Oscar Nominations: The Case of Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value

As we do every year on the blog, Oscar nominations lead to my Case Of series. What are they? Glad you asked. These are 35 posts covering the nominees for Picture, Director, and the four acting contests. For each one, I give you the case for the movie/director/actor winning and the case against it with a verdict tidying it up. It’s like a trial, but no one goes to prison.

It began with the ten Best Picture contenders and now alternates alphabetically between the hopefuls in the other five races. The BP posts are readily available for your perusing pleasure. The fourth director for consideration is Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. If you missed my previous posts on the filmmakers in the mix, you can access them here:

Previous Directing Nominations:

None

The Case for Joachim Trier:

The Dutch auteur’s family drama exceeded expectations on nominations morning with nine including another at bat for his Original Screenplay with Eskil Vogt. BAFTA and Golden Globe nods preceded the Oscar mention.

The Case Against Joachim Trier:

Trier didn’t make the cut at Critics Choice and, most importantly, Academy bellwether DGA. Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) has swept the season thus far with Ryan Coogler (Sinners) seen as the only threat.

The Verdict:

Trier might have a slightly stronger shot for his cowriting (though Sinners is looking likely there). A directing victory isn’t happening.

My Case Of posts will continue with the final entrant in Best Actress – Emma Stone in Bugonia

Oscar Nominations: The Case of Sentimental Value

As we do every year on the blog, Oscar nominations lead to my Case Of series. What are they? Glad you asked. These are 35 posts covering the nominees for Picture, Director, and the four acting contests. For each one, I give you the case for the movie/director/actor winning and the case against it with a verdict tidying it up. It’s like a trial, but no one goes to prison.

It begins with the ten Best Picture contenders and then alternates alphabetically between the hopefuls in the other five races. We have arrived at the eighth horse in the BP derby and that’s Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. If you missed my posts covering the previous nominees, you can find them here:

The Case for Sentimental Value:

The Norwegian drama has been on the Academy’s radar since it took home the Grand Prix (the prize for 2nd) at the Cannes Film Festival in May. It scored a better than anticipated nine nods including four of its cast members -Renate Reinsve in lead Actress, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass in Supporting Actress, and Stellan Skarsgård in Supporting Actor plus Trier’s direction and original screenplay with Eskil Vogt. The other two mentions are for Film Editing and International Feature Film. It also nabbed BP noms at BAFTA, the Globes, and Critics Choice.

The Case Against Sentimental Value:

In addition to no BP victories at the already aired ceremonies, it has fallen short to The Secret Agent at the Globes and Critics Choice in the foreign field. Value also blanked at the SAG Actor awards. Only one Oscar winner (1995’s Braveheart) has been zeroed out by SAG previously.

The Verdict:

The overperformance of nine noms arguably makes it the favorite over Agent for International Feature Film and Skarsgård (fresh off a Globe win) is considered the frontrunner in his race. Though it could be in the top half of the 10 contenders, Value is not a real threat for the trophy.

My Case Of posts will continue with Sinners