Awards Insights

Tag: Oscar race

  • 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.

  • 2022 Oscars: Late October Predictions

    2022 Oscars: Late October Predictions

    The Power of the Dog and Belfast are still the top contenders after their festival runs and sit significantly higher on this list than the others. That will definitely change as time goes on but both of these films will likely continue to be top 4 Best Picture contenders throughout the season.

    Now for the rest of the pack. Even though Dune may not have the critical reception of something like Mad Max Fury Road or Gravity (both of these films had Metascores over 90 while Dune is currently sitting at a 74), there is palpable passion for the film (Guillermo del Toro, Chloe Zhao, and Christopher Nolan have all sung the film’s praises) and the return of the cerebral blockbuster seems to be something that most in the industry have warmly received. I am pretty confident of it getting into Picture (but I highly doubt it has a chance of winning) so it takes the third slot.

    Bradley Cooper’s 2021 late-breakers Nightmare Alley and Licorice Pizza take the next two positions and I think Cooper could possibly be double-nominated and maybe even win his first Oscar. Trailers recently dropped for both of these films and Licorice Pizza looks like a major diversion from Paul Thomas Anderson’s more recent work. It looks to be an Almost Famous-lite coming-of-age story that returns to PTA’s San Fernando Valley roots. That’s the kind of film that will likely be more accessible to the Academy than some of the auteur’s past work and if he pulls it off, which is likely for PTA, the 8-time Oscar nominee could possibly receive his first Oscar (Even though he could win for Picture it’s more likely that he wins it for Original Screenplay). Del Toro’s last film was the Best Picture winner The Shape of Water so Nightmare Alley with Cate Blanchett, Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Toni Colette, and Willem Dafoe is highly anticipated. My concern with both Nightmare Alley and Licorice Pizza is that they really could have benefited from a festival run. I highly doubt that a film that didn’t premiere at any of the fall festivals will end up winning Picture as the eventual Picture winner usually premieres at a fall festival and then gradually builds momentum that ends up in the film receiving the most coveted golden statue. Even with the season being extended to March, I don’t see either Nightmare Alley or Licorice Pizza being able to win this but if they deliver, they will be nominated.

    I get more skeptical about Don’t Look Up as time goes on but the pedigree it boasts is just much too hard to resist. It’s hard to fathom that a movie with Leo, JLaw, and Meryl in significant roles will not get a Best Picture nomination. If it gets at least a 70 Metascore it’s in undoubtedly. My confidence in West Side Story is also waning but I still have a lot of trust in Spielberg’s popularity in the industry and if the movie is at least mostly positively-received it should probably be able to get into Picture.

    King Richard, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and The Lost Daughter round out the last three slots. All three made splashes at festivals and could probably ride those positive notices to BP noms. King Richard is poised to be the Ford v Ferrari of this season. A sports film that audiences might really love that features uniformally great performances from its cast. Both Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis are likely to receive nods. The Tragedy of Macbeth is led by two of the most respected actors in the industry in Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand and with an 89 Metascore in tow I don’t see how the Academy can deny this film a BP nomination even if it’s not really their cup of tea. It’s probably the Mank or Phantom Thread of this year. Both of those films received nominations in Director so watch out for Joel Coen in that category as it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Director branch reward him for his auteur vision.

    The Gotham Awards released their nominations this month and of the films nominated for Best Feature, only Passing and The Lost Daughter look like they have a chance at above-the-line Oscar nominations. Both films are Netflix projects directed by actresses-turned-directors and are based on two highly acclaimed novels. In terms of receiving Oscar nominations, I’m going to give the edge to The Lost Daughter as I understand that it’s more accessible than Hall’s film and since I think it could be like The Father in that it’s a psychological thriller that audiences have a strong emotional response to.

    Anyway, here are my predictions for this month:

    BEST PICTURE

    The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

    Belfast (Focus)

    Dune (Warner Bros.)

