September is upon us, and has been for two weeks now, which means that it’s officially* awards season (*not officially). So, since this is a blog maintained by an oscars-crazed lunatic (my credentials include memorizing every best picture winner and also hating the whole thing), I’m going to go into depth, looking at pretty much every possible contender for awards. There’s so much to go through here, so this introduction is now over. On to the movies, of which there are several.
I will continue to update this post as awards season progresses.
The Two Popes- dir. Fernando Meirelles
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jonathan Pryce), Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay
This, in my mind, is the one to watch. Starring two beloved veteran actors playing noted figures and already getting rave reviews that indicate that it could contend for best picture. In addition to this, it has to be the heavy favorite for best actor for Pryce. He’s a fantastic actor who’s never won, and there is the Anthony McCarten effect- he’s penned the scripts for the last two best actor winners (Bohemian Rhapsody and Darkest Hour), in addition to 2014’s The Theory of Everything, which also won that award.
Harriet- dir. Kasi Lemmons
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay
This is a biopic about Harriet Tubman, making it an immediate contender. Erivo was phenomenal last year in Widows and Bad Times at the El Royale, and seems like one of two major contenders for best actress (more on that later). And Lemmons has been around for a while and never contended for anything awards-wise. This one is a clear contender.
1917- dir. Sam Mendes
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins)
Mendes has won already for American Beauty and this is his return to non-franchise movies after a couple James Bond movies. This is a serious best picture contender, but the one that it has to be the favorite for is cinematography. The legendary Roger Deakins finally won for Blade Runner 2049 two years ago and made his return this year with two movies. The first is The Goldfinch, which will not be mentioned in this preview due to being relentlessly crapped on by critics. The second is 1917, which is apparently shot in one continuous long take (or looks like it. Think Birdman or Rope). Maybe the academy won’t go for Deakins twice in such a short period of time, but that feels unlikely with this subject matter. Oh, and it’s a war movie, so that’s why it’s a best picture contender.
Marriage Story- dir. Noah Baumbach
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Adam Driver), Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Best supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Best Original Screenplay
The reviews for this one surprised me, not because they were overwhelmingly positive, I saw that coming, but because it could be a big contender. This film, along with The Report, is one of the roles that signals that it could be Driver’s year to win, but the biggest chance this movie has at an Oscar is Laura Dern, whose role looks like her strongest chance to win one of these (oh please please god please). It’s also one of Netflix’s many films of note this season, with The Two Popes being the strongest. But it’s about time that Baumbach had a contender, and this looks like the one.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood- dir. Quentin Tarantino
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Margot Robbie)
I’ve written extensively on this film, my favorite of the year so far, already. Suffice it to say that DiCaprio’s career best performance should garner attention, as should Brad Pitt’s co-lead turn that will probably be campaigned for as supporting. Robbie should and hopefully will contend for supporting actress. This might also be the one that gets Tarantino his picture or director win, as it’d be a fitting one to award him for. The screenplay rules too. I love this movie.
The Irishman- dir. Martin Scorsese
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor (Robert DeNiro), Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Best Visual Effects
Scorsese’s three and a half hour (too short, if you ask me) Netflix mob epic should be interesting. No reviews here yet, as it hasn’t yet debuted. DeNiro’s performance should be one to watch, as should Pesci’s. The material is perfect for an oscar contender, and it seems like the kind of thing that Scorsese usually nails. The most interesting thing here, however, is visual effects. The de-aging has been the subject of a lot of the conversation around the film. It could make or break the whole thing, and it’s the first time something like this has been attempted. It could be a big contender in that category if it all goes well.
Parasite- dir. Bong Joon-Ho
Awards contending for: Best picture, Best Director, Best International Film
Bong’s Palme d’Or winner has been called the best film of the year by many critics. After Roma broke into the race last year, earning 10 nominations and 3 awards, the opportunity for a foreign film to win has never been more real. This is at least a lock for international film, which South Korea has never won. If it were to win the big one, it would be the second Palme d’Or winner to win Best Picture. The first? 1955’s Marty, the first Palme winner.
Ford v Ferrari- dir. James Mangold
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Mixing/Editing
Logan director James Mangold breaks into the Oscar race with this racing drama. It looks like the perfect contender, boasting everything from a period setting to Christian Bale. It has received praise from critics, including some who have pointed out that it feels like a strong contender for sound awards.
Joker- dir. Todd Phillips
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best adapted screenplay, Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix)
Look, I’m not gonna get into the discourse on this one (mainly because I haven’t seen it yet). But it’s clearly a major contender after its Venice Golden Lion win (the last two winners of that were Roma and The Shape of Water). Phoenix is the strongest contender here: he’s overdue for a win and would be the second person to play the Joker to win an Oscar for it. The film’s best picture chances mainly hinge on whether or not it’s perceived as “too dangerous”, which, I’m sorry, is ridiculous. I know I said no discourse but if a movie is taken the wrong way by someone, it isn’t the movie’s fault. That being said, I haven’t seen it. This is one to watch, for several reasons.
