Five years ago, Sian Heder’s Apple TV dramedy CODA achieved “little movie that could” status by winning all three Oscars it was nominated for – Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Troy Kotsur), and Adapted Screenplay. Focused on a teen growing up in a deaf family, the film beat out heavyweights including The Power of the Dog and Dune in the biggest race of all. Heder’s follow-up is Being Heumann and it serves as the opening night selection for the Toronto Film Festival. It has a theatrical release on November 6th before streaming on Apple the following week.
Ruth Madeley stars as activist Judith Heumann in the 1970s set true story about achieving rights for the disabled. The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, and Ray Fisher. With a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 Metacritic, scores are actually similar to CODA‘s (94% RT, 72 MC). Yet I’m not convinced that Heder’s latest will be a contender in BP unless its crowdpleaser status gets it there. If so, another Adapted Screenplay nod could occur.
There are, however, some races where it has a better shot. Best Casting is a possibility. Many performers in the ensemble are part of the community whose rights are focused on. I could see it making the cut in Casting without any other noms.
In Best Actress, Julianne Moore (The Debut) and arguably Inde Navarrette (Obsession) and Olivia Wilde (The Invite) appear to be holding punched tickets. Madeley is generating great notices in the central role and I wouldn’t count her out. I’m not sure I’ll have her in the final five in my next update (out Sunday), but she might rank higher than 10th. That’s where I had her listed in my latest update at the end of August. On the other hand, Ruffalo has been listed as a possibility in my 15 Supporting Actor slots (last time in 13th position). Toronto WOM indicates he’ll be a non-factor. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…
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