![]() Carter, production designer Hannah Beachler, and cinematographer Rachel Morrison will probably receive their due, but there are a handful of onscreen efforts that we should keep in mind six months after the film stormed into theaters, particularly the work of Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira. Below-the-line contributions from costume designer Ruth E. ![]() Jordanīlack Panther will likely land several Oscar nominations. ![]() Lupita Nyong’o | Danai Gurira | Michael B. Hard to watch but impossible to shake, Cole – who many may remember from Black Mirror‘s “Hang the DJ” episode – gives an astounding and, according to critic Stephanie Watts, “brilliantly physical performance.” Like Cole, newcomer Helena Howard wowed critics as the titular character in Madeline’s Madeline Minneapolis Star Tribune critic Colin Covert called her a “once-in-a-generation talent” in his review of the film. Joe Cole, in a primarily non-verbal role, transformed into a gut-wrenching bare-knuckle boxer in A Prayer Before Dawn. But don’t overlook some of the less prominent indie genre darlings, too. For Hereditary, released in June, Toni Collette managed to be both convincingly terrified and terrifying in a performance that’s unquestionably deserving of voters’ attention – critic Christy Lemire called it an “all-time great Toni Collette performance.” (And, on the subject of fierce horror performances, don’t dismiss Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place.) Hereditary costar Alex Wolff also has a chance to join Collette for his unsettling and eerie turn as teenage Peter in the supporting categories. Still, the Oscar spotlight rarely shines on performances in genre films, particularly multiple genre performances in the same year. Last year, Get Out and eventual Best Picture winner The Shape of Water topped various Oscar categories, while in other recent years, Mad Max: Fury Road, Gravity, and Arrival have taken home golden statuettes. We’re seeing more and more genre films land nominations – and wins – in major categories. Toni Collette | Alex Wolff | Emily Blunt | Joe Cole | Helena Howard These are the impressive early-year performances that critics singled out, and we hope Oscar voters haven’t forgotten. Here, we’re making a case for some actors who staked a claim for gold many months ago, some as far back as February. Similarly, the acting categories are typically dominated by showings in later-in-the-year releases. Of the last three year’s Best Picture nominees at the Academy Awards, only one film each year was released before September: Genre favorites Mad Max: Fury Road, Hell or High Water, and Get Out were the precious few that managed to remain in the conversation months after their release. Studios postpone the release of movies they deem awards contenders to couple with ‘For Your Consideration’ campaigns and to ensure voters have the films and the performances in them top of mind when it’s close to voting time. The onslaught of big awards aspirants at this time of year is, of course, no accident. This weekend, Robert Redford returns to theaters – apparently for the last time before going into retirement – with his disarming and hilarious turn as an aging bank robber in The Old Man and the Gun next week, the crowd-pleasing A Star is Born is primed to dazzle audiences in the same way it’s already captivated critics (it’s currently Certified Fresh at 94% on the Tomatometer). We’re just days into awards season, and already each new weekend is bringing movie fans the kind of noteworthy titles and buzzy performances that get voters and prognosticators talking. (Photo by © Marvel / © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, © A24, © Sony Pictures Classics)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |