Tag: Josiah Cross

Oscar Predictions: Is God Is

Adapting her own critically heralded play, Aleshea Harris’s cinematic directorial debut Is God Is arrives in multiplexes this weekend. The grindhouse tale stars Kara Young and Mallori Johnson as sisters seeking revenge stemming from a family tragedy. The supporting cast includes Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, and Josiah Cross.

The Orion release is generating some of the best reviews of 2026 with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88 Metacritic. That said, Academy love could be hard to come by given the genre. Adapted Screenplay is worth mentioning and Makeup and Hairstyling is an even better possibility.

Where Is God Is could really shine is at the Indie Spirit Awards, especially for Harris with Best First Feature. I could also see it doing well at the Gothams. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: A Thousand and One

A Thousand and One is slated for release on March 31st after its unveiling at Sundance in January. The 90s set NYC drama from filmmaker A.V. Rockwell casts Teyana Taylor as a mom who kidnaps her son from foster care. Costars include Will Catlett, Josiah Cross, Aven Courtney, and Aaron Kingsley Adetola.

Thousand won a grand jury prize at the Park City fest and the Rotten Tomatoes score is 100% thus far. Taylor, a musical protege of Kanye West who recently appeared in Coming 2 America, is getting kudos for her work. While all critical reaction is positive – I’m not sure it is effusive enough to make this a major awards player.

If Focus Features really concentrates on it, you never know. My guess is this could get attention at the Indie Spirits Awards and not elsewhere. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…