{"id":10181,"date":"2020-12-23T17:21:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T16:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.queerlion.it\/?p=10181"},"modified":"2020-12-24T17:44:04","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T16:44:04","slug":"usa-the-best-picture-race-potential-strengths-and-vulnerabilities-of-the-top-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.queerlion.it\/en\/usa-the-best-picture-race-potential-strengths-and-vulnerabilities-of-the-top-films\/","title":{"rendered":"Usa: The Best Picture Race, Potential Strengths and Vulnerabilities of the Top Films"},"content":{"rendered":"

It seems like every year prognosticators are declaring the Oscar race to be the most unpredictable yet, but this time, we swear it\u2019s true! With theaters all but shut down and studios unable to screen films live where they can sense the reaction, the playing field feels wide open. And there are still four months to go! For now,\u00a0Variety<\/em> took a look at the films competing for best picture\u00a0and what their perceived strengths and vulnerabilities could be in the eyes of voters.<\/p>\n

Ammonite<\/strong>
\n(Neon)<\/strong>
\nInspired by the life of self-taught paleontologist Mary Anning, this romantic drama features standout turns from Kate Winslet (as Anning) and Saoirse Ronan as the unhappy young woman who comes to study with her, then falls in love.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0The pairing of Winslet and Ronan has piqued a lot of interest; it\u2019s a period piece with superior below-the-line elements. Focusing on an invisible woman whose contributions to history are continually overlooked or credited to men, the subject matter feels timely.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Box office is hard to gauge in COVID, but the film opened with little fanfare in November.<\/p>\n

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm<\/strong>
\n(Amazon)<\/strong>
\nSacha Baron Cohen brings his lovable idiot back for a sequel to the 2004 movie, with a political and feminist twist.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Everyone has seen it, most people love it and it\u2019s certainly got everyone talking. The original \u201cBorat\u201d landed an Oscar nomination for its screenplay and a best picture \u2014 musical or comedy nod from the Golden Globes, and many prognosticators believe Cohen was close to snagging a lead actor nomination. Cohen has a lot of goodwill for his work in \u201cThe Trial of the Chicago 7\u201d that could also boost his chances this year, and the sequel\u2019s breakout star, Maria Bakalova, is also generating major buzz for a supporting actress nom.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Comedies don\u2019t tend to fare well in the best picture race, let alone those shot in the style of \u201cBorat,\u201d where many of the participants aren\u2019t in on the joke.<\/p>\n

Cherry<\/strong>
\n(Apple TV Plus)<\/strong>
\nAnthony and Joe Russo leave \u201cThe Avengers\u201d behind to bring Nico Walker\u2019s story to the big screen, with Tom Holland playing the army medic turned bank robber.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0A showy turn by Holland is sure to intrigue and the subject matter \u2014 Holland\u2019s character becomes addicted to opiates and turns to crime to support his habit \u2014 couldn\u2019t be more timely.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s coming into the game late (Feb. 21 theatrical, March 12 on Apple TV Plus) and the jury is still out on how critics and audiences will react.<\/p>\n

Da 5 Bloods<\/strong>
\n(Netflix)<\/strong>
\nFour African-American veterans return to Vietnam to recover the gold they helped hide years ago and to bring home the remains of their leader.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Spike Lee\u2019s Vietnam drama was released in June, but remains in the conversation. Delroy Lindo\u2019s character still haunts months after. Perhaps the most poignant reason this film remains in the awards chatter-sphere is that it\u2019s one of Chadwick Boseman\u2019s last appearance before his untimely death. The film is a stellar example of filmmaking with an incredible history lesson to boot.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Did this come out too early? There seems to be little chatter around the film. Getting this back up on the radar might be a tough one.<\/p>\n

The Father<\/strong>
\n(Sony Classics)<\/strong>
\nAnthony Hopkins plays Anthony, an aging man who is slowly deteriorating, refusing any help from his daughter, played by Olivia Colman.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0ANTHONY HOPKINS. That last shot was done in one take, and if you\u2019ve seen the film, you\u2019ll know exactly what is being talked about. Hopkins appears in almost every scene and the film runs at the perfect time of just under 100 minutes. Its beauty lies in its simplicity \u2014 much of the action takes place inside Anthony\u2019s home, resembling a theatrical production \u2014 but that is what makes it practically perfect.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Voters might worry the subject matter is too sad; though good reviews and word of mouth should help this one.<\/p>\n

