Category: News

  • Golden Globes 2022: ‘West Side Story’ Wins 3, ‘The Power of the Dog’ Wins Best Drama

    Golden Globes 2022: ‘West Side Story’ Wins 3, ‘The Power of the Dog’ Wins Best Drama

    Though the Golden Globes likely won’t have the weight they usually do as they weren’t televised and are being willfully ignored by the majority of the industry, they are still a major Oscar precursor. The Power of the Dog and West Side Story won 3 Globes a piece and though I’ve always had The Power of the Dog as my predicted Best Picture winner, the Globes are truly the first major precursor to release its picks so far and their selection of The Power of the Dog over Belfast (when I thought the award was surely going the latter) was a surprise that gave me more confidence about having the film as my #1 pick.

    Anyway, here are the winners:

    Film

    Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
    “Cyrano”
    “Don’t Look Up”
    “Licorice Pizza”
    “Tick, Tick … Boom!”
    “West Side Story” *WINNER
    Best Motion Picture — Drama
    “Belfast,”
    “CODA”
    “Dune”
    “King Richard”
    “The Power of the Dog” *WINNER
    Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language
    “Compartment No. 6”
    “Drive My Car” *WINNER
    “The Hand of God”
    “A Hero”
    “Parallel Mothers”
    Best Screenplay — Motion Picture
    Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
    Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast” *WINNER
    Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
    Adam McKay, “Don’t Look Up”
    Aaron Sorkin , “Being the Ricardos”
    Best Original Song — Motion Picture
    “Be Alive” from “King Richard” – Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson
    “Dos Orugitas” from “Encanto” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
    “Down to Joy” from “Belfast” – Van Morrison
    “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect” – Jamie Alexander Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King
    “No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die” – Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell *WINNER
    Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
    Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
    Jamie Dornan, “Belfast”
    Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast”
    Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
    Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog” *WINNER
    Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
    Caitríona Balfe, “Belfast”
    Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” *WINNER
    Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
    Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
    Ruth Negga, “Passing
    Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
    Leonardo DiCaprio, “Don’t Look Up”
    Peter Dinklage, “Cyrano”
    Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick … Boom!” *WINNER
    Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza”
    Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”
    Best Motion Picture — Animated
    “Encanto” *WINNER
    “Flee”
    “Luca”
    “My Sunny Maad”
    “Raya and the Last Dragon”
    Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
    Mahershala Ali, “Swan Song”
    Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
    Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
    Will Smith, “King Richard” *WINNER
    Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
    Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
    Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
    Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”
    Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos” *WINNER
    Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci”
    Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
    Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
    Marion Cotillard, “Annette”
    Alana Haim, “Licorice Pizza”
    Jennifer Lawrence, “Don’t Look Up”
    Emma Stone, “Cruella”
    Rachel Zegler, “West Side Story” *WINNER
    Best Director — Motion Picture
    Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
    Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” *WINNER
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”
    Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”
    Denis Villeneuve, “Dune”
    Best Original Score
    “The French Dispatch”
    “Encanto”
    “The Power of the Dog”
    “Parallel Mothers”
    “Dune” *WINNER

    Television

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy
    Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
    Nicholas Hoult, “The Great”
    Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
    Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
    Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” *WINNER
    Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy
    Hannah Einbender, “Hacks”
    Elle Fanning, “The Great”
    Issa Rae, “Insecure”
    Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
    Jean Smart, “Hacks” *WINNER
    Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama
    Brian Cox, “Succession”
    Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game”
    Billy Porter, “Pose”
    Jeremy Strong, “Succession” *WINNER
    Omar Sy, “Lupin”
    Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama
    Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
    Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
    Christine Baranski, “The Good Fight”
    Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
    Mj Rodriguez, “Pose” *WINNER
    Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
    Oscar Isaac, “Scenes From a Marriage”
    Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” *WINNER
    Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
    Tahar Rahim, “The Serpent”
    Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    Jessica Chastain, “Scenes From a Marriage”
    Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
    Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
    Margaret Qualley, “Maid”
    Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” *WINNER
    Best Television Series Drama
    “Lupin”
    “The Morning Show”
    “Pose”
    “Squid Game”
    “Succession” *WINNER
    Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    “Dopesick”
    “Impeachment: American Crime Story”
    “Maid”
    “Mare of Easttown”
    “The Underground Railroad” *WINNER
    Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    Jennifer Coolidge, “White Lotus”
    Kaitlyn Dever, “Dopesick”
    Andie MacDowell, “Maid”
    Sarah Snook, “Succession” *WINNER
    Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
    Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
    Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
    Mark Duplass, “The Morning Show”
    Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”
    Oh Yeong-su, “Squid Game” *WINNER
    Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy
    “The Great”
    “Hacks” *WINNER
    “Only Murders in the Building”
    “Reservation Dogs”
    “Ted Lasso”
    Source: CNN
  • Oscar Shortlists Announced in 10 Categories

    Oscar Shortlists Announced in 10 Categories

    The Academy announced its shortlists for 10 categories (Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, Sound and Visual Effects).

