Universal started this week with a copy of Queen & Slim. Focus Features sent out three titles. Netflix dropped a huge package of seven films and Neon topped off the week with their usual package of DVDs in a multi-page package of twelve films. It almost feels like The Lord of the Rings again. 12 DVDs for the mortal men doomed to die, etc. This might also end up being the last batch of screeners. Looking over the list of hopefuls this year, the only titles I haven’t received so far are 1917, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Just Mercy, Little Women, Ford v Ferrari, Bombshell, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Toy Story 4, Joker, and a handful of others. Universal could still send 1917, but Sony, Disney, and Warner Bros. aren’t the best at sending screeners.
Universal
Queen & Slim
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: The film was well reviewed, but never caught on in a way that would make it a clear Oscar contender.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (James Frey, Lena Waithe, Melina Matsoukas, Michelle Knudsen, Andrew C. Coles, Brad Weston, Pamela Adby)
- Director (Melina Matsoukas)
- Original Screenplay (Lena Waithe, James Frey)
- Actor (Daniel Kaluuya
- Actress (Jodie Turner-Smith)
- Supporting Actor (Bokeem Woodbine)
- Supporting Actress (Indya Moore)
- Cinematography (Tat Radcliffe)
- Film Editing (Pete Beaudreau)
- Production Design (Karen Murphy, Ryan Watson)
- Costume Design (Shiona L. Turini)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Ma Kalaadevi Ananda, Lana Mora, Brian Badie, Myeisha Wade)
- Sound Mixing (Chris Welcker, Jon Taylor, Frank A Montano)
- Sound Editing (Greg Hedgepath)
- Original Score (Devonte Hynes)
Focus Features
Dark Waters
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Todd Haynes was once a prominent player on the Oscar scene, but this film, in spite of solid reviews, hasn’t been mustering a lot of support.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Mark Ruffalo, Christine Bachon, Pamela Koffler)
- Director (Todd Haynes)
- Actor (Mark Ruffalo)
- Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Bill Pullman)
- Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway, Mare Winningham)
- Adapted Screenplay (Mario Correa, Matthew Michael Carnahan)
- Film Editing (Affonso Goncalves)
- Cinematography (Edward Lachman))
- Production Design (Hannah Beachler, Helen Britten)
- Costume Design (Christopher Peterson)
- Sound Mixing (Drew Kunin, Leslie Shatz)
- Sound Editing (Leslie Shatz)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Patricia Regan, Marie Larkin)
- Original Score (Marcelo Zarvos)
Downton Abbey
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: This two-hour big screen adaptation of a small screen property could earn nominations in Production Design or Costume Design, but it’s not likely that it will place anywhere else and even its chances in those two categories are limited.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge)
- Director (Michael Engler)
- Actress (Michelle Dockery)
- Actor (Hugh Bonneville)
- Supporting Actress (Maggie Smith, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern, Imelda Staunton)
- Supporting Actor (Jim Carter, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier)
- Adapted Screenplay (Julian Fellowes)
- Film Editing (Mark Day)
- Cinematography (Ben Smithard)
- Production Design (Donal Woods, Gina Cromwell)
- Costume Design (Anna Mary, Scott Robbins)
- Sound Mixing (David Laschelles, Nigel Heath, Brad Rees)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Anne Nosh Oldham, Elaine Browne)
- Original Score (John Lunn)
Harriet
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: The film didn’t get great reviews, but star Cynthia Erivo got stellar notices. The film may not be contending for many awards outside of Best Actress, but at least Erivo is one of the six or seven women in the thick of the competition.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Debra Martin Chase, Daniela Taplin, Lundberg, Gregory Allen Howard)
- Director (Kasi Lemmons)
- Actress (Cynthia Erivo)
- Supporting Actor (Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, Vondie Curtis Hall)
- Supporting Actress (Janelle Monae, Jennifer Nettles)
- Original Screenplay (Gregory Allen Howard, Kasi Lemmons)
- Film Editing (Wyatt Smith)
- Cinematography (John Toll)
- Production Design (Warren Alan Young, Marthe Pineau)
- Costume Design (Paul Tazewell)
- Sound Mixing (William Britt, Skip Lievsay, Blake Leyh)
- Sound Editing (Blake Leyh)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Angie Wells, Belinda Anderson)
- Original Score (Terence Blanchard)
- Original Song (“Stand Up” – Joshuah Brian Campbell, Cynthia Erivo; Performed: Cynthia Erivo; Produced: Will Wells, Gabe Fox-Peck)
Netflix
Atlantics
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Senegal’s submission to the Academy Awards has earned some precursor attention, which clearly gives it a leg-up on its competition, but Best International Film is a competitive race and unless it makes it to the shortlist, it isn’t going to do much else with the Academy.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Judith Lou Levy, Eve Robin, Oumar Sall, Cassandre Warnauts, Jean-Yves Roubin)