The Midnight Sky<\/strong>
\n(Netflix)<\/strong>
\nGeorge Clooney stars as Augustine, a scientist in a post-apocalyptic universe who races against time and the elements to stop astronauts from returning home to a global catastrophe.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Clooney is one of three people in Oscar history that have been nominated in six different categories. They love him, and he\u2019s found love for his directing efforts with \u201cGood Night, and Good Luck\u201d and is a best picture winning producer for \u201cArgo.\u201d It\u2019s also a competitive technical player, which typically amounts to a larger embrace in the Academy\u2019s top category.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Science fiction is not always a friendly genre that the Academy rewards. Clooney\u2019s past few directorial efforts have been overlooked.<\/p>\n

Minari<\/strong>
\n(A24)<\/strong>
\nWritten and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, this drama centers on a Korean-born man trying win his family\u2019s support as he pursues his dream of becoming a farmer in Arkansas in the 1980s.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0A24 and Plan B (Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt) worked together on \u201cMoonlight,\u201d so they know how to handle the awards terrain. And the biggest asset is the film itself, with expert work from writer-director Chung, and a trio of strong performances by Steven Yeun as the farmer, Yeri Han as his wife and a scene-stealing Yuh-Jung Youn as her mother. Chung\u2019s film is a testament to kindness, compassion and hard work, important messages in 2020.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0In a crowded season, this has no stars, it\u2019s largely in a foreign language and was made on a limited budget. A few years ago, some would have dismissed it as fodder only for the Indie Spirit Awards, but voters in the past few years have expanded their definition of \u201cOscar bait.\u201d A24 needs to woo people to get past the oddball plot description, because if they start watching, they will be hooked.<\/p>\n

Never Rarely Sometimes Always<\/strong>
\n(Focus Features)<\/strong>
\nSidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder star as Autumn and Skylar, a pair of teenagers from rural Pennsylvania who travel to New York City to seek help for an unintended pregnancy.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0The film harnesses two of the year\u2019s greatest discoveries in Flanigan and Ryder. A timely and poignant drama, where women\u2019s right-to-choose is a focus in the media, Eliza Hittman\u2019s writing and direction packs a wallop that stands out.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Standing next to bigger, louder movies, Hittman\u2019s film may fade into the background. It\u2019s also one of those that can be easily overlooked in a screener pile (or virtual screening room) if you\u2019re not directly looking for it.<\/p>\n

News of the World<\/strong>
\n(Universal)<\/strong>
\nFilmmaker Paul Greengrass reunites with his \u201cCaptain Phillips\u201d star Tom Hanks in a drama about a man who travels from town to town in 1870 southwest U.S., and who is forced to care for an orphaned girl (Helena Zengel).
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0From \u201cBloody Sunday\u201d to the \u201cBourne\u201d movies, Paul Greengrass continues to surprise and this offbeat Western has show-stopping sequences that remind viewers that he\u2019s a world-class filmmaker. He also taps into the expertise of his behind-the-camera group who all do excellent work, including DP Dariusz Wolski, editor William Goldenberg and production designer David Crank. The heart of the movie is the relationship of Hanks\u2019 and Zengel\u2019s characters; they and all the other
\nactors in the film deserve serious awards consideration.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0In a crowded season, voters may think they\u2019ve already seen this film (\u201cThe Searchers,\u201d \u201cTrue Grit,\u201d etc.) Universal needs to emphasize the originality and remind viewers to stick with the film, as it builds in power.<\/p>\n

Nomadland<\/strong>
\n(Searchlight Pictures)<\/strong>
\nFrances McDormand stars as a woman who embarks on a journey to live as a van-dwelling nomad.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Has run through the festival circuit, picking up audience and critics\u2019 awards and accolades along the way. Director Chlo\u00e9 Zhao has the been the talk of the awards season, and with star power like two-time Oscar-winner McDormand, the film could quickly become a critical darling. In a year that has been championing diversity, a movie about the white experience, as told by an Asian woman, hits exactly at the heart of inclusivity in the industry.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Being the frontrunner for so long doesn\u2019t allow anywhere else to go but down. It\u2019s also much quieter than any of the other contenders in the mix.<\/p>\n