    Outside of France’s Titane missing in International Feature, there weren’t many major snubs, though Julia Ducournau’s chances at a Director nod are essentially zero after the film’s exclusion.

    Here are the shortlists:

    DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    “Ascension”“Attica”“Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry”“Faya Dayi”“The First Wave”“Flee”“In the Same Breath”“Julia”“President”“Procession”“The Rescue”“Simple as Water”“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”“The Velvet Underground”“Writing with Fire”

    DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

    “Águilas”“Audible”“A Broken House”“Camp Confidential: America’s Secret Nazis”“Coded: The Hidden Love of J. C. Leyendecker”“Day of Rage”“The Facility”“Lead Me Home”“Lynching Postcards: “Token of a Great Day””“The Queen of Basketball”“Sophie & the Baron”“Takeover”“Terror Contagion”“Three Songs for Benazir”“When We Were Bullies”

    INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    Austria, “Great Freedom”Belgium, “Playground”Bhutan, “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”Denmark, “Flee”Finland, “Compartment No. 6”Germany, “I’m Your Man”Iceland, “Lamb”Iran, “A Hero”Italy, “The Hand of God”Japan, “Drive My Car”Kosovo, “Hive”Mexico, “Prayers for the Stolen”Norway, “The Worst Person in the World”Panama, “Plaza Catedral”Spain, “The Good Boss”

    MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING 

    “Coming 2 America”“Cruella”“Cyrano”“Dune”“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”“House of Gucci”“Nightmare Alley”“No Time to Die”“The Suicide Squad”“West Side Story”

    MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

    “Being the Ricardos”“Candyman”“Don’t Look Up”“Dune”“Encanto”“The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun”“The Green Knight”“The Harder They Fall”“King Richard”“The Last Duel”“No Time to Die”“Parallel Mothers”“The Power of the Dog”“Spencer”“The Tragedy of Macbeth”

    MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

    “So May We Start?” from “Annette”“Down To Joy” from “Belfast”“Right Where I Belong” from “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road”“Automatic Woman” from “Bruised”“Dream Girl” from “Cinderella”“Beyond The Shore” from “CODA”“The Anonymous Ones” from “Dear Evan Hansen”“Just Look Up” from “Don’t Look Up”“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”“Guns Go Bang” from “The Harder They Fall”“Be Alive” from “King Richard”“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die”“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” from “Respect”“Your Song Saved My Life” from “Sing 2”

    ANIMATED SHORT FILM

    “Affairs of the Art”“Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice”“Bad Seeds”“Bestia”“Boxballet”“Flowing Home”“Mum Is Pouring Rain”“The Musician”“Namoo”“Only a Child”“Robin Robin”“Souvenir Souvenir”“Step into the River”“Us Again”“The Windshield Wiper”

    LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

    “Ala Kachuu – Take and Run”“Censor of Dreams”“The Criminals”“Distances”“The Dress”“Frimas”“Les Grandes Claques”“The Long Goodbye”“On My Mind”“Please Hold”“Stenofonen”“Tala’vision”“Under the Heavens”“When the Sun Sets”“You’re Dead Helen”

    SOUND

    “Belfast”“Dune”“Last Night in Soho”“The Matrix Resurrections”“No Time to Die”“The Power of the Dog”“A Quiet Place Part II”“Spider-Man: No Way Home”“tick, tick…BOOM!”“West Side Story”

    VISUAL EFFECTS

    “Black Widow”“Dune”“Eternals”“Free Guy”“Ghostbusters: Afterlife”“Godzilla vs. Kong”“The Matrix Resurrections”“No Time to Die”“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”“Spider-Man: No Way Home”

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Critics Choice Nominations: ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘Belfast’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Licorice Pizza’, and ‘Dune’ Cement Themselves as the Top 5 BP Contenders

    Critics Choice Nominations: ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘Belfast’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Licorice Pizza’, and ‘Dune’ Cement Themselves as the Top 5 BP Contenders

    Now that the Critics’ Choice nominations have been released, the Oscar race in all categories is looking much clearer. Though I will have a more in-depth analysis of these nominations in another post, I want to mention that there are now 12 films that I think have a chance at a Best Picture nomination as they hit at least one of AFI, Golden Globes, or Critics Choice: Belfast, CODA, Cyrano, Don’t Look Up, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog, tick, tick…Boom!, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and West Side Story.