    Nightmare Alley (Searchlight)

    Licorice Pizza (MGM)

    Don’t Look Up (Netflix)

    West Side Story (20th Century)

    King Richard (Warner Bros.)

    The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple+)

    The Lost Daughter (Netflix)

    Could Jump In: House of Gucci, Spencer, The French Dispatch, Being the Ricardos, The Last Duel, Passing, Parallel Mothers, C’mon C’mon, CODA, tick, tick…Boom!

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog

    Denis Villenueve – Dune

    Guillermo del Toro – Nightmare Alley

    Kenneth Branagh – Belfast

    Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza

    Could Jump In: Joel Coen – The Tragedy of Macbeth, Pedro Almodovar – Parallel Mothers, Pablo Larrain – Spencer, Steven Spielberg – West Side Story, Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch, Adam McKay – Don’t Look Up, Ridley Scott – House of Gucci/The Last Duel, Reinaldo Marcus Green – King Richard, Maggie Gylenhaal – The Lost Daughter, Julia Ducournau – Titane, Paolo Sorrentino – The Hand of God

    BEST ACTOR

    Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog

    Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Will Smith – King Richard

    Bradley Cooper – Nightmare Alley

    Leonardo DiCaprio – Don’t Look Up

    Could Jump In: Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon, Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick…Boom, Peter Dinklage – Cyrano, Adam Driver – House of Gucci, Clifton Collins Jr. – Jockey, Javier Bardem – Being the Ricardos

    BEST ACTRESS

    Kristen Stewart – Spencer

    Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos

    Lady Gaga – House of Gucci

    Penelope Cruz – Parallel Mothers

    Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter

    Could Jump In: Frances McDormand – The Tragedy of Macbeth, Jennifer Hudson – Respect, Cate Blanchett – Nightmare Alley, Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Tessa Thompson – Passing, Jodie Comer – The Last Duel, Jennifer Lawrence – Don’t Look Up

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Bradley Cooper – Licorice Pizza

    Richard Jenkins – The Humans

    Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog

    Ciaran Hinds – Belfast

    Ben Affleck – The Tender Bar (This seems more like a Globes nomination than an Oscar one but I’m not confident about placing anyone else here)

    Could Jump In: Jamie Dornan – Belfast, Corey Hawkins – The Tragedy of Macbeth, Jesse Plemons – The Power of the Dog, Jared Leto – House of Gucci, Al Pacino – House of Gucci, Jon Bernthal – King Richard, JK Simmons – Being the Ricardos

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog

    Caitrona Balfe – Belfast

    Ruth Negga – Passing

    Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard

    Judi Dench – Belfast

    Could Jump In: Ann Dowd – Mass, Meryl Streep – Don’t Look Up, Marlee Matlin – CODA, Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter, Ariana DeBose – West Side Story, Martha Plimpton – Mass, Glenn Close – Swan Song

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Licorice Pizza

    Belfast

    Don’t Look Up

    King Richard

    The French Dispatch

    Could Jump In: Being the Ricardos, C’mon C’mon, Parallel Mothers, Mass, Spencer, A Hero, The Worst Person in the World

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    The Power of the Dog

    The Lost Daughter

    Nightmare Alley

    Passing

    House of Gucci

    Could Jump In: CODA, Dune, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Last Duel, The Humans, tick, tick…Boom!, West Side Story

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Flee

    Luca

    The Mitchells vs. the Machines

    Encanto

    Belle

    Could Jump In: Raya the Last Dragon, Sing 2, Ron’s Gone Wrong, The Summit of the Gods, Cryptozoo

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    Nightmare Alley

    Dune

    The Tragedy of Macbeth

    The French Dispatch

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: Belfast, Being the Ricardos, The Power of the Dog, The Last Duel, Cyrano, Spencer, Last Night in Soho, Licorice Pizza

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Dune

    The Tragedy of Macbeth (From the trailers alone, this or Spencer is what I want to win here, though both are not too likely. I love the German Expressionism chiaroscuro used here. It’s stunning)

