Tag: Will Sharpe

Oscar Predictions: Emmanuelle

Adapting the 1967 novel by Emmanuelle Arsan and arriving 50 years after the first cinematic rendering of the adult romance source material, Emmanuelle is the opening selection of the San Sebastián International Film Festival. It is Audrey Diwan’s follow-up to 2021’s Happening which won the Golden Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. Noémie Merlant, Naomi Watts, Will Sharpe, and Jamie Campbell Bower lead the cast.

Following the fest premiere, Emmanuelle hits French screens later this week. The reviews trickling out of Spain are lukewarm. There was some intrigue about which movie France would pick as its hopeful for International Feature Film. The speculation centered on Emilia Pérez and The Count of Monte Cristo with Emmanuelle seen as a dark horse. Pérez ended up as their choice. Based on the early buzz for this, it’s easy to see why this was not a viable option. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: A Real Pain

A Real Pain is the second directorial feature from Jesse Eisenberg after When You Finish Saving the World. The dramedy about two cousins (Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) on a Holocaust tour following their Grandma’s death could be a real contender next year. Searchlight Pictures apparently thinks so since it forked over $10 million for distribution rights after its Sundance premiere.

Reviews indicate this is a crowdpleaser that delicately balances tough subjects with humor. The RT score is 100%. Eisenberg, a Best Actor nominee in 2010 for The Social Network, could be in line for an Original Screenplay nod (that seems more likely than Director). Costars include Jennifer Grey (of Ferris Bueller and Dirty Dancing fame) and Will Sharpe. It could be Culkin (a freshly minted Emmy recipient for Succession) that garners acting attention in supporting. We usually see at least one Best Picture nominee start its journey in Park City (this year’s is Past Lives). A Real Pain is in contention. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Benedict Cumberbatch is primed to receive his second Best Actor nod (after 2014’s The Imitation Game) for his work in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog. It screened at Venice this week, but it’s not the only title headlined by the star.

The other is The Electrical Life of Louis Wain where Cumberbatch plays the real life title character of the English artist known for his cat drawings. Will Sharpe directs and the supporting cast includes Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Sharon Rooney, and Toby Jones. It hits theaters in mid October with an Amazon Prime streaming premiere in early November.

Early reviews are mixed. I don’t anticipate this getting any life with awards voters in any category. Bottom line: Cumberbatch should get a tuxedo or two or three ready for next year. And it will be for Dog and not the one about the guy known for cats. My Oscar Prediction posts for the films of 2021 will continue…