    Anyway, here are the nominees:

    Best Picture

    Belfast
    CODA
    Don’t Look Up
    Dune
    King Richard
    Licorice Pizza
    Nightmare Alley
    The Power of the Dog
    tick, tick…Boom!
    West Side Story

    Best Actor

    Nicolas Cage, Pig
    Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
    Peter Dinklage, Cyrano
    Andrew Garfield – tick, tick…Boom!
    Will Smith, King Richard
    Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Best Actress

    Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
    Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
    Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
    Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
    Kristen Stewart, Spencer

    Best Supporting Actor

    Jamie Dornan, Belfast
    Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
    Troy Kotsur, CODA
    Jared Leto, House of Gucci
    J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos
    Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

    Best Supporting Actress

    Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
    Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
    Ann Dowd, Mass
    Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
    Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
    Rita Moreno, West Side Story

    Best Young Actor/Actress

    Jude Hill, Belfast
    Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza
    Emilia Jones, CODA
    Woody Norman, C’mon C’mon
    Saniyya Sidney, King Richard
    Rachel Zegler, West Side Story

    Best Acting Ensemble

    Belfast
    Don’t Look Up
    The Harder They Fall
    Licorice Pizza
    The Power of the Dog
    West Side Story

    Best Director

    Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
    Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
    Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
    Guillermo del Toro, Nightmare Alley
    Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
    Denis Villeneuve, Dune

    Best Original Screenplay

    Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
    Zach Baylin, King Richard
    Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
    Adam McKay, David Sirota, Don’t Look Up
    Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
    Siân Heder, CODA
    Tony Kushner, West Side Story
    Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, Dune

    Best Cinematography

    Bruno Delbonnel, The Tragedy of Macbeth
    Greig Fraser, Dune
    Janusz Kaminski, West Side Story
    Dan Laustsen, Nightmare Alley
    Ari Wegner, The Power of the Dog
    Haris Zambarloukos, Belfast

    Best Production Design

    Jim Clay, Claire Nia Richards, Belfast
    Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau, Nightmare Alley
    Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo, The French Dispatch
    Adam Stockhausen, Rena DeAngelo, West Side Story
    Patrice Vermette, Zsuzsanna Sipos, Dune

    Best Film Editing

    Sarah Broshar and Michael Kahn, West Side Story
    Úna Ní Dhonghaíle, Belfast
    Andy Jurgensen, Licorice Pizza
    Peter Sciberras, The Power of the Dog
    Joe Walker, Dune

    Best Costume Design

    Jenny Beavan – Cruella
    Luis Sequeira – Nightmare Alley
    Paul Tazewell – West Side Story
    Jacqueline West, Robert Morgan – Dune
    Janty Yates – House of Gucci

    Best Hair and Makeup

    Cruella
    Dune
    The Eyes of Tammy Faye
    House of Gucci
    Nightmare Alley

    Best Visual Effects

    Dune
    The Matrix Resurrections
    Nightmare Alley
    No Time to Die
    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Best Comedy

    Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
    Don’t Look Up
    Free Guy
    The French Dispatch
    Licorice Pizza

    Best Animated Feature

    Encanto
    Flee
    Luca
    The Mitchells vs the Machines
    Raya and the Last Dragon

    Best Foreign Language Film

    A Hero
    Drive My Car
    Flee
    The Hand of God
    The Worst Person in the World

    Best Song

    “Be Alive,” King Richard
    “Dos Oruguitas,” Encanto
    “Guns Go Bang,” The Harder They Fall
    “Just Look Up,” Don’t Look Up
    “No Time to Die,” No Time to Die

    Best Score

    Nicholas Britell, Don’t Look Up
    Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog
    Jonny Greenwood, Spencer
    Nathan Johnson, Nightmare Alley
    Hans Zimmer, Dune

    Source: Yahoo!

  • Golden Globes Reveal Their Nominations: ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Belfast’ Lead With 7 Each

    Golden Globes Reveal Their Nominations: ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Belfast’ Lead With 7 Each

    Though they won’t be televised this season, the Golden Globes released their nominations this morning and there are some interesting inclusions and exclusions. A stat that I want to mention is that no Best Picture winner in at least the last 10 years has won the award without being at least nominated for a Picture award, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes. This year, two films fit that criteria: The Power of the Dog and Belfast. Both CODA and The Lost Daughter seem to benefit from today’s nominations as they both received two nods a piece.

    Best Motion Picture, Drama

    “Belfast”

    “CODA”

    “Dune”

    “King Richard”

    “The Power of the Dog”

    Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

    “Cyrano”

    “Don’t Look Up”

    “Licorice Pizza”

    “Tick, Tick … Boom!”

    “West Side Story”

    Best Director, Motion Picture

    Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”

    Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”

    Maggie Gyllenhaal, “The Lost Daughter”

    Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”

    Denis Villeneuve, “Dune”

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

    Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”

    Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”

    Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”

    Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci”

    Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

    Marion Cotillard, “Annette”

    Alana Haim, “Licorice Pizza”

    Jennifer Lawrence, “Don’t Look Up”

    Emma Stone, “Cruella”

    Rachel Zegler, “West Side Story”

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

    Caitriona Balfe, “Belfast”

    Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”

    Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”

    Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”

    Ruth Negga, “Passing”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

    Mahershala Ali, “Swan Song”

    Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”

    Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”

    Will Smith, “King Richard”

    Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

    Leonardo DiCaprio, “Don’t Look Up”

    Peter Dinklage, “Cyrano”

    Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick … Boom!”

    Cooper Hoffman, “Licorice Pizza”

    Anthony Ramos, “In the Heights”

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture

    Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”

    Jamie Dornan, “Belfast”

    Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast”

    Troy Kotsur, “CODA”

    Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”

    Best Screenplay, Motion Picture

    Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”

    Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”

    Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”

    Adam McKay, “Don’t Look Up

    Aaron Sorkin, “Being the Ricardos

    Best Original Score, Motion Picture

    Alexandre Desplat, “The French Dispatch”

    Germaine Franco, “Encanto”

    Jonny Greenwood, “The Power of the Dog”

    Alberto Iglesias, “Parallel Mothers”

    Hans Zimmer, “Dune”

    Best Original Song, Motion Picture

    “Be Alive,” “King Richard”

    “Dos Oruguitas,” “Encanto”

    “Down to Joy,” “Belfast”

    “Here I Am [Singing My Way Home],” “Respect”

    “No Time to Die,” “No Time to Die”

    Best Motion Picture, Animated

    “Encanto”

    “Flee”

    “Luca”

    “My Sunny Maad”

    “Raya and the Last Dragon”

    Best Motion Picture, Non-English Language

    “Compartment No. 6”

    “Drive My Car”

    “The Hand of God”

    “A Hero”

    “Parallel Mothers”

    Source: New York Times

  • AFI Top 10 is Released: The Best Picture Lineup Begins to Take Shape

    AFI Top 10 is Released: The Best Picture Lineup Begins to Take Shape

    Considering how early, the AFI awards occur in the season, their picks are ridiculously predictive. I personally think 7-8 films from the lineup below will be nominated (the misses being CODA and Tick, Tick…Boom).

    Anyway, here are their picks.

    AFI Movies of the Year

    • “CODA” (Apple Original Films)
    • “Don’t Look Up” (Netflix)
    • “Dune” (Warner Bros.)
    • “King Richard” (Warner Bros.)
    • “Licorice Pizza” (MGM/United Artists Releasing)
    • “Nightmare Alley” (Searchlight Pictures)
    • “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix)
    • “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (Netflix)
    • “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple Original Films/A24)
    • “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios)

    AFI Television Programs of the Year

    • “Hacks” (HBO Max)
    • “Maid” (Netflix)
    • “Mare of Easttown” (HBO)
    • “Reservation Dogs” (FX)
    • “Schmigadoon!” (Apple TV Plus)
    • “Succession” (HBO)
    • “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV Plus)
    • “The Underground Railroad” (Prime Video)
    • “WandaVision” (Disney Plus)
    • “The White Lotus” (HBO)

    AFI Special Award

    • “Belfast” (Focus Features)
    • “Squid Game” (Netflix)
    • “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” (Searchlight Pictures)

    The AFI Awards will take place on Jan. 7 in Los Angeles.

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

    • 2021 – 6 of the 8 Oscar nominees received a nod from the AFI (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 2020 and 2019, 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.

    • 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

    So something like The Lost Daughter, which didn’t receive a NBR or AFI pick, will need a nod at at least one of these major awards bodies if it wants a chance at making it in to BP.

  • ‘Licorice Pizza’ Wins Big and ‘The Power of the Dog’ Misses at NBR

    ‘Licorice Pizza’ Wins Big and ‘The Power of the Dog’ Misses at NBR

    The first major precursor of the season just announced its picks. For years, the National Board of Review (NBR) awards have marked the beginning of Oscar season and they continued that with today’s announcement. One startling omission was Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, which many predicted to win here. It was not named as one of the top 10 films which is something that forces me to remove it from its place as the Best Picture favorite. It is absolutely still getting nominated, it just may not have the kind of support to get the haul I was predicting it to get. Licorice Pizza, on the other hand, gains in standing as its now both one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year (90 Metascore) and has the first major precursor under its belt. Of course, it’s important to mention that none of the NBR’s Best Film winners in the last ten years except for Green Book ended up winning Picture, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s film gets a boost nonetheless.

