of this year’s top five contenders will play at Toronto. In terms of likelihood, the films from the competition slate that I think have a best chance of receiving a Picture nomination are, Anora, Conclave, Emilia Perez, The Piano Lesson, Hard Truths, I’m Still Here, and The End

  • Oscar Nominations 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Leads with 13

    Oscar Nominations 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Leads with 13

    With Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Editing nods, Oppenheimer is the clear frontrunner for Best Picture. Killers of the Flower Moon’s misses in Adapted Screenplay and Lead Actor makes it very unlikely that the film will win Best Picture. Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things is the only other film that was nominated for the quartet of Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Editing. In terms of Best Picture, watch out for PGA and SAG. If either of these guilds is won by a film other than Oppenheimer, we might see another film take Picture from Nolan’s film.

    Outside of the previously-mentioned miss for Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and Willem Dafoe were snubbed in the acting categories for their respective films. Greta Gerwig and Alexander Payne missed in Director and were replaced by BAFTA nominees Jonathan Glazer and Justine Triet. With Best Picture nominations for Anatomy of a Fall, Past Lives, and Barbie, this year saw the most number of female-directed films in the Best Picture lineup than ever before.

    Poor Things received 11 nominations, Killers of the Flower Moon received 10, Barbie received 8, and Maestro received 7. Read the full list of nominees below.

    Best motion picture of the year

    • “American Fiction” Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
    • “Anatomy of a Fall” Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
    • “Barbie” David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
    • “The Holdovers” Mark Johnson, Producer
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
    • “Maestro” Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
    • “Oppenheimer” Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers
    • “Past Lives” David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
    • “Poor Things” Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
    • “The Zone of Interest” James Wilson, Producer

    Achievement in directing

    • “Anatomy of a Fall” Justine Triet
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Martin Scorsese
    • “Oppenheimer” Christopher Nolan
    • “Poor Things” Yorgos Lanthimos
    • “The Zone of Interest” Jonathan Glazer

    Performance by an actor in a leading role

    • Bradley Cooper in “Maestro”
    • Colman Domingo in “Rustin”
    • Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers”
    • Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer”
    • Jeffrey Wright in “American Fiction”

    Performance by an actor in a supporting role

    • Sterling K. Brown in “American Fiction”
    • Robert De Niro in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
    • Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer”
    • Ryan Gosling in “Barbie”
    • Mark Ruffalo in “Poor Things”

    Performance by an actress in a leading role

    • Annette Bening in “Nyad”
    • Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
    • Sandra Hüller in “Anatomy of a Fall”
    • Carey Mulligan in “Maestro”
    • Emma Stone in “Poor Things”

    Performance by an actress in a supporting role

    • Emily Blunt in “Oppenheimer”
    • Danielle Brooks in “The Color Purple”
    • America Ferrera in “Barbie”
    • Jodie Foster in “Nyad”
    • Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers”

    Adapted screenplay

    • “American Fiction” Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson
    • “Barbie” Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
    • “Oppenheimer” Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan
    • “Poor Things” Screenplay by Tony McNamara
    • “The Zone of Interest” Written by Jonathan Glazer

    Original screenplay

    • “Anatomy of a Fall”Screenplay – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
    • “The Holdovers”Written by David Hemingson
    • “Maestro”Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
    • “May December”Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik
    • “Past Lives”Written by Celine Song

    Achievement in film editing

    • “Anatomy of a Fall” Laurent Sénéchal
    • “The Holdovers” Kevin Tent
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Thelma Schoonmaker
    • “Oppenheimer” Jennifer Lame
    • “Poor Things” Yorgos Mavropsaridis

    Achievement in cinematography

    • “El Conde” Edward Lachman
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Rodrigo Prieto
    • “Maestro” Matthew Libatique
    • “Oppenheimer” Hoyte van Hoytema
    • “Poor Things” Robbie Ryan

    Achievement in costume design

    • “Barbie” Jacqueline Durran
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Jacqueline West
    • “Napoleon” Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
    • “Oppenheimer” Ellen Mirojnick
    • “Poor Things” Holly Waddington

    Achievement in production design

    • “Barbie” Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
    • “Napoleon” Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff
    • “Oppenheimer” Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman
    • “Poor Things” Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

    • “American Fiction” Laura Karpman
    • “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” John Williams
    • “Killers of the Flower Moon” Robbie Robertson
    • “Oppenheimer” Ludwig Göransson
    • “Poor Things” Jerskin Fendrix

    Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

    • “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot”
      Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
    • “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie”
      Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
    • “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony”
      Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson
    • “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon”
      Music and Lyric by Scott George
    • “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”
      Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

    Achievement in sound

    • “The Creator” Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
    • “Maestro” Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
    • “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
    • “Oppenheimer” Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell
    • “The Zone of Interest” Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn

    Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

    • “Golda” Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby and Ashra Kelly-Blue
    • “Maestro” Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou and Lori McCoy-Bell
    • “Oppenheimer” Luisa Abel
    • “Poor Things” Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston
    • “Society of the Snow” Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí and Montse Ribé

    Achievement in visual effects

    • “The Creator” Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould
    • “Godzilla Minus One” Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima
    • “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Theo Bialek
    • “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould
    • “Napoleon” Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould

    Best animated feature film of the year

    • “The Boy and the Heron” Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki
    • “Elemental” Peter Sohn and Denise Ream
    • “Nimona” Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary
    • “Robot Dreams” Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz
    • “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal

    Best documentary feature film

    • “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp and John Battsek
    • “The Eternal Memory” Nominees to be determined
    • “Four Daughters” Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha
    • “To Kill a Tiger” Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim
    • “20 Days in Mariupol” Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath

    Best international feature film of the year

    • “Io Capitano” Italy
    • “Perfect Days” Japan
    • “Society of the Snow” Spain
    • “The Teachers’ Lounge” Germany
    • “The Zone of Interest” United Kingdom

    Best animated short film

    • “Letter to a Pig” Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter
    • “Ninety-Five Senses” Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess
    • “Our Uniform” Yegane Moghaddam
    • “Pachyderme” Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius
    • “WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” Dave Mullins and Brad Booker

