Tag: Music by Prudence

Oscar Predictions: Stamped from the Beginning

Documentarian Roger Ross Williams is already an Oscar winner for his short film Music by Prudence (for which he became the first African-American filmmaker to receive an Academy Award). His 2016 feature-length doc Life, Animated make the quintet in its longer form category and Williams hopes for a return to show with Stamped from the Beginning.

It’s based on the 2016 book by Ibram X. Kendi (subtitled The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America). Out on Netflix last Friday, it played the Toronto Film Festival in September to solid notices. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 100%. Stamped was up for Best Feature and for Historical Documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards over the weekend and went 0 for 2.

Despite the perfect meter, there are other docs with even stronger reviews. Yet I’ve had Stamped marked for a nomination in my recent predictions. Don’t be surprised if it makes the shortlist and eventual cut. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Cassandro

Director Roger Ross Williams is no stranger to the Academy. His short film Music by Prudence was 2009’s recipient for Documentary Short Subject (making him the first African-American director to win an Oscar). The 2016 feature length doc Life, Animated was a contender in that race.

At Sundance, Williams is branching outside of the doc genre for Cassandro, which explores a real life subject. Gael Garcia Bernal is the title character – an openly gay Mexican wrestler who attained huge stardom. With a smattering of reviews in, the Rotten Tomatoes score is 100%.

With earlier acclaimed roles in The Motorcycle Diaries, Bad Education, and Babel, Bernal has yet to find his awards showcase role. He might get it here if distributor Amazon launches a serious campaign. The same can be said for Jonathan Majors and Magazine Dreams, which was my previous predictions write-up coming from Utah’s festival. Needless to say it’s early, but we already have potential hopefuls for next year’s Actor derby.

Cassandro could also contend for the memorable costumes that Bernal dons in the ring. Bottom line: this is worth keeping tabs on as the 2023 awards season is in its infancy. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…