- Directing (Mati Diop)
- Cinematography (Claire Mathon)
- Original Screenplay (Mati Diop, Olivier Demangel)
- Original Score (Fatima Al Qadiri)
- Actress (Mama Sané)
- Actor (Amadou Mbow)
- Supporting Actress (Nicole Sougou, Amina Kane, Mariama Gassama)
- Supporting Actor (Ibrahima M’Baye, Ibrahima Traore)
- Film Editing (Ael Dallier Vega)
- Sound Editing (Benoit de Clerck)
- Costume Design (Rachèle Raoult)
- Production Design (Toma Baqueni, Oumar Sall)
- Visual Effects (Michel Denis, Alain Carsoux)
- Sound Mixing (Emmanuel de Boissieu)
Dolemite Is My Name
Oscar Chances: Good: The film seems assured of a Costume Design nomination. Makeup and Hairstyling is also possible, but it’s the two male acting categories where the film has the most interesting chances at nominations. Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes have several precursor nominations under their belt and that could be enough to bolster their chances at the Oscars.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (John Davis, John Fox, Eddie Murphy)
- Directing (Craig Brewer)
- Original Screenplay (Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski)
- Actor (Eddie Murphy)
- Supporting Actor (Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig RObinson, Tituss Burgess, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Snoop Dogg, Ron Cephas Jones, Wesley Snipes)
- Supporting Actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph)
- Cinematography (Eric Steelberg)
- Production Design (Clay Griffith, Lila S. Morgan)
- Film Editing (Billy Fox)
- Costume Design (Ruth E. Carter)
- Visual Effects (Tim Ledoux, Mark Ledoux)
- Sound Mixing (Willie Burton, Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic)
- Sound Editing (Dane A. Davis, Greg Hedgepath)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Debra Denson, Vera Steimberg, Carla Joi Farmer, Stacey L. Morris)
- Original Score (Scott Bomar)
I Lost My Body
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: While not entirely coming out of nowhere, I Lost My Body/em> is pushing for a Best Animated Feature nomination. While the Academy’s animators are tough cookies to crack for non-mainstream companies, the film’s early precursor triumphs give it a leg up for at least a shot at one of the one or two non-mainstream nominations slots in the category.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Marc du Pontavice)
- Animated Feature (Jérémy Clopin, Marc du Pontavice)
- Directing (Jérémy Clopin)
- Adapted Screenplay (Jérémy Clopin, Guillaume Laurant)
- Production Design (Jérémy Clopin)
- Film Editing (Benjamin Massoubre)
- Sound Mixing (Jérome Wiciak)
- Sound Editing (Manuel Drouglazet)
- Original Score (Dan Levy)
- Original Song (“You’re the One” – Dan Levy)
The Irishman
Oscar Chances: Excellent: Martin Scorsese’s film is doing everything it needs to do in order to compete at the Oscars. One of only two films that have the potential for double-digit nominations, this film may not be the one to beat, but it’s one of the most likely to succeed.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Martin Scorsese)
- Directing (Martin Scorsese)
- Adapted Screenplay (Steven Zaillian)
- Actor (Robert De Niro)
- Supporting Actor (Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Graham, Harvey Keitel)
- Cinematography (Rodrigo Prieto)
- Production Design (Bob Shaw, Regina Graves)
- Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker)
- Costume Design (Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson)
- Visual Effects (Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, Nelson Sepulveda)
- Sound Mixing (Tom Fleischman, Eugene Gearty, Tod A. Maitland)
- Sound Editing (Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Nicki Ledermann, Sean Flanigan, Mike Marino)
- Original Score (Robbie Robertson)
The Laundromat
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: The reviews weren’t great and the film faded pretty fast from the conversation. That Meryl Streep isn’t even being talked about as a dark horse contender tells you all you need to know about the film’s chances.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Lawrence Grey, Gregory Jacobs, Michael Sugar)
- Directing (Steven Soderbergh)
- Adapted Screenplay (Scott Z. Burns)
- Actress (Meryl Streep)
- Supporting Actor (Antonio Banderas, Gary Oldman)
- Cinematography (Peter Andrews)
- Production Design (Howard Cummings, Barbara Munch-Cameron)
- Film Editing (Mary Ann Bernard)
- Costume Design (Ellen Mirojnick)
- Visual Effects (Robert Stadd)
- Sound Mixing (Dennis Towns, Larry Blake)
- Sound Editing (Larry Blake)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Elisa Marsh, Marie Larkin, Justin Raleigh, J. Roy Helland)
- Original Score (David Holmes)
Marriage Story