    The Power of the Dog

    Belfast

    Nightmare Alley

    Could Jump In: Spencer (this looks so beautiful, Claire Mathon is so underrated), The French Dispatch, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, Cyrano, C’mon C’mon, Passing, The Green Knight

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Nightmare Alley

    Dune

    Being the Ricardos

    Cruella

    Spencer

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Belfast, Cyrano, House of Gucci, West Side Story

    BEST EDITING

    Dune

    Belfast

    The Power of the Dog

    Don’t Look Up

    King Richard

    Could Jump In: Nightmare Alley, Licorice Pizza, West Side Story, Being the Ricardos, The Matrix Resurrections, House of Gucci, The Last Duel, The French Dispatch, No Time to Die, The Tragedy of Macbeth

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    Being the Ricardos

    Dune

    The Eyes of Tammy Faye

    House of Gucci

    Cruella

    Could Jump In: The Suicide Squad, Spencer, Nightmare Alley, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza, King Richard, The French Dispatch

    BEST SOUND

    Dune

    West Side Story

    Belfast

    No Time to Die

    The Matrix Resurrections

    Could Jump In: tick, tick…Boom, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog, Eternals, King Richard, The Last Duel, A Quiet Place Part II

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Dune

    Eternals

    The Matrix Resurrections

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    Could Jump In: Godzilla vs. Kong, Free Guy, Nightmare Alley, The Suicide Squad, No Time to Die, Black Widow, The Green Knight

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Dune (With the hype this Hans Zimmer score had, the final product is slightly underwhelming but until I hear more of the others I don’t know what can beat it)

    The Power of the Dog (I liked this, I don’t know if it’s a winning score but it sounds great)

    Spencer (If this film ends up getting a Best Picture nomination, I can see this score winning)

    The French Dispatch (Desplat was nominated for Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel and I don’t think this is a dip in quality so I think he can get in)

    Don’t Look Up

    Could Jump In: The Tragedy of Macbeth, Belfast, Parallel Mothers, Nightmare Alley, Luca, Licorice Pizza, Cyrano

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    King Richard

    No Time to Die

    Belfast

    Encanto

    The Rescue

    Could Jump In: Cyrano, Four Good Days, Annette, CODA, The Harder They Fall, Respect, Dear Evan Hansen, The Automat, Don’t Look Up

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

    The Worst Person in the World

    The Hand of God

    A Hero

    Flee

    I’m Your Man

    Could Jump In: Compartment No. 6, Titane, Drive My Car, Leave No Traces, Prayers for the Stolen, Unclenching the Fists, Lamb

  • 2022 Oscars: Late September Oscar Predictions

    2022 Oscars: Late September Oscar Predictions

    We finally have sure things in this race. The Power of the Dog and Belfast are locks for Best Picture nominations after their success at TIFF. And Dune, which did not meet the high expectations for it in critics’ ratings (its 76 Metascore is pretty good but not fantastic) but it seems to be making up for that in box office success and popular acclaim. However, while the film is doing well overseas, if it ends up flopping stateside it will most likely end up like Blade Runner 2049: an underseen Villenueve gem that is limited to just tech nominations. Still, I doubt that it will flop too badly as it has had a strong performance internationally.

    Nightmare Alley’s trailer was released and this kind of noir-y psychological thriller needs stellar reviews to get into Best Picture. If it doesn’t have popular acclaim and/or critical acclaim (at least 85+ Metascore), then it might miss. But Guillermo del Toro and that all-star cast give me confidence to place it as high as I have it.

    The Tragedy of Macbeth premiered at New York around a week ago and has received stellar reviews from many critics (it has a 90 Metascore right now). Even though many say that it might not be exactly on the Academy’s wavelength, Denzel Washington, and Frances McDormand, and Joel Coen are too beloved in the industry and it’s hard for me to believe that a film with those three and fantastic reviews will not get into Picture.