    Best documentary short film

    • “The ABCs of Book Banning” Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic
    • “The Barber of Little Rock” John Hoffman and Christine Turner
    • “Island in Between” S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien
    • “The Last Repair Shop” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
    • “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” Sean Wang and Sam Davis

    Best live action short film

    • “The After” Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham
    • “Invincible” Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron
    • “Knight of Fortune” Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk
    • “Red, White and Blue” Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane
    • “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” Wes Anderson and Steven Rales
  • BAFTA Nominations 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Leads With 13; ‘KOTFM’ and ‘Barbie’ Falter in Major Categories

    BAFTA Nominations 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Leads With 13; ‘KOTFM’ and ‘Barbie’ Falter in Major Categories

    Both Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things performed well at this year’s BAFTA nominations receiving 13 and 11 nominations respectively. Both Killers of the Flower Moon and Barbie missed in major categories. The Scorsese film missed in Director, Lead Actress, and Lead Actor. Lead Actress is especially concerning for Lily Gladstone’s chances at the Oscars. After losing to Emma Stone at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Gladstone needs a SAG win to take the Oscar. Barbie missed in Best Film, Best Director, and many of the below-the-line categories. However, there’s also a point to be made that Killers of the Flower Moon and Barbie have aspects to them that would appeal to American audiences in comparison to British audiences. Killers of the Flower Moon is very specifically dealing with American colonialism and Barbie dolls don’t have the same level of popularity in the UK as they do in the United States.

    Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, and All of Us Strangers found success across the board spelling good prospects for their chances with the Academy.

    Here is the full list of BAFTA nominees:

    BEST FILM

    “Anatomy of a Fall” — Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion
    “The Holdovers” — Mark Johnson
    “Killers of the Flower Moon” — Dan Friedkin, Daniel Lupi, Martin Scorsese, Bradley Thomas
    “Oppenheimer” — Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas
    “Poor Things” — Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone

    DIRECTOR

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    “All of Us Strangers,” Andrew Haigh
    “Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet
    “The Holdovers,” Alexander Payne
    “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper
    “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan
    “The Zone of Interest,” Jonathan Glazer

    SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer”
    Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple”
    Claire Foy, “All of Us Strangers”
    Sandra Hüller, “The Zone of Interest,”
    Rosamund Pike, “Saltburn”
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

    SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
    Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”
    Jacob Elordi, “Saltburn”
    Ryan Gosling, “Barbie”
    Paul Mescal, “All of Us Strangers”
    Dominic Sessa, “The Holdovers”

    LEADING ACTRESS

    Fantasia Barrino, “The Color Purple”
    Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall”
    Carey Mulligan, “Maestro”
    Vivian Oparah, “Rye Lane”
    Margot Robbie, “Barbie”
    Emma Stone, “Poor Things”

    LEADING ACTOR

    Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”
    Colman Domingo, “Rustin”
    Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”
    Barry Keoghan, “Saltburn”
    Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
    Teo Yoo, “Past Lives”

    OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

    “All of Us Strangers” — Andrew Haigh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey
    “How to Have Sex” — Molly Manning Walker, Emily Leo, Ivana MacKinnon, Konstantinos Kontovrakis
    “Napoleon” — Ridley Scott, Mark Huffam, Kevin J. Walsh, David Scarpa
    “The Old Oak” — Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien, Paul Laverty
    “Poor Things” — Yorgos Lanthimos, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Stone, Tony McNamara
    “Rye Lane” — Raine Allen-Miller, Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo, Damian Jones, Nathan Bryon, Tom Melia
    “Saltburn” — Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie
    “Scrapper” — Charlotte Regan, Theo Barrowclough
    “Wonka” — Paul King, Alexandra Derbyshire, David Heyman, Simon Farnaby
    “The Zone of Interest” — Jonathan Glazer, James Wilson, Ewa Puszczyńska

    OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

    “Blue Bag Life” — Lisa Selby (director), Rebecca Lloyd-Evans (director, producer), Alex Fry (producer)
    “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” — Christopher Sharp (director) [also directed by Moses Bwayo]
    “Earth Mama” — Savanah Leaf (writer, director, producer), Shirley O’Connor (producer), Medb Riordan (producer)
    “How to Have Sex” — Molly Manning Walker (writer, director)
    “Is There Anybody Out There?” — Ella Glendining (director)

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    “Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
    “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
    “The Holdovers,” David Hemingson
    “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
    “Past Lives,” Celine Song

    ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    “All of Us Strangers,” Andrew Haigh
    “American Fiction,” Cord Jefferson
    “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan
    “Poor Things,” Tony McNamara
    “The Zone of Interest,” Jonathan Glazer

    FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

    “20 Days in Mariupol” — Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath
    “Anatomy of a Fall” — Justine Triet, Marie-Ange Luciani, David Thion
    “Past Lives” — Celine Song, David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon
    “Society of the Snow” — J.A. Bayona, Belen Atienza
    “The Zone of Interest” — Jonathan Glazer

    ANIMATED FILM

    “The Boy and the Heron” — Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki
    “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” — Sam Fell, Leyla Hobart, Steve Pegram
    “Elemental” — Peter Sohn, Denise Ream
    “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” — Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Avi Arad, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, Christina Steinberg

    DOCUMENTARY

    “20 Days in Mariupol” — Mstyslav Chernov, Raney Aronson Rath
    “American Symphony” — Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino, Joedan Okun
    “Beyond Utopia” — Madeleine Gavin, Rachel Cohen, Jana Edelbaum
    “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” — Davis Guggenheim, Jonathan King, Annetta Marion
    “Wham!” — Chris Smith

    CASTING

    “All of Us Strangers” — Kahleen Crawford
    “Anatomy of a Fall” — Cynthia Arra
    “The Holdovers” — Susan Shopmaker
    “How to Have Sex” — Isabella Odoffin
    “Killers of the Flower Moon” — Ellen Lewis, Rene Haynes

