Category: Screener Watch

Samuel Goldwyn Films sent a bare-bones screener with no fanfare. No production pamphlet saying where it should be considered. God’s Own Country Oscar Chances: Unlikely: While the firm has received a lot of praise, the Academy isn’t likely to recognize the film.

Focus Features sends its first screener release. Victoria & Abdul Oscar Chances: Decent: Early in the year, it seemed like Judi Dench was likely to earn another Oscar nomination as a monarch in this film. The problem was that people actually saw it and it earned some terrible reviews and has since faded quite a…

Another from Fox Searchlight. Step Oscar Chances: Uncertain: This is another documentary that has a lot of strong word behind it and could be a competitor. We’ll have to wait and see if it makes the finals. Campaign-Proposed Categories Original Song – “Jump” Documentary Feature

A documentary and a fiction film for the latest batch of Netflix shipments. Get Me Roger Stone Oscar Chances: Uncertain: The film will have a lot of support among certain demographics within the Academy, but who knows if those groups are large enough to get it thrust into consideration. Campaign-Proposed Categories Documentary Feature The Meyerowitz…

Kino Lorber has sent out two nondescript discs. Tom of Finland Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Some think this could be a Foreign Language Film nominee. I doubt, however, that this will be the case. The Wound Oscar Chances: Unlikely: Another film that could be a Foreign Language Film nominee, but I’ve heard less about this film…

The original Magnolia/Magnet drop did not contain one of the titles listed on their insert. That title has arrived. Meet Lucky. Lucky Oscar Chances: Unlikely: As much as the film community would love to see Harry Dean Stanton nominated for Best Actor, the film’s low profile and the serious competition will mean that unless he…

A distributor that’s arrived out of nowhere has a viable Oscar contender on hand. They probably don’t have a large campaign budget, but who knows. I, Tonya Oscar Chances: Good: The film has earned strong reviews and stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are solidly in the race for nominations. They even picked up Spirit…

A24 has one more film for us to consider. Why they sent it separately, I don’t know. The Florida Project Oscar Chances: Uncertain: It was thought that Willem Dafoe was going to be a solid Best Supporting Actor contender and possible winner, but then he was left off the slate at the Spirit Awards, even…

Universal has delivered early-year critical success Get Out. Get Out Oscar Chances: Good: The film has already done well at the Spirit Awards and with the critical acclaim, it should be able to sneak into at least the Original Screenplay category at the Oscars with a Best Picture nomination also distinctly possible. Other nominations might…

Film Rise provided us with a copy of Marjorie Prime, which was just nominated for a Spirit Award. Marjorie Prime Oscar Chances: Unknown: The big question here is if Lois Smith has a shot at an Oscar nomination as the film otherwise doesn’t have a shot. The Spirit Award nomination is a good start, but…

A24 has submitted for our consideration two films, Good Time and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Good Time Oscar Chances: Unlikely: While the film got good reviews, it has never appeared to be much of an Oscar contender. Some might have suggested Robert Pattinson for consideration, but I doubt even that’s a possibility at…

The films GKids is pushing for Animated Feature this year include a broad array of titles. The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales Oscar Chances: Unknown: I don’t have enough information about this film to know if it should be competing or not. So far, it doesn’t sound like the kind of film that does.…

In the second care package from Netflix, another of their attempts to weed their way into Oscar’s good graces. Mudbound Oscar Chances: Uncertain: Fist, let’s just say that Netflix’s inability to read the room is palpable. Not only have they received consistent criticism for their terrible release strategies (namely, they aren’t going to play the…

Bleecker Street isn’t a major Oscar player so far, though they certainly keep trying. Breathe Oscar Chances: Unlikely: Mediocre reviews have pushed this film into the back of the Oscar pack. While Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy could still compete, their hills are incredibly steep. Campaign-Proposed Categories Picture (Jonathan Cavendish) Director (Andy Serkis) Original Screenplay…

This is the first time I’ve seen anything from National Geographic, so who knows how they’ll do. Jane Oscar Chances: Unknown: The reviews have been fairly strong for this and if it comes out of precursor season as a major winner, it could be a strong candidate for an Oscar nomination. Campaign-Proposed Categories Documentary Feature