June not only marks the post-Cannes awards talk and the Summer blockbuster season, but it also means most buzzy projects have already prospects of a release date and others are in talks to premiere in Venice, TIFF, Telluride or NYFF: crucial points for the awards season.
While some might complain it is too early since most buzzy projects have only landed in European film festivals and American audiences and critics are different than the European ones, I believe the reception some project have received and which distributor picked it might already say a lot. Plus, it's always fun when we see which of our early picks materializes during awards season.
While some questions still haunt me: Is Malick's The Way of the Wind being released, finally? Is digger another Birdman or will it be another Bardo? Which movie or movies will get Sandra Hüller another Oscar nod (since she's destined to rule this year)? Will The Odyssey be a contender in acting and writing fields? Can the Academy pursue redemption for the way they overlooked Dune: Part II this season with Dune: Part III? Will horror hit Obsession make a splash here?
Here are my very first predictions:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
In a year ruled by Sandra Hüller with the box-office and acclaim of Project Hail Mary, her Silver Bear prize winning performance in Rose and the honoured Paweł Pawlikowski's Fatherland, could she land a top spot in the Best Supporting Actress category for Alejandro González Iñárritu's Digger? I mean, I believe she is memorable in Project Hail Mary (and I expect it to do well with the Academy), but could she have winning material in Digger? Everything seems to be under wraps about this film, but the buzz is there and I believe she has momentum to win if she delivers. As for Emé Creed-Miles she will be seen as Marianne Dashwood, one of the sisters of the upcoming Sense & Sensibility adaptation and the one who's the "sensibility" - spontaneous, excessive, loving and a romantic idealist. It's a great part that went to be Kate Winslet's big break (and first Oscar nom) back in 1995's adaptation and I expect a similar path to Creed-Miles if the movie succeeds. Next is Scarlett Johansson who gets the traditional Oscar-friendly part of the suffering wife in the James Gray crime drama Paper Tiger - a movie that got great reviews at Cannes and it was picked by Neon for US distribution next Fall - and it's said she goes big and hits some high dramatic notes in a scene destined to be an "Oscar clip"... If she campaigns, I believe she can be a solid contender. The movie a really strong reception at Cannes and considering it feels like James Gray is overdue for some major recognition, I can see it as an awards player. The fourth spot goes to Octavia Spencer as Linda Loman for Death of a Salesman - the adaptation of the play by the same name, directed by Chinonye Chukwu and penned by Chukwu and Tony Kushner - a role that's an awards magnet on West End and Broadway (Laurie Metcalf has just won a Tony with this part yesterday!). Let's have in mind Chinonye Chukwu has pulled some of the most impressive recent performances from her leads (Alfre Woodard in Clemency and Danielle Deadwyler in Till), I am expecting Spencer to be invited back to the Oscar ceremony as a nominee for this one (and let's not forget she was a regular nominee in the 2010's). Fifth spot for Anya Taylor-Joy for Dune: Part III and while I think it might be a lot of wishful thinking truth is Anya was given the part of Alia Atreides - the demi-goddess sister of Paul Atreides that assumes regency of his empire and estabilishes an autocratic regime - a very juicy role! Could Dune: Part III be to Villeneuve what The Return of the King is to Peter Jackson? If so... I can see her landing a nomination since she will get the role and she has the talent!
1. Sandra Hüller, Digger
2. Esmé Creed-Miles, Sense & Sensibility
3. Scarlett Johansson, Paper Tiger
4. Anya Taylor-Joy, Dune: Part III
5. Octavia Spencer, Death of a Salesman
NEXT IN LINE: Anne Hathaway (The Odyssey); Penélope Cruz (La Bola Negra / The Black Ball); Marina di Girolamo (Wild Horse Nine); Tao Okamoto (All of a Sudden / 急に具合が悪くなる); Gemma Chan (Josephine).
Comments