Tag: Outlaw King

Oscar Predictions: Relay

David Mackenzie’s Relay was first seen at the Toronto Film Festival a year ago and is finally running theatrically this weekend. Riz Ahmed (best actor nominee for 2020’s Sound of Metal), Lily James, and Sam Worthington headline the thriller with Bleecker Street handling distribution.

In 2016, Mackenzie’s Hell or High Water nabbed numerous Academy noms including Best Picture. He’s since followed up with 2019’s Outlaw King and has heist flick Fuze slated for this year’s Toronto Film Festival.

Reviews for Relay are mostly satisfactory with 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 70 Metacritic. They’re not high enough for awards consideration and Bleecker is not exactly a force when it comes to campaigning anyway. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Watch: Outlaw King

The historical action drama Outlaw King might not immediately strike one as an Oscar hopeful. Yet it’s considered a bit of a thematic sequel to Braveheart, the Mel Gibson epic that also focused on the Scottish battle for independence. That film won Best Picture in 1995. This is also director David Mackenzie’s follow-up to Hell or High Water, which earned a Best Picture nod two years ago. And it was selected to open the Toronto Film Festival, which has kicked off today.

Even with that considerable pedigree, critical reaction suggests this won’t be a major player on the Oscar scene. Mackenzie reunites with Hell star Chris Pine with a supporting cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, and Stephen Dillane. Early reviews haven’t been too kind thus far, though they have praised its epic scope. Perhaps some down the line tech recognition is possible, but even that could be a reach.

Bottom line: don’t expect Academy voters to crown King with love.

The pic is slated to debut on Netflix on November 9. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…