2017 was one of the few banner years for queer film at the Oscars. “Call me by Your Name” was a Best Picture nominee and took home the Adapted Screenplay award. “A Fantastic Woman” won Foreign Language Feature and in doing so, became the first film with an openly transgender performer in a lead role. Cinemas in 2018 have been home to a plethora of LGBT themed movies that could make for the gayest Oscars yet. As LGBT History Month draws to a close, let’s take a look at this year’s crop of queer contenders.
The highest profile Oscar contender about queer life is “The Favourite.” The period film features Olivia Colman as a devilish Queen Anne, with Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone jockeying for her attention. The performances have captured major attention, having already landed a win for Ensemble Performance from the Gotham Awards. Colman claimed the Best Actress prize at Venice, and the film was nominated for the Queer Lion and won the Grand Jury Prize.
While Yorgos Lanthimos has a style all his own, this film is much more accessible than his previous outings such as “The Lobster.” With excellent word of mouth, “The Favourite” is poised to become the biggest nomination getter of any LGBT themed flick this year. The film currently ranks fourth in Gold Derby’s combined odds for Best Picture.
Though the film has widespread appeal, there is always a chance it could fall out of the top race just like “Carol.” Directed by auteur Todd Haynes, “Carol” was widely predicted to be a Best Picture player. But ultimately the Haynes style left too many voters cold. The film received six nominations, including acting bids for Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as the central pair of lovers, but was snubbed for the top category.
“Colette” is another period piece in the Oscar hunt. The film is exciting for its decidedly queer sensibilities. Kiera Knightley and Dominic West have never been better: she as the title character who writes the infamous Claudine books, and he as the boorish husband whose name they are published under. Together they embark on a journey that examines women’s rights, queer identity, and contemporary ideas about monogamy and marriage.
The film could easily perform similar to “The Danish Girl,” a film about the first man to undergo gender reassignment surgery, whcih nabbed Oscar nominations for stars Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander (who won). It also netted Costume and Production Design nominations, which “Colette” could also manage. Knightley alters her physicality from what we are used to, as her character adopts a more androgynous persona. And West is making a similar play to Vikander, in that he really has a lead role but will compete in Supporting.
“Boy Erased” is based on Garrad Conley’s memoir and tells the story of a teen forced into gay conversion therapy after being outed to his conservative parents. “Dallas Buyers Club” showed that voters will still nominate heavy gay dramas in the top category. That film won two Academy Awards for stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. “Boy Erased” also has several acting plays. Lucas Hedges is in ninth place in the combined odds, and could be held back in a crowded Lead Actor field due to his other release this year “Ben is Back.” It’s always hard competing with yourself. But Nicole Kidman sits in sixth place for Supporting Actress. A past winner with four total nominations under her belt and undergoes a major evolution during the film certainly makes Kidman a major threat.
“Love, Simon” made waves when it released in the spring because it was the first ever major Hollywood rom-com about gay teenage romance. While the academy is generally adverse to this type of film,no matter how successful, “Love, Simon” has a much better chance with Golden Globe voters. “Love, Simon” will compete in the Musical/Comedy category at the Globes, where it sits in 10th place in our combined odds. But all hope is not lost, as the Globes have nominated queer stories in this category before, including “The Ritz,” “The Birdcage,” and “Pride.” Faring better than the film itself is leading man Nick Robinson, who is currently predicted to land a nomination as he places fifth in our combined odds for Musical/Comedy Actor. No matter if the film plays with awards groups or not, the fact that “Love, Simon” presents young gay people with a positive coming out story that has a happy ending means this film has already earned its place in LGBT history.
Looking at global Oscar entries, there are two films looking to follow in the footsteps of “A Fantastic Woman” and keep the Foreign Language Feature category in the queer family. “Girl” is the official entry from Belgium. Like last year’s Foreign Language winner, this film features a transgender lead. It focuses on a 15-year-old transgender girl Lara who attempts to balance the rigors of performing with a ballet company as she prepares for gender reassignment surgery. When it screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year it won the Queer Palm award and the Camera D’Or for best first feature.
Argentina has also selected an gay tinged movie as their Oscar entry. “El Angel” comes from director Luis Ortega and chronicles the life of infamous baby-faced killer Carlos Puch. The film gives plenty of attention to the boyish features that dubbed Carlos “The Angel of Death,” and delves into the homoerotic bond he had with his partner in crime. The film was another nominee for the Queer Palm at Cannes.
Be sure to check out how our experts rank this year’s Oscar contenders. Then take a look at the most up-to-date combined odds before you make your own Oscar predictions. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before nominations are announced on January 22.
Gold Derby by Sam Eckmann