    CINEMATOGRAPHY

    “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Rodrigo Prieto
    “Maestro,” Matthew Libatique
    “Oppenheimer,” Hoyte van Hoytema
    “Poor Things,” Robbie Ryan
    “The Zone of Interest,” Łukasz Żal

    EDITING

    “Anatomy of a Fall,” Laurent Sénéchal
    “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Thelma Schoonmaker
    “Oppenheimer,” Jennifer Lame
    “Poor Things,” Yorgos Mavropsaridis
    “The Zone of Interest,” Paul Watts

    COSTUME DESIGN

    “Barbie,” Jacqueline Durran
    “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Jacqueline West
    “Napoleon,” Dave Crossman, Janty Yates
    “Oppenheimer,” Ellen Mirojnick
    “Poor Things,” Holly Waddington

    MAKEUP & HAIR

    “Killers of the Flower Moon” — Kay Georgiou, Thomas Nellen
    “Maestro” — Sian Grigg, Kay Georgiou, Kazu Hiro, Lori McCoy-Bell
    “Napoleon” — Jana Carboni, Francesco Pegoretti, Satinder Chumber, Julia Vernon
    “Oppenheimer” — Luisa Abel, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, Jason Hamer, Ahou Mofid
    “Poor Things” — Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier, Josh Weston

    ORIGINAL SCORE

    “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Robbie Robertson
    “Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson
    “Poor Things,” Jerskin Fendrix
    “Saltburn,” Anthony Willis
    “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” Daniel Pemberton

    PRODUCTION DESIGN

    “Barbie” — Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
    “Killers of the Flower Moon” — Jack Fisk, Adam Willis
    “Oppenheimer” — Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman
    “Poor Things” — Shona Heath, James Price, Zsuzsa Mihalek
    “The Zone of Interest” — Chris Oddy, Joanna Maria Kuś, Katarzyna Sikora

    SOUND

    “Ferrari” — Angelo Bonanni, Tony Lamberti, Andy Nelson, Lee Orloff, Bernard Weiser
    “Maestro” — Richard King, Steve Morrow, Tom Ozanich, Jason Ruder, Dean Zupancic
    “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” — Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Chris Munro, Mark Taylor
    “Oppenheimer” — Willie Burton, Richard King, Kevin O’Connell, Gary A. Rizzo
    “The Zone of Interest” — Johnnie Burn, Tarn Willers

    SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

    “The Creator” — Jonathan Bullock, Charmaine Chan, Ian Comley, Jay Cooper
    “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” — Theo Bialek, Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams
    “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” — Neil Corbould, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland, Alex Wuttke
    “Napoleon” — Henry Badgett, Neil Corbould, Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet
    “Poor Things” — Simon Hughes

    BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

    “Crab Day” — Ross Stringer, Bartosz Stanislawek, Aleksandra Sykulak
    “Visible Mending” — Samantha Moore, Tilley Bancroft
    “Wild Summon” — Karni Arieli, Saul Freed, Jay Woolley

    BRITISH SHORT FILM

    “Festival of Slaps” — Abdou Cissé, Cheri Darbon, George Telfer
    “Gorka” — Joe Weiland, Alex Jefferson
    “Jellyfish and Lobster” — Yasmin Afifi, Elizabeth Rufai
    “Such a Lovely Day” — Simon Woods, Polly Stokes, Emma Norton, Kate Phibbs
    “Yellow” — Elham Ehsas, Dina Mousawi, Azeem Bhati, Yiannis Manolopoulos

    EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

    Phoebe Dynevor
    Ayo Edebiri
    Jacob Elordi
    Mia McKenna-Bruce
    Sophie Wilde

  • Golden Globes 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins 5, ‘Succession’ 4

    Golden Globes 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins 5, ‘Succession’ 4

    The Golden Globes saw big success for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The Universal film won Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Drama. Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Nolan, and composer Ludwig Goransson will all most likely repeat their Globe success with Academy success.

    Barbie showed itself to be a lot weaker at the Globes than many thought it would be. While the film was the nominations leader, it lost Best Comedy/Musical to Poor Things and Best Screenplay to Anatomy of a Fall. Interestingly enough, Anatomy of a Fall was the only nominee in that category that wasn’t also nominated in Best Director.

    On the TV side, Succession, The Bear, and Beef swept the categories specific to their genre. As a result, there wasn’t much variety here.

    Here is the full list of winners:

    Best Motion Picture – Drama

    Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)
    Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films)
    Maestro (Netflix)
    Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures) (WINNER)
    Past Lives (A24)
    The Zone of Interest (A24)

    Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Air (Amazon MGM Studios)
    American Fiction (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
    Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    The Holdovers (Focus Features)
    May December (Netflix)
    Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures) (WINNER)

    Best Motion Picture – Animated

    The Boy and the Heron (GKids) (WINNER)
    Elemental (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
    The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures)
    Suzume (Crunchyroll / Sony Pictures Entertainment)
    Wish (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

    Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

    Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures) (WINNER)
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
    John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate)
    Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount Pictures)
    Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
    The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures)
    Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (AMC Theatres Distribution)

    Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

    Anatomy of a Fall, France (Neon) (WINNER)
    Fallen Leaves, Finland (Mubi)
    Io Capitano, Italy (Pathe Distribution)
    Past Lives, United States (A24)
    Society of the Snow, Spain (Netflix)
    The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom/USA (A24)

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Colman Domingo, Rustin
    Barry Keoghan, Saltburn
    Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer (WINNER)
    Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Annette Bening, Nyad
    Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon (WINNER)
    Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
    Greta Lee, Past Lives
    Carey Mulligan, Maestro
    Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
    Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
    Natalie Portman, May December
    Alma Pöysti, Fallen Leaves
    Margot Robbie, Barbie
    Emma Stone, Poor Things (WINNER)

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Nicolas Cage, Dream Scenario
    Timothée Chalamet, Wonka
    Matt Damon, Air
    Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers (WINNER)
    Joaquin Phoenix, Beau Is Afraid
    Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