One Night in Miami<\/strong>
\n(Amazon)<\/strong>
\nThe Amazon film, which says it was \u201cinspired by true events,\u201d is set in Miami in February 1964, after Cassius Clay became boxing\u2019s heavyweight world champion, and before he became Muhammad Ali.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Oscar-winner Regina King makes a strong big-screen directing debut, and elicits top performances from her four stars: Eli Goree as Cassius Clay, Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X, Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke and Aldis Hodge as Jim Brown. The film is an acting showcase for all four and for writer Kemp Powers, adapting his own play. (Kemp is also one of the writers of Pixar\u2019s \u201cSoul.\u201d) King offers straightforward storytelling without attempts at flash; after a crazy year, traditional filmmaking seems even more valuable than before, and the film offers insights into the life of a Black man in 1964 \u2014 and, by extension, in the 21st century.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0This year has several strong films set in the 1960s and\/or dealing with the Black experience in America. Amazon\u2019s \u201cOne Night\u201d needs to set itself apart from the others.<\/p>\n

On the Rocks<\/strong>
\n(A24\/Apple TV Plus)<\/strong>
\nSofia Coppola reunites with her \u201cLost in Translation\u201d star Bill Murray, playing the lovable cad of a father to Rashida Jones.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Coppola\u2019s films always come with an air of prestige and Murray, working with one of his best directors, has earned kudos.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Having come out in October, the awards buzz never really picked up steam, but people are still discovering it every day.<\/p>\n

Palm Springs<\/strong>
\n(Hulu\/Neon)<\/strong>
\nAndy Samberg and Cristin Milioti star as Nyles and Sarah, two people who meet at a wedding and get stuck in an infinite time loop.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0It may look like slapstick comedy to the untrained eye, but Max Barbakow\u2019s directorial debut, based on Andy Siara\u2019s screenplay, was the largest purchase in Sundance history (by 69 cents). Samberg and especially Milioti are remarkable in their roles, and if the Globes come calling, watch out for this to grab the attention of Academy members who are in the mood for lighter content after a year full of COVID.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Unfair but true, comedies are hard sells with voters. They\u2019ll need to see past J.K. Simmons shooting crossbows and Peter Gallagher love scenes.<\/p>\n

Pieces of a Woman<\/strong>
\n(Netflix)<\/strong>
\nA searing portrait of grief, Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf play a couple whose marriage is tested by the death of their newborn.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Kirby and Ellen Burstyn, who plays her mother, are all but sure things for acting nod. Director Korn\u00e9l Mundrucz\u00f3 could also garner attention from his branch for his assured hand, particularly with a raw, emotional birthing scene done entirely in real time and with one take.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0While critics have raved, it remains to be seen if voters will be able to get through the tough subject matter. It also might be seen as more of an actor\u2019s piece.<\/p>\n

The Prom<\/strong>
\n(Netflix)<\/strong>
\nBased on the Broadway show, down-on-their-luck Broadway stars find a \u201cgood cause\u201d to get behind. They head to small- town Indiana to help a young teenager who just wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0In a year where Broadway is closed, there is no shortage of show- stopping dance numbers, vibrancy and toe-tapping moments in Ryan Murphy\u2019s adaptation. There\u2019s a lot to love with this feel-good show. Meryl Streep\u2019s astounding performance as diva-esque Dee Dee Allen could well see her land a record- breaking 22nd Oscar nomination.
\nVulnerabilities<\/strong>: Will the Academy take to Murphy crossing into film territory? Or will voters just take \u201cThe Prom\u201d as pure entertainment and nothing else?<\/p>\n

Promising Young Woman<\/strong>
\n(Focus Features)<\/strong>
\nEmerald Fennell\u2019s smart, savage debut film is a dark comedy\/thriller starring a never-better Carey Mulligan as a former medical student who seeks to exact revenge on the male gender.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0One of the most talked-about entries, the film seems to be less divisive than expected \u2014 most reactions have been positive. Mulligan has a good shot at an actress nomination and Fennell\u2019s darkly funny script is truly original.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Did we mention it\u2019s dark? The subject matter and a female protagonist who doesn\u2019t asked to be liked might challenge some of the more conservative voters.<\/p>\n

Soul<\/strong>
\n(Pixar\/Disney Plus)<\/strong>
\nVoiced by Jamie Foxx, Joe is a middle-school teacher who just wants to be the best jazz musician out there. One day, he gets some great news, and on his way home, he falls down manhole and travels to the Great Before \u2014 where he finds himself separated from his body.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Arriving on Disney Plus on Christmas day, it will be there ready to stream for voters and their families, with no two-step authorization needed. Not only does it tackle Important Questions, it handles them in an accessible way \u2014 much like \u201cInside Out\u201d\u2014 and it\u2019s one of the most exquisite environments ever created by the Pixar team. And the film is diverse, featuring Pixar\u2019s first African-American lead protagonist.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0While the animated feature competition is interesting, will enough voters love it to push it into best picture, where only nine previous animated films have gone before? Will it get enough number one or two votes?<\/p>\n