Oscar Chances: Excellent: Netflix really has a bountiful crop of potential Oscar nominees this year with two of the biggest contenders. This film also appears to be Noah Baumbach’s ticket to the big ceremony either as a directing or a writing nominee with the latter being more likely than the former.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Noah Baumbach, David Heyman)
- Directing (Noah Baumbach)
- Original Screenplay (Noah Baumbach)
- Actor (Adam Driver)
- Actress (Scarlett Johansson)
- Supporting Actor (Alan Alda, Ray Liotta)
- Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
- Cinematography (Robbie Ryan)
- Production Design (Jade Healy, Adam Willis)
- Film Editing (Jennifer Lame)
- Costume Design (Mark Bridges)
- Visual Effects (Vico Sharabani, Joe Pancake)
- Sound Mixing (Christopher Scarabosio, Rich Bologna, Lisa Pinero)
- Sound Editing (Christopher Scarabosio)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Deborah LaMia Denaver, Barbara Olvera)
- Original Score (Randy Newman)
The Two Popes
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: While it came out of the gate strong, the latter film critic groups aren’t nearly as impressed with the film causing it to fade a bit in the late stretch. While the film is still a contender, its chances have diminished in the span of a week.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- Picture (Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich, Tracey Seaward)
- Directing (Fernando Meirelles)
- Adapted Screenplay (Anthony McCarten)
- Actor (Jonathan Pryce)
- Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins)
- Cinematography (César Charlone)
- Production Design (Mark Tildesley, Véronique Melery)
- Film Editing (Fernando Stutz)
- Costume Design (Luca Canfora, Beatriz Di Benedetto)
- Visual Effects (Adam Gascoyne, James Etherington Sparks)
- Sound Mixing (Mike Dawson, Kath Pollard, Stuart Wilson)
- Sound Editing (Ian Wilson, Becki Ponting)
- Makeup and Hairstyling (Marese Langan)
- Original Score (Bryce Dessner)
Neon
Amazing Grace
Oscar Chances: Unknown: I’m not that familiar with the Documentary Feature contenders this year, so I don’t have a comment.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Apollo 11
Oscar Chances: Excellent: It’s one of the few films to make a strong run of the critics prizes and is one of the most talked about potential nominees in Documentary Feature this year.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
The Beach Bum
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: The film came and went from theaters and never really entered the conversation.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
The Biggest Little Farm
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: While I’m not very familiar with the Documentary Feature contenders, The Biggest Little Farm is one that I’ve heard a decent amount about; however, it’s hardly been making waves in the critics awards, which is troublesome.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Clemency
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Alfre Woodard might have been a bigger contender if this film hadn’t been such a blip on the radar.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Honeyland
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Another documentary that’s gotten a decent amount of attention. Like The Biggest Little Farm, its support from critics seems to be limited.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Little Woods
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: It’s a film that never really stood a chance since no one seems to be talking about it at all.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Luce
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: The film had a lot of potential, but it never seemed to gain traction.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Monos
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Colombia’s entry to the Academy Awards, this film has earned a bit of attention from critics, but is it enough?
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Parasite
Oscar Chances: Excellent: For once, Neon has a hot property on its hands with a film that has been burning up the awards race with a surprisingly strong play through awards season, winning more top line awards than almost any other film. While I doubt the Academy would recognize a Korean foreign language film even when they’ve never recognized a foreign film as Best Picture, it could earn director Bong Joon-ho a prize.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Oscar Chances: Uncertain: France is probably kicking itself for not submitting this film to the Academy Awards. Picking up citations in several categories throughout precursor season, the film has done far better than their official submission Les Misérables.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
Wild Rose
Oscar Chances: Unlikely: The film earned a lot of praise, but it doesn’t appear to have built up any momentum going into awards season.
Campaign-Proposed Categories
- None Specified
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