    Willem Dafoe, Poor Things
    Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer (WINNER)
    Ryan Gosling, Barbie
    Charles Melton, May December
    Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

    Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
    Jodie Foster, Nyad
    Julianne Moore, May December
    Rosamund Pike, Saltburn
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers (WINNER)

    Best Director — Motion Picture

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Greta Gerwig, Barbie
    Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer (WINNER)
    Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Celine Song, Past Lives

    Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

    Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, Barbie
    Tony McNamara, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Celine Song, Past Lives
    Justine Triet, Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall (WINNER)

    Best Original Song – Motion Picture

    “Addicted to Romance,” She Came to Me, Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
    “Dance the Night,” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin
    “I’m Just Ken,” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt
    “Peaches,” The Super Mario Bros. Move, Music and lyrics by Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond, John Spiker
    “Road to Freedom,” Rustin, Music and lyrics by Lenny Kravitz
    “What Was I Made For?” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish O’Connell, Finneas O’Connell (WINNER)

    Best Original Score – Motion Picture

    Jerskin Fendrix, Poor Things
    Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer (WINNER)
    Joe Hisaishi, The Boy and the Heron
    Mica Levi, The Zone of Interest
    Daniel Pemberton, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
    Robbie Robertson, Killers of the Flower Moon

    Best Television Series – Drama

    1923 (Paramount+)
    The Crown (Netflix)
    The Diplomat (Netflix)
    The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
    The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
    Succession (HBO/Max) (WINNER)

    Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Abbott Elementary (ABC)
    Barry (HBO/Max)
    The Bear (FX) (WINNER)
    Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
    Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
    Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

    Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

    All the Light We Cannot See (Netflix)
    Beef (Netflix) (WINNER)
    Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
    Fargo (FX)
    Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
    Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama

    Helen Mirren, 1923
    Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
    Keri Russell, The Diplomat
    Sarah Snook, Succession (WINNER)
    Imelda Staunton, The Crown
    Emma Stone, The Curse

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama

    Brian Cox, Succession
    Kieran Culkin, Succession (WINNER)
    Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
    Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
    Jeremy Strong, Succession
    Dominic West, The Crown

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
    Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
    Ayo Edebiri, The Bear (WINNER)
    Elle Fanning, The Great
    Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
    Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Bill Hader, Barry
    Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
    Jason Segel, Shrinking
    Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
    Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
    Jeremy Allen White, The Bear (WINNER)

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

    Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six
    Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
    Elizabeth Olsen, Love & Death
    Juno Temple, Fargo
    Rachel Weisz, Dead Ringers
    Ali Wong, Beef (WINNER)

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

    Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
    Sam Claflin, Daisy Jones & the Six
    Jon Hamm, Fargo
    Woody Harrelson, White House Plumbers
    David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves
    Steven Yeun, Beef (WINNER)

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

    Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown (WINNER)
    Abby Elliott, The Bear
    Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets
    J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
    Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
    Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

    Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
    Matthew Macfadyen, Succession (WINNER)
    James Marsden, Jury Duty
    Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
    Alan Ruck, Succession
    Alexander Skarsgard, Succession

    Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

    Ricky Gervais, Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (WINNER)
    Trevor Noah, Trevor Noah: Where Was I
    Chris Rock, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
    Amy Schumer, Amy Schumer: Emergency Contact
    Sarah Silverman, Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love
    Wanda Sykes, Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • My Ten Favorite Films of 2023

    My Ten Favorite Films of 2023

    As we bid farewell to another year, it’s time to reflect on the cinematic gems that have graced the silver screen in 2023. This year, the world of film experienced what has probably been its best year since the COVID-19 pandemic, with directors pushing boundaries and crafting narratives that left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness. In this article, I list my top 10 favorite films of the year, each a testament to the creativity and innovation that defined 2023. 

    Before delving into the main list, let’s acknowledge my five honorable mentions: The Holdovers, Bottoms, Nimona, Pacifiction, and BlackBerry. These films, while not making it to the top 10, epitomize the wealth and variety of great content this year gave us. In any other year, they might have easily secured a spot on my top 10 list. This year has undeniably been a cinematic feast, and the following films encapsulate the essence of why 2023 stands as a hallmark year for film enthusiasts

    Disclaimer: I have yet to see Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Hirokazu Koreeda’s Monster, or Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction, all of which are some of this year’s most acclaimed films

     

    10. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER FOUR

    ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (Paramount)

    With neon-drenched interiors, hyper-stylized gun fu action, and an ever-watchable Keanu Reeves, this final installment of the John Wick franchise has everything fans loved about the first three. So why does this one top them all? Well it turns everything up to 11, the neon is more neon, the stakes are higher than ever, and the set pieces are some of the most visually striking in recent action cinema. With references to everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Guardians of the Galaxy, director Chad Stahelski throws everything at the wall and so much of it sticks, making for the best film of this past decade’s “Keanussaince”. The ensemble cast featuring Bill Skarsgard, Donnie Yen, pop star Rina Sawayama, and the fan favorite Lance Reddick in one of his final performances all turn in great work that help give the film dramatic and emotional heft.

    Where to Watch: Starz

     

    9. THE BOY AND THE HERON

    ‘The Boy and the Heron’ (Studio Ghibli)

    Possibly the greatest director the world of animation has ever seen, Hayao Miyazaki is an indisputable giant of cinema. And with The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki has finally made his swan song. The film is a fitting end to his illustrious career, functioning as a metaphor for him grappling with finally leaving the wondrous fantastical worlds of Studio Ghibli behind once and for all. Miyazaki works at a slower pace than usual here, taking care to immerse us in the small oddities of the world he creates. It’s also one of the anime legend’s more ambiguous films, leaving many things unsaid and up to interpretation. Like always with Miyazaki, the film is a visual treat and a wonder to see on the big screen.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    8. OPPENHEIMER

    ‘Oppenheimer’ (Universal)

    When people look back to the state of film in 2023, they’ll inevitably acknowledge the phenomenon that Barbenheimer was. One of the greatest opening weekends in film history and a bonafide pop culture event, Barbenheimer has truly brought theaters back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Oppenheimer’s box office success is, on the surface, mind-boggling. A 3-hour long rated-R biopic about a nuclear physicist, half of which is in black and white, made just under a billion dollars at the worldwide box office? And, somehow, Oppenheimer lives up to the hype. Over 180 minutes, Christopher Nolan’s relentless pace never lets up, forcing its audience into the world of political machinations, path-breaking science, and tremendous guilt that J. Robert Oppenheimer was embroiled in. 