    In the last 10 years an average of just over 5 films picked by the NBR went on to become Best Picture nominees. With the expanded field of 10 BP nominees this year I am predicting that around six of this year’s NBR picks will end up getting nominated for Best Picture.

    2011 — 4/9
    2012 — 7/9
    2013 — 5/9
    2014 — 4/8
    2015 — 5/8
    2016 — 7/9
    2017 — 6/9 (The Shape of Water was not picked by the NBR)
    2018 — 4/8
    2019 — 6/9 (Parasite won Best Foreign Language Film)
    2020 — 5/8

    Also, in the last 10 years every eventual Best Picture winner except for The Shape of Water in 2017 was a member of the NBR’s Top 10 Films, which makes it seem very likely that the eventual Best Picture winner from this year will one of the 10 films chosen by the NBR.

    Also, this is slightly irrelevant but I hope the Tragedy of Macbeth winning for Best Cinematography becomes a trend as the camerawork in that film (just from the trailer) epitomizes stunning.

    So without further ado, here are the picks from the NBR.

    Best Film: LICORICE PIZZA

    Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, LICORICE PIZZA

    Best Actor: Will Smith, KING RICHARD

    Best Actress: Rachel Zegler, WEST SIDE STORY

    Best Supporting Actor: Ciarán Hinds, BELFAST

    Best Supporting Actress: Aunjanue Ellis, KING RICHARD

    Best Original Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi, A HERO

    Best Adapted Screenplay: Joel Coen, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

    Breakthrough Performance: Alana Haim & Cooper Hoffman, LICORICE PIZZA

    Best Directorial Debut: Michael Sarnoski, PIG

    Best Animated Feature: ENCANTO

    Best Foreign Language Film: A HERO

    Best Documentary: SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED)

    Best Ensemble: THE HARDER THEY FALL

    Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

    NBR Freedom of Expression Award: FLEE

    Top Films (in alphabetical order)
    Belfast
    Don’t Look Up
    Dune
    King Richard
    The Last Duel
    Nightmare Alley
    Red Rocket
    The Tragedy of Macbeth
    West Side Story

    Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)
    Benedetta
    Lamb
    Lingui, The Sacred Bonds
    Titane
    The Worst Person in the World

    Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)
    Ascension
    Attica
    Flee
    The Rescue
    Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

    Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
    The Card Counter
    C’mon C’mon
    CODA
    The Green Knight
    Holler
    Jockey
    Old Henry
    Pig
    Shiva Baby
    The Souvenir Part II

    Source: Yahoo

  • Emmys 2021: ‘The Crown’ Sweeps and ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘The Queen’s Gambit Win Big

    Emmys 2021: ‘The Crown’ Sweeps and ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘The Queen’s Gambit Win Big

    Here are the winners from the 2021 Primetime Emmys.

    Outstanding Drama Series

    The Boys (Amazon Prime Video)
    Bridgerton (Netflix)
    [WINNER] The Crown (Netflix)
    The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Lovecraft Country (HBO)
    The Mandalorian (Disney+)
    Pose (FX)
    This Is Us (NBC)

    Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

    Bridgerton (Julie Ann Robinson) – “Diamond Of The First Water” (Netflix)
    The Crown (Benjamin Caron) – “Fairytale” (Netflix)
    [WINNER] The Crown (Jessica Hobbs) – “War” (Netflix)
    The Handmaid’s Tale (Liz Garbus) – “Wilderness” (Hulu)
    The Mandalorian (Jon Favreau) – “Chapter 9: The Marshal” (Disney+)
    Pose (Steven Canals) – “Series Finale” (FX)

    Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

    The Boys (Rebecca Sonnenshine) – “What I Know” (Amazon Prime Video)
    [WINNER] The Crown (Peter Morgan) – “War” (Netflix)
    The Handmaid’s Tale (Yahlin Chang) – “Home” (Hulu)
    Lovecraft Country (Misha Green) – “Sundown” (HBO)
    The Mandalorian (Dave Filoni) – “Chapter 13: The Jedi” (Disney+)
    The Mandalorian (Jon Favreau) – “Chapter 16: The Rescue” (Disney+)
    Pose (Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Our Lady J) – “Series Finale” (FX)

    Outstanding Comedy Series

    black-ish (ABC)
    Cobra Kai (Netflix)
    Emily in Paris (Netflix)
    Hacks (HBO Max)
    The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
    The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
    Pen15 (Hulu)
    [WINNER] Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) 

    Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

    B-Positive (James Burrows) – “Pilot” (CBS)
    The Flight Attendant (Susanna Fogel) – “In Case Of Emergency” (HBO Max)
    [WINNER] Hacks (Lucia Aniello) – “There Is No Line (Pilot)” (HBO Max)
    Mom (James Widdoes) – “”Scooby-Doo Checks And Salisbury Steak” (CBS)
    Ted Lasso (Zach Braff) – “”Biscuits” (Apple TV+)
    Ted Lasso (MJ Delaney) – “The Hope That Kills You” (Apple TV+)
    Ted Lasso (Declan Lowney) – “Make Rebecca Great Again” (Apple TV+)

    Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

    The Flight Attendant (Steve Yockey) – “In Case Of Emergency” (HBO Max)
    Girls5Eva (Meredith Scardino) – “Pilot” (Peacock)
    [WINNER] Hacks (Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky) – “There Is No Line (Pilot)” (HBO Max)
    Pen15 (Maya Erskine) – “Play” (Hulu)
    Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly) – “Make Rebecca Great Again” (Apple TV+)
    Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly) – “Pilot” (Apple TV+)

    Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

    I May Destroy You (HBO)
    Mare of Easttown (HBO)
    [WINNER] The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
    The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
    WandaVision (Disney Plus)

    Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    Hamilton (Thomas Kail) – Disney+
    I May Destroy You (Michaela Coel and Sam Miller) – “Ego Death” – HBO
    I May Destroy You (Sam Miller) – “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes” – HBO
    Mare of Easttown (Craig Zobel) – HBO
    [WINNER] The Queen’s Gambit (Scott Frank) – Netflix
    The Underground Railroad (Barry Jenkins) – Amazon Prime Video
    WandaVision (Matt Shakman) – Disney+

    Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    [WINNER] I May Destroy You (Michaela Coel) – HBO
    Mare of Easttown (Brad Ingelsby) – HBO
    The Queen’s Gambit (Scott Frank) – Netflix
    WandaVision (Chuck Hayward and Peter Cameron) – “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” – Disney+
    WandaVision (Jac Shaeffer) – “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience” – Disney+
    WandaVision (Laura Donney) – “Previously On” – Disney+

    Lead Actor in a Drama Series

    Sterling K. Brown for This Is Us (NBC)
    Jonathan Majors for Lovecraft Country (HBO)
    [WINNER] Josh O’Connor for The Crown (Netflix)
    Regé-Jean Page for Bridgerton (Netflix)
    Billy Porter for Pose (FX)
    Matthew Rhys for Perry Mason (HBO)

    Lead Actress in a Drama Series

    Uzo Aduba for In Treatment (HBO)
    [WINNER] Olivia Colman for The Crown (Netflix)
    Emma Corrin for The Crown (Netflix)
    Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Mj Rodriguez for Pose (FX)
    Jurnee Smollett for Lovecraft Country (HBO)

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

    Anthony Anderson for black-ish (ABC)
    Michael Douglas for The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
    William H. Macy for Shameless (Showtime)
    [WINNER] Jason Sudeikis for Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
    Kenan Thompson for Kenan (NBC)

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

    Aidy Bryant for Shrill (Hulu)
    Kaley Cuoco for The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
    Allison Janney for Mom (CBS)
    Tracee Ellis Ross for black-ish (ABC)
    [WINNER] Jean Smart for Hacks (HBO Max)

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    Paul Bettany for WandaVision (Disney+)
    Hugh Grant for The Undoing (HBO)
    [WINNER] Ewan McGregor for Halston (Netflix)
    Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton (Disney+)
    Leslie Odom Jr. for Hamilton (Disney+)

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

    Michaela Coel for I May Destroy You (HBO)
    Cynthia Erivo for Genius: Aretha (NatGeo)
    Elizabeth Olsen for WandaVision (Disne+)
    Anya Taylor-Joy for The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
    [WINNER] Kate Winslet for Mare of Easttown (HBO)

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    Giancarlo Esposito for The Mandalorian (Disney+)
    O-T Fagbenie for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    John Lithgow for Perry Mason (HBO)
    [WINNER] Tobias Menzies for The Crown (Netflix)
    Max Minghella for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Chris Sullivan for This Is Us (NBC)
    Bradley Whitford for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Michael K. Williams for Lovecraft Country (HBO)

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    [WINNER] Gillian Anderson for The Crown (Netflix)
    Helena Bonham Carter for The Crown (Netflix)
    Madeline Brewer for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Ann Dowd for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Aunjanue Ellis for Lovecraft Country (HBO)
    Emerald Fennell for The Crown (Netflix)
    Yvonne Strahovski for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
    Samira Wiley for The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Hacks)
    [WINNER] Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)
    Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso)
    Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso)
    Paul Reiser (The Kominsky Method)
    Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso)
    Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live)
    Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live)
    Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
    Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live)
    Rosie Perez (The Flight Attendant)
    Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live)
    Juno Temple (Ted Lasso)
    [WINNER] Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

