Oscar Predictions: Elsinore

Simon Stone’s Elsinore has premiered at Telluride prior to its Focus Features release on November 20th. Andrew Scott stars as actor Ian Charleston (best known for Best Picture winner Chariots of Fire from 1981) as he prepares to play Hamlet while suffering from AIDS. Olivia Colman plays his doctor with Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, and Luke Thompson providing support.

The early RT rating is 90% with 79 on Metacritic. Scott is an Emmy, SAG Actor, and Golden Globe nominee who has yet to get a mention from the Academy. That could very well change with Elsinore. I’ve had him in my Best Actor quintet for a few weeks and don’t plan on dropping him. I recently put Colman in Supporting Actress. She could still make the cut though I’m less convinced she ends up with a spot.

Scott might be the sole nomination here as Original Screenplay seems iffy. Focus hopes that Scott’s momentum means recognition elsewhere (including BP) but I suspect I’ll only predict him in my next update. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Scoop

No, Scoop is not a remake of the 2006 Woody Allen pic with Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson, but it is centered on a controversial subject. This Scoop is out on Netflix today and focuses on a disastrous TV interview with Prince Andrew about his various scandals. Gillian Anderson plays journalist Emily Maitlis with Rufus Sewell as the aforementioned royalty. Billie Piper and Keely Hawes costar with Philip Martin, known for TV work in Prime Suspect and The Crown, directing.

Like Scoop from Mr. Allen, this Scoop has a mixed reception. At 76% on RT, even the more positive notices temper their plaudits. Here’s a new flash! This won’t a topic in the awards conversation. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Catherine Called Birdy

Catherine Called Birdy is actually Lena Dunham’s second 2022 directorial feature that she also wrote. Sharp Stick, which began streaming just last month, managed only a 47% Rotten Tomatoes score. The Girls creator might have better luck with Catherine Called Birdy. The medieval times set comedy played the Toronto Film Festival and begins its limited theatrical run tomorrow. Its Amazon Prime premiere is October 7th.

Based on a 1994 children’s novel by Karen Cushman, Bella Ramsey is the title character and the supporting cast includes Andrew Scott, Billie Piper, Joe Alwyn, Dean-Charles Chapman, Ralph Ineson, and Russell Brand. Reviews are certainly sharper than Stick with an 89% RT meter.

I don’t really see this as an Oscar contender, but I wonder if Amazon might attempt a play for Globes attention in the Musical/Comedy race. I doubt if it comes to fruition though the decent buzz doesn’t make it out of the question.My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…