Tag: Jean-Luc Godard

Oscar Predictions: Nouvelle Vague

Could France’s selection for International Feature come from Texas’s Richard Linklater? Judging from reaction at Cannes, that’s a distinct possibility with Nouvelle Vague. The period piece recounts the filming of the landmark French New Wave pic Breathless with Guillaume Marbeck as director Jean-Luc Godard and Zoey Deutch as star Jean Seberg.

It’s no surprise that viewers in Cannes are appreciating Nouvelle as it stands at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. How it translates outside of its native country remains to be seen. The French have gotten 8 of their contenders for IFF nominated in the 21st century including last year’s Emilia Pérez. You have to go back to 1992 and Indochine for their previous winner.

If this were their pick in the international race, there could be enough support to make the quintet. I’m not sure if branches out anywhere beyond that despite praise for its two leads. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

The Rider Takes The Film Critics Cup

The National Society of Film Critics bestowed their best of 2018 awards today and it showcases another victory for Chloe Zhao’s western drama The Rider. The indie pic already won Best Picture at the Gotham Awards over some higher profile competition. With two top prize victories, is there any chance The Rider could gallop into Oscar contention?

That seems doubtful, but you never know. This particular critics branch has previously honored movies that the Academy ignored. Recent examples include 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis from the Coen Brothers and 2014’s Goodbye to Language from legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard. It is worth noting that the winners in 2015 and 2016 (Spotlight, Moonlight) won the Oscar and last year’s Lady Bird was nominated.

In the Director race, it was another trophy for Alfonso Cuaron’s work in Roma. He already has achieved status as the Academy favorite. He also won for his cinematography.

Ethan Hawke received yet another critics prize here for Actor in First Reformed, as did Olivia Colman in Actress for The Favourite. The latter’s Oscar chances seem assured while Hawke is more of a mystery (I’ve got him in currently). Regina King’s SAG snub is seeming less and less important as she got another honor in Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk. And Steven Yeun added to his reviewer group awards here with his Supporting Actor role in Burning. He’s racked several up, but still appears to be a long shot for Academy inclusion. Same goes for Screenplay as the Society went with The Death of Stalin. I’ve yet to include it in my Adapted Screenplay projections. It’s possible, but it probably won’t get in.

So while it was another good day for The Rider, I’m still skeptical that will equate to Oscar attention.