The Report- dir. Scott Z Burns
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Adam Driver), Best Supporting Actress (Annette Bening) Best Original Screenplay
This sounds like a pretty standard Oscar contender- based on recent real events, well reviewed, about people searching for the truth about other people who are doing evil things and etc. Like I said, standard. But Driver rules and so does Bening, so I don’t know.
Pain and Glory- dir. Pedro Almodovar
Awards contending for: Best International Film, Best Actor (Antonio Banderas)
Almodovar! The legendary Spanish director is already a 2-time Oscar winner- he took the 2000 International (then-Foreign language) film award for his classic All About My Mother. More impressively, his 2002 masterpiece Talk to Her won Best Original Screenplay, the first foreign language winner of said award since 1966. For his 2006 film Volver, Penelope Cruz earned a best Actress nod. So what I’m saying is, his films have shown an ability to earn Oscar nominations. Pain and Glory sounds like a deeply personal film in the vein of Fellini’s 8 1/2. It’s an international film nom lock and a legitimate Actor contender. Don’t be shocked if it can sneak into the screenplay, picture, or director race.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood- dir. Marielle Heller
Awards Contending For: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Tom Hanks), Best Adapted Screenplay
Heller directed last year’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, which earned 3 nominations. That film, however, was not based on the life of a beloved historical figure (it handled the story of a generally derided one). This is a Mr Rogers biopic featuring Tom Hanks. This is an easy one. Also, Hanks has never been nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, this would be his first.
Jojo Rabbit- dir. Taika Waititi
Awards Contending for: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay
Jojo Rabbit is, in the wake of its TIFF premiere, an interesting one. This is Fox Searchlight’s big contender this year, which automatically makes it one to watch. What We Do in the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi has, oddly, become an Oscar contender (YESSSSS), but things could get complicated: this has been getting seriously mixed reviews. Some critics are calling it brilliant, and some are calling it trash. The consensus emerging is that it contains a great use of a David Bowie song, so I’m trying to guess which one it is. Oh and also I’m worried that it’s gonna be bad, which would suck. This one is extremely interesting.
UPDATE: Oh boy. Jojo Rabbit just won the People’s Choice Award at Toronto. That solidifies it as a major player and a lock for a best picture nod. Last year’s winner, was Green Book, which… I don’t feel like talking about it but you all know what happened there. Jojo Rabbit instantly becomes impossible to ignore.
Judy- dir. Rupert Goold
Awards Contending for: Best Actress (Renee Zellweger)
Here’s the other half of the Best Actress race, along with Harriet. Zellweger is already an Oscar winner, but she hasn’t really been around for a while. This is a perfect choice for a comeback role- playing a famed tragic actress is total Oscar bait. That’s about all this one can contend for, though.
The Farewell- dir. Lulu Wang
Awards Contending for: Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress (Awkwafina), Best Picture
This is another interesting one. I doubt it can grab a picture nod, but it’s not out of the question. The other two listed awards are also maybes at best, but they’re conceivable. This one could really go either way.
The Lion King- dir. Jon Favreau
Awards contending for: Best animated feature (if they get off their stupid high horse and admit that it’s animated), Best original song (I’m pretty sure, I don’t have the energy to look it up for this movie.)
Blech.
Rocketman- dir. Dexter Fletcher
Awards Contending for: Best Actor (Taron Egerton), Best Original Song ((I’m Gonna) Love Me Again by Elton John and Taron Egerton), Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing
Egerton is the biggest contender here. He’s playing Elton John and, unlike last year’s Best Actor winner who played a legendary singer, did his own singing (Not bitter at all). He probably won’t win, as the Best Actor race is crowded this year. Song is another one that it could potentially win, because, again, Elton John. This is, however, a biopic, so it’s gonna be hard to ignore come awards season. However, unlike Bohemian Rhapsody, this one isn’t a drooling celebration of how its subject matter was the second coming of Jesus Christ (NOPE NOT BITTER THAT IT WON FOUR OSCARS), it’s more of an accurate depiction of the ups and downs of his life, which could hurt it. Anyway I love this movie and I hope it wins everything.
Little Women- dir. Greta Gerwig
Awards contending for: Best picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan)
Adaptation of a beloved period novel directed by a former Oscar nominee and starring a beloved nominee (Ronan). This is a slam dunk for multiple nods, and it’ll probably be great. This is an easy one.
The Laundromat- dir. Steven Soderbergh
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Meryl Streep), Best Original Screenplay
Although apparently, this one isn’t a big awards season priority for Netflix, it has an awards season pedigree- Soderbergh is always one to watch and that’s nothing compared with Streep’s stature. Another to watch, but maybe not a huge one.
Toy Story 4- dir. Josh Cooley
Awards contending for: Best Animated film, Best Original Song (The Ballad of the lonesome cowboy by Randy Newman and Chris Stapleton)
Pixar. Toy Story movie. 3 won for animated film, and the first two only didn’t because the award didn’t exist. It probably wouldn’t if they hadn’t existed. You can pencil this one in as the winner now.