    My Review

    Where to Watch: Rent or Buy

     

    7. MAY DECEMBER

    ‘May December’ (Netflix)

    With Far From Heaven and his work at large, Todd Haynes has made no secret of his fascination with the melodramas of Douglas Sirk. And with May December, Haynes brings a Sirkian examination of societal stigmas, family dynamics, and traditional filmmaking tropes to the modern world. When it comes to his recent narrative work, May December is a welcome return to form for Haynes. It’s a film that works as a study of performance itself, bolstered by reliable work from legends Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, and by a revelatory Charles Melton, who deservedly has won critics’ awards left and right for his role in the film. Along with filmmakers like Pedro Almodovar and Kenneth Lonergan, Todd Haynes is undoubtedly one of the best artists bringing melodrama into the 21st century.

    Where to Watch: Netflix

     

    6. GODZILLA MINUS ONE

    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (Toho)

    Who would have thought that this year’s Godzilla movie would be the most compellingly life-affirming movie of the year? From director and visual effects artist Takashi Yamazaki, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ transcends the typical monster blockbuster, delivering a poignant narrative that may have you shed a tear or two. Yamazaki masterfully combines awe-inspiring visual effects with a surprisingly tender exploration of the human spirit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The film strikes a delicate balance between thrilling monster mayhem and genuine emotional resonance, making it a standout entry in the Godzilla franchise. With emotionally-charged action and standout performances from the cast, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ proves that even in the darkest of times there are reasons to keep living.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    5. PAST LIVES

    ‘Past Lives’ (A24)

    A deeply empathetic film that owes a lot to Wong Kar-Wai romances yet never feels too beholden to them, Celine Song’s debut feature is simply beautiful. Past Lives follows Nora and Hae Sung as fate forces them to cross paths time and time again. This is a film with no villains and Song’s refreshing love for her characters makes the film resonate all the more powerfully. And it’s a deceptive power. Past Lives is a simple film that doesn’t try to yell its emotions across. But through stunning cinematography, a trio of passionate performances, a touching score, and a devastating screenplay, Song’s film seeps inside of you and simmers within long after the credits roll.

    My Review

    Where to Watch: Rent or Buy

     

    4. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (Sony)

    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ swings into the cinematic landscape with the same groundbreaking animation and narrative ingenuity that made its predecessor a superhero genre game-changer. Building on the success of ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ this sequel takes the multiverse concept to new heights, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. The film effortlessly blends humor, heart, and high-stakes action as it navigates the complexities of multiple Spider-People and their interconnected destinies. The animation remains a jaw-dropping spectacle, with each frame a vibrant work of art that captures the essence of comic book storytelling. Beyond the stunning visuals, the narrative unfolds with unexpected depth, exploring themes of identity, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of different Spider-Beings. ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ not only lives up to its predecessor but propels the animated superhero genre into exhilarating new dimensions, setting a high standard for future comic book adaptations.

    Where to Watch: Netflix

     

    3. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

    ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (Apple TV+)

    The winner of Best Film at the National Board of Review and at the New York Film Critics Circle, you don’t need me to tell you how spectacular Martin Scorsese’s latest is. Boasting phenomenal performances from Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Scorsese’s best film since The Departed and quite possibly one of the most sensitively human films he’s made. All the auteur’s classic themes are present: greed, American capitalism, corruption, secrets and lies, but are laid bare with an unmistakably beating heart. It’s one of his most explicitly political works, calling out the way the sins of the American past are sanitized and treated as entertainment.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters or Rent or Buy

     

    2. ANATOMY OF A FALL

    ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (NEON)

    Justine Triet’s Palme D’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall is not a movie that provides easy answers. It questions the nature of truth itself, taking a step beyond ambiguity to ask whether truth is something worth pursuing. Should we decide our own truth — and do we have any choice but to? Triet traverses these questions in a way that is unwaveringly engaging and effortlessly weaves philosophical ideas into the fabric of a courtroom nailbiter. Triet’s stellar screenwriting and lead actress Sandra Huller’s vulnerable work are truly at the heart of this film, contributing to what may be my favorite film of the year.

    My Review

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

     

    1. POOR THINGS

    ‘Poor Things’ (Searchlight)

    A film about a woman coming into her own, destroying the patriarchy every step of the way, with existential themes about what our purpose is? No I’m not talking about Barbie, I’m referring to what might be the Greek Weird Wave master Yorgos Lanthimos’s best film: Poor Things. Poor Things is simultaneously one of the funniest and most excitingly life-affirming movies of the year, combining pitch black comedy, marvelous steampunk visuals, and a career-best performance from Emma Stone in what may be this year’s finest acting work. Bella Baxter is a beautifully-realized character and we follow her through every step of her development as she learns the ways of the world and has life-changing experiences. Stone charts this development with subtle nuance, you’ll leave the film wanting to see more of her and Bella Baxter.

    Where to Watch: In Theaters

  • ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Going to Win Best Picture

    ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Going to Win Best Picture

    Though it was never intentional, attempting to call the season’s eventual Best Picture winner in December has become a tradition for me. Last year, however, it was a lot easier. Everything Everywhere All at Once was the clear winner throughout the season and it had little real competition. This year, I can see compelling cases for three films: Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, and Poor Things. I can envision worlds where all three of these films could eventually win Oscar’s top prize. Of course, only one film can triumph, and I think it will be Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

    As I’ve mentioned in multiple previous posts, the modern Best Picture winner is one that can both garner broad audience support and be socioculturally relevant. All three films fit these two requirements. All three films have IMDb scores of at least 7.9, Letterboxd scores of at least 4.2, and Metascores of at least 87. ‘Killers’ is about American imperialism and the racism and inequity woven into the fabric of the country’s history. Oppenheimer is an anti-war film that despairs over the nuclear age the world has been thrust into. Poor Things deals with womanhood, femininity, and coming into one’s own individuality despite rigid societal pressures. All relevant messages, though of the three, expect ‘Killers’ and Poor Things to be praised more for their social commentary than Oppenheimer.