    Thomas Brodie Sangster (The Queen’s Gambit)
    Daveed Diggs (Hamilton)
    Paapa Essiedu (May Destroy You)
    Jonathan Groff (Hamilton”)
    [WINNER] Evan Peters (Mare Of Easttown)
    Anthony Ramos (Hamilton)

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

    Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton)
    Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision)
    Moses Ingram (The Queen’s Gambit)
    [WINNER] Julianne Nicholson (Mare Of Easttown)
    Jean Smart (Mare Of Easttown)
    Phillipa Soo (Hamilton)

    Outstanding Competition Program

    The Amazing Race (CBS)
    Nailed It! (Netflix)
    [WINNER] RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
    Top Chef (Bravo)
    The Voice (NBC)

    Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

    A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
    [WINNER] Saturday Night Live (NBC)

    Outstanding Variety Talk Series

    Conan (TBS)
    The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
    Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
    [WINNER] Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
    The Last Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

    Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

    8:46 – Dave Chappelle (Netflix)
    Bo Burnham – Inside (Netflix)
    David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO)
    Friends: The Reunion (HBO Max)
    [WINNER] Hamilton (Disney+)
    A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (HBO Max)

    Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

    The 63rd Grammy Awards (CBS)
    Celebrating America – An Inauguration Special (PBS)
    [WINNER] Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 (Showtime)
    The Oscars (ABC)
    The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show with The Weeknd (CBS)

  • ‘Belfast’ Wins the TIFF People’s Choice Award; ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Scarborough’ are Runner-Ups

    ‘Belfast’ Wins the TIFF People’s Choice Award; ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Scarborough’ are Runner-Ups

    Finally, we have some truly concrete frontrunners in this Oscar race! Belfast won the TIFF People’s Choice Award (which I predicted, not to brag) and The Power of the Dog (which I also predicted) and Scarborough were named as runner-ups.

    I had already declared The Power of the Dog to be locked for a Best Picture nomination after its performance in Venice and now Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical black-and-white picture Belfast joins that camp.

    Scarborough seems like another in the line of Canadian films that get a runner-up award at the Toronto-based festival (like Beans last year and Starbuck in 2011) so I doubt it gets much Oscar traction.

    Maybe you might not know why I am so confidently proclaiming Belfast and The Power of the Dog as major frontrunners this early in the race so I’ll give you some reasons

     

    Here are some TIFF stats to show you how predictive this festival is:

    The winner of the TIFF’s Grolsch People’s Choice Award has been nominated for Best Picture every year since 2012 and after.

    Every winner of the People’s Choice award since Silver Linings Playbook in 2012 has won at least one above-the-line Oscar (Picture, Acting, Directing, or Screenplay)

    3 out of the last 10 winners won Best Picture (12 Years a Slave, and Green Book, Nomadland).

    The festival also gives 2nd and 3rd place awards and in five times of the last 6 years at least one of those runner-ups go on to get a Best Picture nomination.

    In fact, in the past 10 years, 3 of those runner-ups (Argo, Spotlight, and Parasite) have gone on to win Best Picture.

    In 2019, 5 of the 9 eventual Best Picture nominees went to TIFF, in 2018, 3 of the 8, in 2017, 5 of the 9, in 2016, 5 of the 9, and in 2015, 4 of the 8.

    Out of the last 10 Best Picture winners, 9 went to TIFF (the exception being 2014’s Birdman)

    Here’s a list of People’s Choice Award winners since 2012 that were Best Picture nominees:

    2012: Silver Linings Playbook (Runner-Up: Argo)

    2013: 12 Years a Slave (Runner-Up: Philomena)

    2014: The Imitation Game

    2015: Room (Runner-Up: Spotlight)

    2016: La La Land (Runner-Up: Lion)

    2017: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Runner-Up: Call Me By Your Name)

    2018: Green Book (Runner-Up: Roma)

    2019: Jojo Rabbit (Runner-Ups: Marriage Story and Parasite)

    2020: Nomadland

     

    As you can see Belfast, The Power of the Dog, and Scarborough join some very distinguished company. The former two will undoubtedly be in the top 3 of my predictions coming later this month and I would say that they are the only two films so far that can be declared locked.

     

  • Venice 2021: ‘Happening’, ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘The Hand of God’ Win Big

    Venice 2021: ‘Happening’, ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘The Hand of God’ Win Big

    VENICE FILM FESTIVAL JURY AWARDS

    Golden Lion for Best Film: “Happening,” Audrey Diwan
    Silver Lion (Grand Jury Prize): “The Hand of God,” Paolo Sorrentino
    Silver Lion for Best Director: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
    Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: John Arcilla, “On the Job: The Missing 8”
    Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Penelopé Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”
    Award for Best Screenplay: “The Lost Daughter,” Maggie Gyllenhaal
    Special Jury Prize: “Il Buco,” Michelangelo Frammartino
    Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Filippo Scotti, “The Hand of God”

    These are the main awards at the Venice Film Festival and as you can see the chances of films like ‘The Hand of God’, ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘Parallel Mothers’, ‘The Lost Daughter’, and ‘Happening’ have increased as a result.

    Though I don’t see this year’s Golden Lion winner happening (pun fully intended) in Picture, four of the last five Golden Lion winners were nominated for Best Picture and two of those were Best Picture winners (Nomadland, The Shape of Water). It’s peak seems to be an International Feature nod (that is if the French academy even picks it which it might not). ‘The Hand of God’ seems like it is more accessible of a film and while it only has a 71% Rotten Tomatoes score right now the fact that it won what is essentially the second-place award at Venice shows that there definitely is support for it.

    Campion likely won the first award on her journey towards a Best Director win in March. The fact that ‘The Power of the Dog’ won a top-tier award at Venice continues to cement its place as the closest thing to a lock this race has.

    I’m also happy to report that Penelope Cruz increased her chances of receiving a Best Actress nomination with her win here. She was already in the Best Actress predictions of many but now her chances seem a lot more concrete. Almodovar’s film will probably not get any other nominations outside of Cruz and International Feature (though Original Screenplay and Director are not crazy possibilities).

    ‘The Lost Daughter’ winning in Screenplay is probably the biggest surprise of the awards. With this award, the film has definitely cemented its place as one of Netflix’s top four priorities this season. Netflix is poised to have 2-4 Best Picture nominees this year with the expanded slate so The Lost Daughter could be seeing a significant push. I definitely have it in my Adapted Screenplay nominations (I added it to my predictions after its Telluride premiere). The reviews are there (it has an 89 Metascore right now) so it could maybe hit Picture, Actress (Olivia Colman), and/or Supporting Actress (Jessie Buckley or Dakota Johnson) in addition to Screenplay if Netflix puts some focus on it.

    Here are the other awards from this year’s Venice Film Festival:

    Orizzonti Award for Best Film: “Pilgrims,” Laurynas Bareisa
    Orizzonti Award for Best Director: Eric Gravel, “A plein temps”
    Special Orizzonti Jury Prize: “El Gran Movimento,” Kiro Russo
    Orizzonti Award for Best Actor: Piseth Chhun, “White Building”
    Orizzonti Award for Best Actress: Laure Calamy, “A plein temps”
    Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay: “107 Mothers,” Peter Kerekes, Ivan Ostrochovsky
    Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film: “Los Huesos,” Cristobal Leon, Joaquin Cocina

    Lion of the Future – “Luigi De Laurentiis” Award for a Debut Film: “Imaculat,” Monica Stan, George Chiper-Lillemark

    Grand Jury Prize for Best VR Work: “Goliath: Playing With Reality,” Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla
    Best VR Experience for Interactive Content: “Le bal de Paris de Blanca Li,” Blanca Li
    Best VR Story: “End of Night,” David Adler

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘The Power of the Dog’ Cements Itself as the First Real Best Picture Contender of the Season

    ‘The Power of the Dog’ Cements Itself as the First Real Best Picture Contender of the Season

    Jane Campion’s newest feature premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has garnered fantastic reactions from critics. At the time of publication, it as at an 89 on Metacritic and at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Kevin Maher of The Times wrote that the film is “the movie to beat for the festival’s prestigious Golden Lion award, and indeed the frontrunner at next year’s Oscars.” While the film does seem accessible enough to be a top 3 contender, I don’t think it’s the kind of film that will have the widespread support needed for a win. Anyway, I am even more excited for this film to release to Netflix in mid-November.

    The actors have been especially praised and the standouts seem to be Benedict Cumberbatch, the relative newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Kirsten Dunst. I am predicting nominations for all three and Cumberbatch may even be able to compete for a win. The ‘Doctor Strange’ actor’s performance has been called both “earth-shattering” and a “career-best”.

    Right now, I can see it getting a Best Picture nomination, a Best Director nod for Campion, a Best Actor nomination for Cumberbatch, a Supporting Actress nod for Dunst, a Supporting Actor nod for Kodi Smit-McPhee (Jesse Plemons’ performance has also been well-received I just doubt both of them will get in), an Adapted Screenplay nod for Campion, a Cinematography nod for Ari Wagner, and a Original Score nod for Jonny Greenwood.

    These reviews are the first real clue of what the Best Picture lineup will look like come next year and The Power of the Dog will likely be near the top of that pack.