    The trailer for Licorice Pizza came out (officially) yesterday and it looks like Paul Thomas Anderson’s most accessible film yet. PTA has still never won an Oscar even though he’s been nominated eight time and this coming-of-age period dramedy could be his ticket to finally getting some Oscar love.

    The most important section of fall festival season has come to a close and other than films that have been previously-mentioned, films like King Richard, Spencer, Parallel Mothers, and The Lost Daughter have definitely made an impact. Of these four films, King Richard has the best chance of a Best Picture nominations and looks to be the kind of crowdpleaser that receives support from both general audiences and critics. Spencer and Parallel Mothers also have received acclaim and I project both to receive Best Actress nominations (for Kristen Stewart and Penelope Cruz respectively). Both have 85 Metascores but have different struggles that could be obstacles on their way to the Oscars. Spencer may be too artsy and inaccessible for the Academy while Parallel Mothers, the more accessible film, might not be able to transcend its status as an International Feature and get the eyeballs it needs to be nominated. The Lost Daughter has an 88 Metascore and a pretty well-known cast yet the subject matter may be too edgy for the Academy at large, though I do think it can get an Adapted Screenplay nom.

    BEST PICTURE

    The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

    Belfast (Focus)

    Dune (Warner Bros.)

    Nightmare Alley (Searchlight)

    Don’t Look Up (Netflix)

    Licorice Pizza (MGM)

    West Side Story (20th Century)

    The Tragedy of Macbeth (A24/Apple TV+)

    King Richard (Warner Bros.)

    Spencer (NEON)

    Could Jump In: House of Gucci, Being the Ricardos, Parallel Mothers, The French Dispatch, Passing, The Hand of God, The Lost Daughter, C’mon C’mon, The Humans, CODA, A Hero, Tick, Tick…Boom!, Eternals, Mass, The Tender Bar

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog

    Denis Villeneuve – Dune

    Kenneth Branagh – Belfast

    Joel Coen – The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Guillermo del Toro – Nightmare Alley

    Could Jump In: Pedro Almodovar – Parallel Mothers, Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza, Steven Spielberg – West Side Story, Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch, Pablo Larrain – Spencer, Adam McKay – Don’t Look Up, Ridley Scott – House of Gucci, Paolo Sorrentino – The Hand of God, Chloe Zhao – Eternals, Reinaldo Marcus Green – King Richard

    BEST ACTOR

    Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog

    Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Will Smith – King Richard

    Bradley Cooper – Nightmare Alley

    Leonardo Dicaprio – Don’t Look Up

    Could Jump In: Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon, Peter Dinklage – Cyrano, Adam Driver – House of Gucci, Jamie Dornan – Belfast, Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick…Boom!, Clifton Collins Jr. – Jockey, Oscar Isaac – The Card Counter

    BEST ACTRESS

    Kristen Stewart – Spencer

    Frances McDormand – The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye

    Jennifer Hudson – Respect

    Penelope Cruz – Parallel Mothers

    Could Jump In: Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos (if it comes out this year she’s in), Lady Gaga – House of Gucci, Caitrona Balfe – Belfast, Cate Blanchett – Nightmare Alley, Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter, Tessa Thompson – Passing, Jennifer Lawrence – Don’t Look Up

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    Kirsten Dunst – The Power of the Dog

    Ruth Negga – Passing

    Judi Dench – Belfast (Or Caitrona Balfe if she is slotted in here)

    Toni Colette – Nightmare Alley (Or Cate Blanchett if she is slotted in here)

    Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard

    Could Jump In: Ann Dowd – Mass, Meryl Streep – Don’t Look Up, Jayne Houdyshell – The Humans, Marlee Matlin – CODA, Ariana DeBose – West Side Story, Rooney Mara – Nightmare Alley, Glenn Close – Swan Song

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    Richard Jenkins – The Humans