    ‘Oppenheimer’ (Universal)

    Oppenheimer does consider the consequences of its titular character’s actions. The physicist’s guilt is the emotional and psychological core of the film. Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer is a man wracked with immense guilt over the destruction, death, and devastation he had a major hand in causing. The film is critical of the American government and what it did during and after its attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, the film has and will be criticized for its lack of Japanese voices. Yes, in the film, when the news of the bomb’s deployment reaches Oppenheimer, we hear the cries of those in the midst of a nuclear attack. But many argue the film fails to “fully grapple with the destructive reality of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki”. Additionally, by creating this film, intentionally or unintentionally, Nolan has made the man responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb something between a hero and a pop culture phenomenon, which leaves a bad taste in many mouths of those who abhor the human devastation Oppenheimer’s actions wreaked on the world. Yes, Best Picture winners have been controversial, Green Book is one of the most recent examples of this. But unlike Green Book which had major supporters behind it like Octavia Spencer that helped relieve some Academy members’ concerns over it being problematic, Oppenheimer does not have any Japanese voices behind or in front of the camera in a major way.

    ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (Apple TV+)

    In contrast to Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon is a three-hour historical drama from one of the most-acclaimed filmmakers of the 21st century that DOES attempt to directly confront American atrocities. The indigenous people of the United States are at the heart of this film. They’re behind the camera, they’re in front of the camera, and they’re at the very heart of this film. The film ultimately serves as a plea to tell the stories of American history not as riveting sensationalia but as what they are: atrocities against human beings. That, however, doesn’t mean that the film is without controversy. The film has been criticized for centering Leonardo DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart as the main focus of the film instead of Lily Gladstone’s Mollie or any of the other members of the Osage Nation who were directly affected by the murders.

    ‘Poor Things’ (Searchlight)

    Essentially, both films have stirred controversy for centering white men with blood on their hands at the core of narratives depicting the United States’ atrocities. If both films get embroiled in controversy, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things is exactly the kind of offbeat dark horse player that can rise to the top in their stead. However, I doubt that Killers of the Flower Moon will face as much criticism as Oppenheimer will. Like 2019’s Picture winner Green Book, 2018 contender Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri faced controversy for its story’s redemption of a racist character played by Sam Rockwell. However, unlike Green Book, ‘Billboards’ was not able to tread past its controversy into the sea of victory, in part due to the fact that the film featured predominantly white people in front of and behind the camera. Essentially, I believe Killers of the Flower Moon will have a much easier time staving off controversy than Oppenheimer will, but I think there’s a possibility Oppenheimer might just be too powerful and withstand any and all negative attention.

    ‘Barbie’ (Warner Bros.)

    Barbenheimer will undoubtedly go down as one of the defining cinematic moments of the 2020s. Both Barbie and Oppenheimer are undoubtedly two of this season’s top five Best Picture contenders, both bolstered by their massive box office success. According to Wikipedia, “Barbenheimer boosted box office values to their highest point since 2019…Summer 2023 film releases featured underperformances from franchise films, bucking a 10-year run of the highest-grossing summer movies being sequels.” The success of these films is seen by many in the industry as a triumph of auteur-driven cinema over franchise movie blockbusters. Filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese have expressed how Barbenheimer makes them hopeful about the future of Hollywood cinema. To many, Barbenheimer is emblematic of the film industry finally bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic. This has arguably been the best year for cinema since 2019 and Barbenheimer epitomizes that for many. That narrative will be incredibly beneficial for both Barbie and Oppenheimer and both are poised to receive multiple Oscars and double-digit nominations from the Academy.

    But is this narrative enough for Oppenheimer to win Best Picture? Prior to 2015 I think it would’ve been, but now, when the Academy seems to be committed to rewarding films they believe to be “socially relevant”, Oppenheimer needs more. And to clarify my own position, I think it’s a good thing that the Academy of today wants to reward socioculturally relevant films. Whether they end up actually rewarding films that tackle issues with complexity, compellingness, and nuance is definitely up for debate (*cough* Green Book *cough*), but nevertheless, I believe the Academy of recent years has spotlighted films that are deserving of that attention AND shed light on issues that more people should be thinking about.

    The bottom line for me is that if you were asked to explain in one sentence what Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon were about, only one of those explanations would be guaranteed to contain a theme the Academy would consider to be sociopolitically relevant. You can’t talk about Killers of the Flower Moon without mentioning its discourse on American imperialism and atrocities against indigenous people. For many people, Oppenheimer is just the story of the man who made the atomic bomb. That’s the difference, Oppenheimer’s sociopolitical content isn’t as close to the core of the power of the film as it is for Killers of the Flower Moon.

    Predicting anything three months ahead is a foolish effort. Anything can happen in the time between now and Oscar night on March 10th. There’s a good possibility that my final predictions won’t have Killers of the Flower Moon winning it all. But at this point in the race, I think it makes sense for Killers of the Flower Moon to be this year’s Best Picture winner. I also think that as a film dealing with a state’s violent occupation of an indigenous people, it is deeply relevant to what’s happening in the world today.

    If ‘Killers’ wins Best Picture, expect wins for Lily Gladstone in Best Actress and Eric Roth and Scorsese in Adapted Screenplay. I think that while Scorsese winning Director is a possibility, Nolan should still be able to win that category. Best Actor will go to Cillian Murphy, Supporting Actor to Robert Downey Jr., Supporting Actress to Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Original Screenplay to Past Lives, Cinematography to Oppenheimer, Editing to Oppenheimer, Score to Oppenheimer, and Sound to Oppenheimer. If these predictions come to fruition, Oppenheimer will take seven Oscars without winning Best Picture. While that sounds unlikely, there is precedent for this. 2013’s Gravity won seven Oscars and 2016’s La La Land won six without winning the night’s biggest prize.