Bombshell- dir. Jay Roach
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best original screenplay, Best actress (Charlize Theron), Best supporting actress (Nicole Kidman)
Coinciding with the Roger Ailes miniseries starring Russell Crowe, this film about fox news employees rising up against the culture of toxic masculinity sounds like this year’s Vice- a film about the current political climate that should appeal to Academy voters. This is a bit of an unknown, as another one without any reviews out, so we don’t know how it’ll be received.
Us- dir. Jordan Peele
Awards contending for: Best Actress (Lupita Nyong’o), Best original screenplay
Nyong’o delivers- hot take time!- the greatest performance in horror movie history and one of the greatest ever (I’m a sucker for dual roles. My favorite Gyllenhaal performance is Enemy). If anything, actress and screenplay are this masterpiece’s only hope. In an ideal world, this would be a serious contender for best picture, Lupita would be a lock, and It Follows cinematographer Mike Gioulakis would get recognized for his stellar work. Give it all the Oscars ever. Sadly, that won’t happen. But for the moment when I was writing this paragraph it sounded like a reality, and that was fun.
Uncut Gems- dir. Josh and Benny Safdie
Awards contending for: Best Actor (Adam Sandler), Best Original Screenplay
Sandler’s dramatic roles have historically ruled (see Punch Drunk Love), and this sounds like his best shot at an Oscar. The Safdie brothers, known for 2017’s Pattinson-starring crime thriller Good Time, have, according to reviews, created a film that stays true to their distinct style and also has a shot at awards.
A Hidden Life- dir. Terrence Malick
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best cinematography
Malick’s best-reviewed film since 2011’s The Tree of Life is consequently his biggest contender. Yet, it’s kind of a longshot- Malick’s recent work hasn’t attracted academy attention and it isn’t really being pushed hard. Still, it’s definitely one to watch.
Dolemite is my Name- dir. Craig Brewer
Awards contending for: Best Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best original screenplay
Netflix’s Rudy Ray Moore biopic could land Murphy his second Oscar nod (after Dreamgirls). This would be his first lead actor nomination, which is realistic because it’s a biopic, which is the only way you’re allowed to be nominated for Oscars. Not bitter.
Hustlers- dir. Lorene Scafaria
Awards contending for: Best supporting actress (Jennifer Lopez), Best adapted screenplay
In the wake of the stellar reviews of this film, with some comparing it to the work of Martin Scorsese, Lopez has emerged as an Oscar hopeful out of the blue. If the Academy is as kind to the film as critics have been, more recognition could be in order, and the screenplay category could be the place.
The Lighthouse- dir. Robert Eggers
Awards Contending For: Best Actor (Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe), Best Cinematography
The Witch director Robert Eggers returns after four years with this awesome-looking psychological nightmare. I’m not sure if this can really break into the Oscar race, but maybe. And it’s gonna rule.
Just Mercy- dir. Destin Daniel Cretton
Awards Contending For: Best actor (Michael B Jordan), Best Supporting Actor (Jamie Foxx), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture
Foxx is the big contender here, but I don’t think you can rule it out for other awards. By the way, we’ve long ago reached the portion where all of these are longshots in everything, especially Best Picture. But this one feels like it could sneak in late.
Honey Boy- dir. Alma Har’el
Awards Contending For: Best supporting actor (Shia LaBeouf), Best Original Screenplay
This film, in which Shia LaBeouf plays his own abusive father, could get him some consideration. I’m not sure if it can get anything above that, but it’s worth noting.
Avengers: Endgame- dir. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Awards Contending For: Best Visual Effects, Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert Downey Jr)
Outside of visual effects, this probably won’t be nominated for anything. The best actor field is too crowded for Downey to sneak in, and it doesn’t have the cultural pull that brought Black Panther into the best picture fold. Still, it’s worth mentioning this because of its immense popularity and the fact that people think that it deserves Oscars because it capped off a 10 year run of superhero movies (not bitter. Although I did love this movie for that reason, even though I don’t think it should garner Oscar nods).
The Aeronauts- dir. Tom Harper
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Actress (Felicity Jones), Best supporting actor (Eddie Redmayne)
I think that this one is gonna get attention- it feels like the kind of bland period thing that the Oscars love. And apparently Jones is pretty good.
Motherless Brooklyn- dir. Edward Norton
Awards contending for: Best picture, Best Actor (Norton), Best Original Song (Daily Battles by Thom Yorke)
The reviews here aren’t very good, which isn’t a good sign, but the fact that it’s Norton’s passion project still holds weight. Apparently the song is great. I haven’t heard it but it sounds like it’s gonna contend.
Cats- dir. Tom Hooper
Awards contending for: Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, probably more
I’m dead serious. I had this pegged as best picture material since it was announced. It’s a musical, it’s directed by perennial Oscar bait peddler Tom Hooper, and it’s gonna suck (I was scared of this movie BEFORE IT WAS COOL). Then the trailer came along and made it a joke. But I still think it’s a contender for all the same reasons as before. And it’s guaranteed to win for DIGITAL FUR TECHNOLOGY.
This concludes the awards preview, in which I’ve covered 33 films. Which means I left at least one massive contender off that nobody sees coming. Because the Oscars are dumb. And yet I still love them. I’m gonna go lie down.
The Movie Files 