    Bradley Cooper – Licorice Pizza

    Ciaran Hinds – Belfast

    Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog

    Corey Hawkins – The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Could Jump In: Jamie Dornan – Belfast, Jared Leto – House of Gucci, Jesse Plemons – The Power of the Dog, JK Simmons – Being the Ricardos, Jason Isaacs – Mass, Al Pacino – House of Gucci, Jon Bernthal – King Richard

    BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    Licorice Pizza

    Belfast

    Don’t Look Up

    King Richard

    The French Dispatch

    Could Jump In: Parallel Mothers, Being the Ricardos, Spencer, C’mon C’mon, Mass, The Hand of God, A Hero, The Worst Person in the World

    BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    The Power of the Dog

    Nightmare Alley

    The Lost Daughter

    Dune

    House of Gucci

    Could Jump In: Passing, The Tragedy of Macbeth, CODA, The Humans, The Tender Bar, West Side Story, The Last Duel

    BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

    Flee

    Luca

    The Mitchells vs. the Machines

    Encanto

    Belle

    Could Jump In: Raya and the Last Dragon, Where is Anne Frank?, Sing 2, Vivo, Cryptozoo

    BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

    The French Dispatch

    West Side Story

    Nightmare Alley

    Dune

    Belfast

    Could Jump In: Being the Ricardos (if it releases this year it’s in), Licorice Pizza, The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Last Duel, Spencer, Passing, The Power of the Dog

    BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

    Dune

    The Tragedy of Macbeth

    Belfast

    The Power of the Dog

    West Side Story

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, Spencer, Nightmare Alley, Licorice Pizza, Passing

    BEST COSTUME DESIGN

    Spencer

    Nightmare Alley

    Dune

    The French Dispatch

    Belfast

    Could Jump In: Being the Ricardos (will be here if it’s released this year), Cruella, Respect, West Side Story, House of Gucci

    BEST EDITING

    Dune

    Don’t Look Up

    Belfast

    The Power of the Dog

    Nightmare Alley

    Could Jump In: King Richard, The French Dispatch, Licorice Pizza, Eternals, Being the Ricardos

    BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    The Eyes of Tammy Faye

    House of Gucci

    Cruella

    Spencer

    Dune

    Could Jump In: Being the Ricardos (if it releases this year it’s in), The Suicide Squad, Respect, King Richard, The French Dispatch

    BEST SOUND

    Dune

    Eternals

    West Side Story

    No Time to Die

    Belfast

    Could Jump In: Don’t Look Up, Tick, Tick…Boom, A Quiet Place Part II, The Power of the Dog, The Matrix: Resurrections

    BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

    Dune

    Eternals

    The Matrix: Resurrections

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    The Tomorrow War

    Could Jump In: Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings, Godzilla vs Kong, The Suicide Squad, No Time to Die, Black Widow

    Hans Zimmer (Dune and No Time to Die; Zimmer has a couple other scores from this year but hopefully nobody is seriously considering The Boss Baby 2 in this category), Alexandre Desplat Nightmare Alley and The French Dispatch), and Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog and Spencer; Greenwood also has Licorice Pizza) all have at least two scores in contention this year. I am pretty sure at least one of them will be double-nominated

    BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

    Dune

    The Power of the Dog

    Nightmare Alley

    Spencer

    Don’t Look Up

    Could Jump In: The French Dispatch, Parallel Mothers, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Luca, Eternals

    BEST ORIGINAL SONG

    No Time to Die

    King Richard

    Encanto

    Respect

    Annette

    Could Jump In: Belfast, Cyrano, Dear Evan Hansen, The Starling, The Automat

    BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

    Parallel Mothers

    A Hero

    The Hand of God

    The Worst Person in the World

    Flee

    Could Jump In: Happening or Petite Maman (I don’t see France choosing Titane when these two are available but they might), Compartment No. 6, I’m Your Man, Drive My Car

  • ‘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

  • Telluride 2021 Recap

    Telluride 2021 Recap

    As Telluride wraps up, let’s review the Oscar chances of some of the films exiting the festival.