    In the end, as audiences eagerly await the unfolding of cinematic history on Oscar night, the ultimate victor remains uncertain. The beauty of the Oscars lies in their ability to surprise, challenge, and honor the diverse narratives that captivate audiences worldwide. Only time will reveal which film will etch its place in the annals of cinema as the Best Picture of the year.

     

     

  • Critics Choice Nominations: ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Poor Things’ Lead; ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is Snubbed

    Critics Choice Nominations: ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Poor Things’ Lead; ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is Snubbed

    This year’s Critics Choice Awards saw a glaring lack of nomination for non-English language features outside of the “Foreign Language” category. Both Anatomy of a Fall and LAFCA Best Film winner The Zone of Interest were snubbed from Best Picture. ‘Anatomy”s stars Sandra Huller and Milo Machado Graner received nods but the film missed in Original Screenplay and Editing.

    The Color Purple rebounded from its Golden Globe miss with a Best Picture nomination here, something it needed to even have a chance at a Best Picture nomination. Saltburn also made it into Best Picture and also received nods in Cinematography and Production Design.

    With the massive snubs for across the board for both major international contenders Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest, I doubt that they will mean much for the Oscar race. The Academy has diverged greatly from the Critics Chouce Awards in their acknowledgement of international films in recent years, so this should not be too concerning. However, with the inclusion of The Color Purple in the Best Picture slate, there are now eleven films that I think have a realistic chance at an Oscar Best Picture nod: Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, Barbie, The Holdovers, Past Lives, American Fiction, Maestro, Anatomy of a Fall, The Color Purple, and The Zone of Interest. Either The Color Purple or The Zone of Interest will miss, time will tell which one.

    Here are the Critics’ Choice Award nominees:

    Best Picture

    American Fiction
    Barbie
    The Color Purple
    The Holdovers
    Killers of the Flower Moon
    Maestro
    Oppenheimer
    Past Lives
    Poor Things
    Saltburn

    Best Actor

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Colman Domingo, Rustin
    Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
    Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
    Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

    Best Actress

    Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
    Greta Lee, Past Lives
    Carey Mulligan, Maestro
    Margot Robbie, Barbie
    Emma Stone, Poor Things

    Best Supporting Actor

    Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
    Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
    Ryan Gosling, Barbie
    Charles Melton, May December
    Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

    Best Supporting Actress

    Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
    America Ferrera, Barbie
    Jodie Foster, Nyad
    Julianne Moore, May December
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

    Best Young Actor/Actress

    Abby Ryder Fortson, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
    Ariana Greenblatt, Barbie
    Calah Lane, Wonka
    Milo Machado Graner, Anatomy of a Fall
    Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers
    Madeleine Yuna Voyles, The Creator

    Best Acting Ensemble

    Air
    Barbie
    The Color Purple
    The Holdovers
    Killers of the Flower Moon
    Oppenheimer

    Best Director

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Greta Gerwig, Barbie
    Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Alexander Payne, The Holdovers
    Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    Kelly Fremon Craig, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
    Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
    Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
    Tony McNamara, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon

    Best Original Screenplay

    Samy Burch, May December
    Alex Convery, Air
    Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer, Maestro
    Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, Barbie
    David Hemingson, The Holdovers
    Celine Song, Past Lives

    Best Cinematography

    Matthew Libatique, Maestro
    Rodrigo Prieto, Barbie
    Rodrigo Prieto, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Robbie Ryan, Poor Things
    Linus Sandgren, Saltburn
    Hoyte van Hoytema, Oppenheimer

    Best Production Design

    Suzie Davies, Charlotte Dirickx, Saltburn
    Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman, Oppenheimer
    Jack Fisk, Adam Willis, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Barbie
    James Price, Shona Heath, Szusza Mihalek, Poor Things
    Adam Stockhausen, Kris Moran, Asteroid City

    Best Editing

    William Goldenberg – Air
    Nick Houy – Barbie
    Jennifer Lame – Oppenheimer
    Yorgos Mavropsaridis – Poor Things
    Thelma Schoonmaker – Killers of the Flower Moon
    Michelle Tesoro – Maestro

    Best Costume Design

    Jacqueline Durran, Barbie
    Lindy Hemming, Wonka
    Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, The Color Purple
    Holly Waddington, Poor Things
    Jacqueline West, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Janty Yates, David Crossman, Napoleon

    Best Hair and Makeup

    Barbie
    The Color Purple
    Maestro
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things
    Priscilla

    Best Visual Effects

    The Creator
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
    Oppenheimer
    Poor Things
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

    Best Comedy

    American Fiction
    Barbie
    Bottoms
    The Holdovers
    No Hard Feelings
    Poor Things

    Best Animated Film

    The Boy and the Heron
    Elemental
    Nimona
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
    Wish

    Best Foreign Language Film

    Anatomy of a Fall
    Godzilla Minus One
    Perfect Days
    Society of the Snow
    The Taste of Things
    The Zone of Interest

    Best Song

    “Dance the Night,” Barbie
    “I’m Just Ken,” Barbie
    “Peaches,” The Super Mario Bros. Movie
    “Road to Freedom,” Rustin
    “This Wish,” Wish
    “What Was I Made For,” Barbie

    Best Score

    Jerskin Fendrix, Poor Things
    Michael Giacchino, Society of the Snow
    Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer
    Daniel Pemberton, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
    Robbie Robertson, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Barbie

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Golden Globe Nominations: ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, and ‘Poor Things’ Lead the Pack

    Golden Globe Nominations: ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, and ‘Poor Things’ Lead the Pack

    On the film side, this year’s Golden Globe nominations didn’t see any major snubs outside of The Color Purple missing in the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category. With the film missing here, at AFI, and with NBR last week, I think its Best Picture nomination chances are quickly dwindling and I am increasingly confident that my top 10 of Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, Barbie, The Holdovers, Past Lives, American Fiction, Maestro, Anatomy of a Fall, and The Zone of Interest will be this year’s Best Picture nominees. If The Color Purple gets a Critics Choice nomination on Wednesday its back in the race but otherwise it seems that May December is the only film outside the top 10 that has a chance at a Best Picture nomination (and while I thought that film was fantastic, it’s not getting a Best Picture nomination). Critics Choice will be a major precursor as always so stay tuned for their picks on Wednesday.