Sound of Metal<\/strong>
\n(Amazon)<\/strong>
\nDirector\/co-writer Darius Marder\u2019s film centers on heavy-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed), who suddenly becomes deaf, and struggles to retain his career and restore his hearing.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0The film\u2019s many assets include the script (by Marder, Derek Cianfrance and Abraham Marder), direction, performances by Ahmed and supporting actor Paul Raci and the sound work of Nicolas Becker. The film offers insight into deaf culture, a world most audiences have not seen and which is presented with intelligence and compassion. And 2020 audiences will easily relate as Ruben\u2019s mentor tells him to \u201cLearn to be deaf\u201d and stop trying to recapture the past. It becomes a metaphor in the COVID era: Like Ruben, most people are waiting for life to return to \u201cnormal\u201d and fighting the fear that it might never happen. That factor will be a big plus for the film.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0The first 10 minutes immerse the audience in the world of heavy metal and struggling musicians who are not immediately sympathetic. Timid viewers might want to abandon ship at that point, but if they do, they\u2019re missing something special.<\/p>\n

Tenet<\/strong>
\n(Warner Bros.)<\/strong>
\nThe latest from Christopher Nolan, \u201cTenet\u201d is a smart, exciting spectacle full of plenty of \u201chow did they do that?\u201d moments we\u2019ve come to expect from the filmmaker.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Few directors can combine blockbuster entertainment with critical raves like Nolan and the film will have a lot of support from the below-the-line craftspeople.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Nolan\u2019s films have a spotty record in the best picture race and \u201cTenet\u201d might have been best viewed in a theater. However, its early December DVD release will help more people to see it, so it could see a surge of support.<\/p>\n

The Trial of the Chicago 7<\/strong>
\n(Netflix)<\/strong>
\nThe film dramatizes the protests at the 1968 Democrat convention in Chicago and the kangaroo-court trial of several antiwar protesters arrested there.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0The film has everything going for it. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, it\u2019s smart, emotional and well-made, both above and below the line. It\u2019s also got a wealth of vivid characters, and each of the actors, led by Mark Rylance, Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen, gets moments to shine. The work of cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, composer Daniel Pemberton, editor Alan Baumgarten and production designer Shane Valentino surpass their usual (great) work. Actors and BTL branches will eat it up, as will Baby Boomers, and anyone who likes topical dramas.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Because Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 election, some people may feel that the film has lost some of its urgency. They would be wrong. Just because things are better doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re resolved. Netflix needs to remind voters of this.<\/p>\n

The United States vs. Billie Holiday<\/strong>
\n(Paramount Pictures)<\/strong>
\nAndra Day stars as singer Billie Holiday, who is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics, which led to a tumultuous affair with the undercover agent.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0Steered by Lee Daniels, who was nominated for directing \u201cPrecious,\u201d the story of Holiday is one that has been aching to be told for decades. Day, who sang the Oscar-nominated song \u201cStand Up for Something\u201d from \u201cMarshall,\u201d could be a lead actress spoiler.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0The movie, and its buzz, have been muted for some time. Very few have seen it, and the last-minute entry trick will be difficult to execute this year.<\/p>\n

The World to Come<\/strong>
\n(Bleecker Street)<\/strong>
\nSet in the 19th century, director Mona Fastvold directs this love story between two unhappy wives.
\nStrengths:<\/strong>\u00a0The film boasts strong reviews and won the Queer Lion for best LBGTQ-themed movie from the Venice Film Festival<\/span>. Stars Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby are earning raves for their chemistry and performances.
\nVulnerabilities:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s a smaller movie, not as flashy as some of its counterparts and it remains to be seen if its later release (it comes out in February) will be a help or hindrance. Kirby is a lock for a lead actress nom for \u201cPieces of a Woman\u201d and it might be a challenge to earn nods in two categories.<\/p>\n

Variety<\/a> by Jenelle Riley, Clayton Davis, Tim Gray, Jazz Tangcay<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It seems like every year prognosticators are declaring the Oscar race to be the most unpredictable yet, but this time, we swear it\u2019s true!…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[421],"tags":[1654,1653,1651,1650,1416,1649,704,1652,516],"class_list":["post-10181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-review","tag-casey-affleck-en","tag-christopher-abbott-en","tag-katherine-waterston-en","tag-mona-fastvold-en","tag-queer-lion-2020-en","tag-the-world-to-come-en","tag-usa","tag-vanessa-kirby-en","tag-variety","post-item","post-even"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t