    Belfast

    After The Power of the Dog, Belfast is the Telluride film that I believe has the best chance of receiving a Best Picture nomination. Kenneth Branagh’s newest is a sentimental autobiographical portrait of the Troubles and the director’s burgeoning love of cinema. The central actor Jude Hill who plays the young Buddy has probably been the most acclaimed of the cast, yet his status as a child actor will probably keep him from being nominated. Caitrona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, and Ciaran Hinds have all received positive notices but I think Balfe will be the one to rise above the pack and get a nomination. As it is a period film shot in mostly black and white so it’ll probably receive some tech nominations as well.

    The film does seem a little maudlin and oversentimental but I see it having a good chance of getting into the 10 film lineup at this point.

    Predicted nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress – Caitrona Balfe, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design

    Maybes: Best Director, Best Supporting Actress – Judi Dench, Best Editing, Best Costume Design

    C’mon C’mon

    Mike Mills has also come out with a black and white film centering around a child, yet his film couldn’t be more different. According to reviews, Joaquin Phoenix gives a subtle and poignant performance as a radio journalist talking to his nephew about the future. The film will probably be too indie for a Best Picture nomination and while I don’t think either is going to happen, both Phoenix and Mills could possibly receive nominations for their work on the film.

    Predicted Nominations: N/A

    Maybes: Best Actor – Joaquin Phoenix, Best Original Screenplay

    Cyrano

    This film coming from the director of Darkest Hour and Atonement, both Best Picture nominees in their respective years. However, Cyrano will likely not be his next. While the film has received mostly positive reviews, there doesn’t seem to be much passion for it. Peter Dinklage seems to be the obvious standout from the cast and the costume and production design of this musical have also been acclaimed. However, I really don’t see this getting near the Oscars outside of the below-the-line categories.

    Predicted Nominations: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design

    Maybes: Best Actor – Peter Dinklage, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling

    The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

    Like Cyrano, this Benedict Cumberbatch-led film is also a period piece that I don’t think will get good enough reviews to get into Best Picture. However, I can see it possibly getting a runner-up spot at the TIFF People’s Choice Awards and if it does watch out as it may be a major crowdpleaser that get into the slate based on audience support. However, until Toronto happens, I think this is restricted to a Costume Design nod and maybe a Production Design nomination as well.

    Predicted Nominations: Best Costume Design

    Maybes: Best Production Design

    The Hand of God

    This is a film that I was predicting in Best Picture just a few days prior to its premiere and while I think that it’s still in the top 15 in that category, the film’s 77% Rotten Tomatoes and 76 Metascore are not as great as I was expecting them to be. Still, the film has some very passionate supporters and the criticisms of it seem like aspects that might actually make it more accessible to AMPAS. Anyway, I definitely do think its essentially locked for an International Feature nod.

    Predicted Nominations: Best International Feature

    Maybes: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography

    A Hero

    A Hero might be one of the biggest question marks for me. It still has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes meaning that everybody believes it to be a good film but it doesn’t seem to be eliciting the kind of passion from critics that I hoped it would. I definitely still think it will be nominated in International Feature but my hopes for it to be nominated in any above-the-line categories like Original Screenplay, Director, or even Picture have to be put on hold until we know how strong Amazon’s campaign for it will be.

    Predicted Nominations: Best International Feature

    Maybes: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay

    King Richard

    Until, this film premiered I was very worried about Will Smith’s chances in Best Actor. Films like Concussion and Collateral Beauty were visibly made with an Oscar nomination in mind yet both were not very well-received and ended up forgotten by nomination morning. I hoped that King Richard would not end up in the same boat and if early reactions are any indication the film has actually exceeded the expectations of many. According to reviews, Will Smith has delivered one of the best performances of his career (‘Moonlight’ director Barry Jenkins said Smith’s performance is up there with his work in ‘Ali’) in a feel-good crowdpleaser that celebrates Black excellence. Some even have it penciled in for a Best Picture nod.