    One thing I always mention when the Golden Globe noms are released is the stat that in the last 15 years (in all years except 2021 when ‘CODA’ won Best Picture), the eventual Best Picture winner was nominated for a Best Film, Director, and Screenplay award at the Globes before going on to win Oscar’s biggest prize. This year, FIVE films, Oppenheimer, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, Barbie, and Past Lives, achieved that trifecta. I think only those former three films have a chance at a Best Picture win and while my instincts are leaning towards Poor Things, both Oppenheimer and ‘Killers’ are incredibly strong possibilities.

    On the TV side, there were many more snubs and surprises. Succession leading the nominations pack was expected but misses for Abbott Elementary stars Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tyler James Williams weren’t. While ‘Abbott’ won Best Film – Musical or Comedy at last year’s Globes, expect this year to be the year of The Bear, which was nominated in five categories.

    See the full list of nominees below:

    Best Motion Picture – Drama

    Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)
    Killers of the Flower Moon (Apple Original Films)
    Maestro (Netflix)
    Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
    Past Lives (A24)
    The Zone of Interest (A24)

    Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Air (Amazon MGM Studios)
    American Fiction (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
    Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    The Holdovers (Focus Features)
    May December (Netflix)
    Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures)

    Best Motion Picture – Animated

    The Boy and the Heron (GKids)
    Elemental (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
    The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures)
    Suzume (Crunchyroll / Sony Pictures Entertainment)
    Wish (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

    Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

    Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
    John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate)
    Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount Pictures)
    Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
    The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures)
    Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (AMC Theatres Distribution)

    Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

    Anatomy of a Fall, France (Neon)
    Fallen Leaves, Finland (Mubi)
    Io Capitano, Italy (Pathe Distribution)
    Past Lives, United States (A24)
    Society of the Snow, Spain (Netflix)
    The Zone of Interest, United Kingdom/USA (A24)

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Colman Domingo, Rustin
    Barry Keoghan, Saltburn
    Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
    Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Annette Bening, Nyad
    Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
    Greta Lee, Past Lives
    Carey Mulligan, Maestro
    Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
    Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
    Natalie Portman, May December
    Alma Pöysti, Fallen Leaves
    Margot Robbie, Barbie
    Emma Stone, Poor Things

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Nicolas Cage, Dream Scenario
    Timothée Chalamet, Wonka
    Matt Damon, Air
    Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
    Joaquin Phoenix, Beau Is Afraid
    Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

    Willem Dafoe, Poor Things
    Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
    Ryan Gosling, Barbie
    Charles Melton, May December
    Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

    Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
    Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
    Jodie Foster, Nyad
    Julianne Moore, May December
    Rosamund Pike, Saltburn
    Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

    Best Director — Motion Picture

    Bradley Cooper, Maestro
    Greta Gerwig, Barbie
    Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Celine Song, Past Lives

    Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

    Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, Barbie
    Tony McNamara, Poor Things
    Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
    Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
    Celine Song, Past Lives
    Justine Triet, Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall

    Best Original Song – Motion Picture

    “Addicted to Romance,” She Came to Me, Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
    “Dance the Night,” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin
    “I’m Just Ken,” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt
    “Peaches,” The Super Mario Bros. Move, Music and lyrics by Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond, John Spiker
    “Road to Freedom,” Rustin, Music and lyrics by Lenny Kravitz
    “What Was I Made For?” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish, Finneas

    Best Original Score – Motion Picture

    Jerskin Fendrix, Poor Things
    Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer
    Joe Hisaishi, The Boy and the Heron
    Mica Levi, The Zone of Interest
    Daniel Pemberton, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
    Robbie Robertson, Killers of the Flower Moon

    Best Television Series – Drama

    1923 (Paramount+)
    The Crown (Netflix)
    The Diplomat (Netflix)
    The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
    The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
    Succession (HBO/Max)

    Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Abbott Elementary (ABC)
    Barry (HBO/Max)
    The Bear (FX)
    Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)
    Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
    Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

    Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

    All the Light We Cannot See (Netflix)
    Beef (Netflix)
    Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
    Fargo (FX)
    Fellow Travelers (Showtime)
    Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama

    Helen Mirren, 1923
    Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
    Keri Russell, The Diplomat
    Sarah Snook, Succession
    Imelda Staunton, The Crown
    Emma Stone, The Curse

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama

    Brian Cox, Succession
    Kieran Culkin, Succession
    Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
    Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
    Jeremy Strong, Succession
    Dominic West, The Crown

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
    Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
    Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
    Elle Fanning, The Great
    Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
    Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

    Bill Hader, Barry
    Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
    Jason Segel, Shrinking
    Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
    Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
    Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

    Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six
    Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
    Elizabeth Olsen, Love & Death
    Juno Temple, Fargo
    Rachel Weisz, Dead Ringers
    Ali Wong, Beef

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

    Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
    Sam Claflin, Daisy Jones & the Six
    Jon Hamm, Fargo
    Woody Harrelson, White House Plumbers
    David Oyelowo, Lawmen: Bass Reeves
    Steven Yeun, Beef

    Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

    Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
    Abby Elliott, The Bear
    Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets
    J. Smith-Cameron, Succession
    Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
    Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

    Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

    Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
    Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
    James Marsden, Jury Duty
    Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
    Alan Ruck, Succession
    Alexander Skarsgard, Succession

    Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

    Ricky Gervais, Ricky Gervais: Armageddon
    Trevor Noah, Trevor Noah: Where Was I
    Chris Rock, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
    Amy Schumer, Amy Schumer: Emergency Contact
    Sarah Silverman, Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love
    Wanda Sykes, Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter