Tag: Telluride Film Festival

Oscar Watch: Darkest Hour

My recent Oscar Watch posts have largely focused on the Venice Film Festival (and there’s more posts from that fest coming your way shortly), but the Telluride Film Festival is also underway and it premiered Joe Wright’s eagerly awaited Darkest Hour. 

The film casts Gary Oldman as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during WWII and the actor has been considered a Best Actor front runner for some time already. The Telluride screening all but confirms that notion with Oldman drawing raves for his performance. Crazily enough, with the lead’s three decade long sterling career, he’s only managed one Academy nod for 2011’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It’s safe to say that this will land him his second as Variety deemed him the instant favorite.

While Oldman’s nomination has always seemed likely, initial reaction also puts Darkest in line for potential Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay (Anthony McCarten) nods and some down the line technical categories. Interestingly, it’s Ben Mendelsohn’s supporting work that’s garnered notice and not Kristin Scott Thomas, who now seems a bit of a long shot for Supporting Actress.

Bottom line: Darkest reaction sheds light on several potential nominations, but Oldman’s seems assured.

My Oscar Watch posts will continue…

 

Oscar Watch: Maudie

Critics have been singing the praises of English actress Sally Hawkins for years and awards voters have occasionally taken note. Her work in 2008’s Happy–Go–Lucky won her a Best Actress Golden Globe in the Musical/Comedy race (she missed the cut on an Oscar nod). The Academy did at last recognize her with a Supporting Actress nom for 2013’s Blue Jasmine.

The Telluride Film Festival has opened up the possibility for her first lead Actress nod for Maudie. It screened over the weekend and casts Hawkins in a biopic of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, who suffers from serious physical disabilities. Aisling Walsh directs with Ethan Hawke as co-lead.

Reviews for the film itself were mixed and it stands no real at recognition from the Academy other than for Ms. Hawkins. If a distributor gets this out before year’s end and mounts a campaign, she could find herself in the mix of what’s looking like a very crowded Actress race.

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Oscar Watch: Wakefield

As the Telluride Film Festival has wound to a close, we have another contender in one particular category to discuss. Wakefield is a family drama from director Robin Swicord, a screenwriter known for works such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It’s based on a short story from E.L. Doctorow.

Reviews for the film have been mostly strong. Yet its only chance at Academy recognition is likely with its star, Bryan Cranston. The three-time Emmy winner for “Breaking Bad” got his first Oscar nod just last year with Trumbo.

Critics have signaled this is another highly powerful performance and Telluride has entered his name into the Best Actor discussion over the Labor Day weekend.

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Oscar Watch: Una

Rooney Mara burst onto the scene in 2011 in the Oscar nominated title role of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She received her second nomination last year in Supporting Actress with Carol. This weekend’s Telluride Film Festival has opened up the possibility of a third nod in six years with Una.

The drama is an adaptation of the stage play Blackbird, dealing with the serious theme of child molestation. It’s heavy stuff according to early reviews (mostly raves) and critics have singled out Mara’s performance. Benedict Andrews makes his directorial debut here with Ben Mendelsohn and Riz Ahmed among the supporting cast.

Whether or not Mara can get the nomination is based on at least three factors. First and foremost, there is no set release date for it, though it’s likely to get a 2016 awards qualifying run. Second, the studio will need to mount a real campaign for the picture to be widely seen. Finally, the Best Actress race on paper looks as competitive as it’s been in recent memory. Still – Telluride gave the actress some needed exposure for a potential third nomination.

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Oscar Watch: Bleed for This

The Telluride Film Festival is happening this weekend and that means a slew of autumn Academy hopefuls are getting their first exposure. My Oscar Watch series continues with Ben Younger’s Bleed for This. This is the true life tale of boxer Vinny Paz (Miles Teller), who defied all odds to make it back to the ring after breaking his neck.

Movies focused on the sweet science have had a history with Oscar voters. 1976’s Rocky came out of nowhere to punch out all competitors. 2004’s Million Dollar Baby also won Picture, as did its director (Clint Eastwood), Actress (Hilary Swank), and Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman). 1980’s Raging Bull and 2010’s The Fighter received multiple nods. Just last year, Sylvester Stallone was nominated once again as Mr. Balboa in Creed.

As for the film in question, Bleed for This has received mostly positive notices thus far. However, some have mentioned it borrows plenty of cliches (some from the aforementioned films). It doesn’t appear to be a genuine threat in Picture or Director. Mr. Teller missed out on a nod with 2014’s Whiplash as all attention went to his costar J.K. Simmons in Supporting. The lead actor race looks lighter than usual on paper this year, but he still could face an uphill battle for inclusion. Aaron Eckhart is said to give strong work as his trainer here and he may stand the best chance at recognition (though I’m not currently putting him in).

The Oscar Watch will roll on as further hopefuls are unveiled.

 

Oscar Watch: Moonlight

The Telluride Film Festival, as expected, has given us another serious contender in the Oscar race as Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight has just had its premiere. Based on a play, the drama centers on the story of Chiron, an African American gay male growing up in Florida.

The pic debuted to rave reviews and its chances at Academy attention extends to numerous races. My initial round of early predictions has it nabbing a Best Picture nod and today’s buzz solidified that pick. I currently have director Jenkins on the outside looking in, but he’s certainly in the mix (he’s likely to get a nom for his Adapted Screenplay).

As for performers, Trevante Rhodes is among three actors who play Chiron at various stages of his life and he should be campaigned for in Best Actor. He’s got a real shot, as does Mahershala Ali in Supporting Actor as a drug dealer who warms to Chiron. Naomie Harris looks to be a player in Supporting Actress as the lead character’s drug addicted mother and she probably has an edge over singer Janelle Monae as Ali’s girlfriend.

Another day. Another contender in this busy week for Oscar hopefuls.

Oscar Watch: Sully

The Telluride Film Festival gave audiences and critics their first look at Sully, which lands (safely) in theaters Friday. This is the first paring of legends Clint Eastwood (who directs) and Tom Hanks. He plays the real life title character of the pilot credited with the Miracle on the Hudson in 2009.

Early reviews have been solid across the board. It’s no surprise that a bulk of the acclaim has gone to Hanks, who’s said to give a typically great performance. I use that term for a reason as it now appears to be easy for Oscar voters to take him for granted. Exhibit A is 2013’s Captain Phillips, another heralded true life tale in which the Academy passed him over for Best Actor, even though I believe it to be among his finest work. If Hanks couldn’t get a nod for it, I’m skeptical he will here.

Sully stands a nice chance at connecting with moviegoers, but I don’t feel at this juncture that it’ll get much Oscar attention. This applies to Best Picture, Director, the supporting categories with costars Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney, and even its huge lead who hasn’t been nominated in 16 years.