    Predicted Nominations: Best Actor – Will Smith

    Maybes: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress – Aunjanue Ellis, Best Original Screenplay

    The Lost Daughter

    This Maggie Gylenhaal-directed feature has a fantastic cast (Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, and Peter Sarsgaard) and has been received very positively so far so why hasn’t it garnered much buzz? Well, it is slightly edgier drama and one of the many films on Netflix’s slate this year. However, if the reviews for this film continue to be stellar then I do see Netflix making a push for the film for its actresses and for a screenplay nomination. Adapted Screenplay seems like the film’s best chance as the film might end up being too small in the actress categories if Netflix doesn’t promote it enough.

    Predicted Nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay

    Maybes: Best Actress – Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actress – Jessie Buckley

    The Power of the Dog

    As I mentioned in my latest post, The Power of the Dog is easily this season’s closest thing to a surefire lock in the Best Picture nomination race. It’s received fantastic reviews and I would be surprised if it doesn’t rack up any Oscar wins in March. Unless something undeniable emerges later in the season, Jane Campion will likely become the third female Best Director winner. Maybe I’m getting really ahead of myself but I’m just happy that there is a film that I can have confidence in as there are a couple that I had a lot of expectations for and did not really meet those, admittedly high expectations review-wise (Dune, Last Night in Soho, and The Hand of God are some major examples).

    As I have said before, the reviews for this film are glowing. Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee seem to be the standouts and Plemons might get in as well.

    Predicted Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor – Benedict Cumberbatch, Best Supporting Actress – Kirsten Dunst, Best Supporting Actor – Kodi Smit-McPhee, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Score

    Maybes: Best Supporting Actor – Jesse Plemons, Best Editing, Best Costume Design

    Spencer

    Another film with a seemingly-locked nomination, Spencer’s central performance has been lauded as the best of Kristen Stewart’s career. This Pablo Larrain film, even though it is supposed to be more accessible than the director’s previously-nominated feature ‘Jackie’, doesn’t seem like it will be accessible enough for a Best Picture nomination. It seems to be particularly alienating some British critics who may not be reacting well to the film’s depiction of the royal family (if anything that makes me more intrigued to watch it).

    Predicted Nominations: Best Actress – Kristen Stewart, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Production Design

    Maybes: Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling

  • ‘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.

  • Telluride Film Festival Lineup Released

    Telluride Film Festival Lineup Released

    The Telluride Film Festival starts tomorrow and per the usual, the festival’s lineup was released one day before the films started screening.

    Telluride has a great track record and seven of the last ten Best Picture winners (the exceptions being 12 Years a Slave, Argo, and Green Book) screened at Telluride.

    Jane Campion, Riz Ahmed, and Peter Dinklage are receiving Silver Medallions this year. In the last 5 years Casey Affleck, Alfonso Cuaron, Renee Zellweger, Chloe Zhao, and Anthony Hopkins all received Silver Medallions at Telluride and won Oscars a few months later so watch out for these three (especially Campion).

    Here’s the Telluride 2021 lineup:

    THE AUTOMAT (d. Lisa Hurwitz, U.S., 2021) In person: Lisa Hurwitz 

    BECOMING COUSTEAU (d. Liz Garbus, U.S., 2021) In person: Liz Garbus

    BELFAST (d. Kenneth Branagh, U.K., 2021) In person: Kenneth Branagh, Jamie Dornan

    BERGMAN ISLAND (d. Mia Hansen-Løve, France/Germany/Sweden, 2021) In person: Mia Hansen-Løve

    BITTERBRUSH (d. Emelie Mahdavian, U.S., 2021) In person: Emelie Mahdavian, Colie Moline

    C’MON C’MON (d. Mike Mills, U.S., 2021) In person: Mike Mills, Gaby Hoffman, Molly Webster

    CITIZEN ASHE (d. Sam Pollard, Rex Miller, U.S./U.K., 2021) In person: Sam Pollard, Rex Miller

    COW (d. Andrea Arnold, U.K., 2021) In person: Andrea Arnold

    CYRANO (d. Joe Wright, U.K., 2021) In person: Joe Wright, Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Erica Schmidt, Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner

    THE DUKE (d. Roger Michell, U.K., 2021) In person: Roger Michell, Helen Mirren

    THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN (d. Will Sharpe, U.K., 2021) In person: Will Sharpe, Benedict Cumberbatch

    ENCOUNTER (d. Michael Pearce, U.S., 2021) In person: Michael Pearce

    FAUCI (d. John Hoffman, Janet Tobias, U.S., 2021) In person: John Hoffman, Janet Tobias, Steven Wakefield, Peter Staley

    FLEE (d. Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Denmark, 2021) In person: Jonas Poher Rasmussen

    HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG (d. Dayna Goldfine, Dan Geller, U.S., 2021) In person: Dan Geller, Dayna Goldfine, Sharon Robinson,

    THE HAND OF GOD (d. Paolo Sorrentino, Italy, 2021) In person: Paolo Sorrentino, Teresa Saponangelo, Luisa Ranieri, Filippo Scotti

    A HERO (d. Asghar Farhadi, Iran/France, 2021) In person: Asghar Farhadi

    JULIA (d. Julie Cohen, Betsy West, U.S., 2021) In person: Julie Cohen, Betsy West

    KING RICHARD (d. Reinaldo Marcus Green, U.S., 2021) In person: Reinaldo Marcus Green

    THE LOST DAUGHTER (d. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Greece/U.S./U.K./Israel, 2021) In person: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Ed Harris

    MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (d. Dean Fleischer-Camp, Jenny Slate, U.S, 2021) In person: Dean Fleischer-Camp, Jenny Slate

    MUHAMMAD ALI (d. Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon, U.S., 2021) In person: Sarah Burns, David McMahon, Rasheda Ali, Michael Bentt 

    NUCLEAR FAMILY (d. Ry Russo-Young, U.S., 2021) In person: Ry Russo-Young, Sandra Russo, Robin Young

    PETITE MAMAN (d. Céline Sciamma, France, 2021) In person: Céline Sciamma

    THE POWER OF THE DOG (d. Jane Campion, Australia/New Zealand, 2021) In person: Jane Campion, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons

    PROCESSION (d. Robert Greene, U.S., 2021) In person: Robert Greene, Dan Laurine, Ed Gavagan, Mike Foreman, Michael Sandridge, Joe Eldred, Tom Viviano, Terrick Trobough

    THE REAL CHARLIE CHAPLIN (d. James Spinney, Peter Middleton, U.S., 2021) In person: James Spinney, Peter Middleton

    RED ROCKET (d. Sean Baker, U.S., 2021) In person: Sean Baker, Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Ethan Darbone, Brittney Rodriguez, Suzanna Son

    THE RESCUE (d. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, U.S./U.K., 2021) In person: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Mitch Torrel, Thanet Natisri

    RIVER (d. Jennifer Peedom, Australia, 2021)

    THE SAME STORM (d. Peter Hedges, U.S., 2021) In person: Peter Hedges, Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker

    SPEER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (d. Vanessa Lapa, Israel/Austria/Germany, 2021) In person: Vanessa Lapa

    SPENCER (d. Pablo Larraín, U.K./Germany/Chile, 2021) In person: Pablo Larraín, Kristen Stewart

    TORN (d. Max Lowe, U.S., 2021) In person: Max Lowe, Conrad Anker, Jennifer Lowe-Anker, Isaac Lowe-Anker, Sam Lowe-Anker

    UNCLENCHING THE FISTS (d. Kira Kovalenko, Russia, 2021) In person: Kira Kovalenko

    THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (d. Todd Haynes, U.S., 2021) In person: Todd Haynes, Ed Lachman

    Source: The Film Stage