So where does this season stand at this point? Well it’s been relatively healthy, box office wise. There have already been entries into some of the studios premier franchises: Halo, the DC Universe and the MBWA DC Universe. And in addition to that, star-studded films like Crimson and The Andromeda Strain have also been hits for the studio.
Given that there were a lot of these action and franchise films in the first half, the awards races are once again difficult to fully have a grasp on at this point. There were a handful of traditional awards-friendly films in the first half: The Second Life of John Wilkes Booth, The Phantom of the Opera, Drugstore Perfume, A Reputation and The Killings. Overall, there is a mixed bag here.
Quentin Tarantino’s return to the studio was one I wrote about in my For Your Consideration post last season and it definitely had hype coming in. In my quarters, it also had hype amongst journalists about a potential return to form for Emile Hirsch, whose career went a little off-the-rails for a while. Ultimately, Hirsch’s performance was respected but the film was surprisingly flavorless for something coming from QT. While his films are often the subject of much discussion, Alex Conn’s plot descriptions tend to sound like awards contenders on paper and Drugstore Perfume (despite that title) is no different. But in regards to the film itself, it’s fair to say it failed to make an impact.
The Phantom of the Opera is in an interesting middle ground. It’s a well-known adaptation that garnered respect for its lead cast members and the visual style of a famous director. It’s difficult to say how much this will make an impact at the GRAs, as it’s early season release date may prove to be detrimental to any chances.
It’s fair to say that A Reputation has become the first real contender of the season. Some are even saying that it can’t be topped (at least that’s what I’ve heard on the interwebs). Not only is director Noah Baumbach a guarantee lock for director but there are at least a few acting nominations amongst them that seem likely, Brie Larson chief among them. Perhaps the strongest aspect of the film is the performance of Brendan Fraser in a role that felt basically written for him when I watched it (which Mo Buck would later go on to confirm in his blog post). Another nomination (and especially a win) would cement Fraser as one LRF’s best feel-good stories, one that has already seen him land a leading role in a two-season LRTV show. Joining it this round The Killings, another star-studded effort that saw Ryan Gosling step out of The Question role and Alejandro González Iñárritu make his debut for the studio. Given its awards-friendly genre, it’s safe to assume that this will also stick around until the nominations ceremony.
There are also the films that were very well-respected by critics but are difficult to predict when it comes to earning nominations. Crimson and To the Max are the two that come to mind. A spy-thriller and a dark comedy about a douchebag teen aren’t exactly traditional contenders but you never know.
Looking ahead, the second half of the season looks to reflect the nature of the first half with a mix of big-name directors and properties alike. Let’s first look at the latter category. The two films that likely stand out the most are Star Wars: Knights of the Republic - Part II and X-Men. While the first film made a good amount of profit for the studio, it is hard not to feel like it finds itself in the shadow of more LRF-based franchises like Mass Effect and Halo. Can this sequel help it gain the cultural resonance of its predecessors in the franchise?
As for X-Men, this feels like a big bet for the studio. The LRF offices have already hinted that this is their hopes of kickstarting a new cinematic universe. From what we’ve already got for the cast, it will be very interesting to see how this does. I wouldn’t say that there are any marquee names, exactly, but look back on the Fox films from the 2000. Were Hugh Jackman, James Marsden, Famke Janssen household names? Even Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan were not on the level that they would be in the years following. In fact, Toby Stephens and David Morrissey in the roles of Xavier and Magneto feels a little similar to that original pairing: well-respected theatrical English actors who have had success on television shows but not much in the way of major films. As for the other parts, Dwight Gallo has quite the cast forming. Jamie Dornan has been touted as a rising star for the studio and this would cement that. Jessie Buckley, coming off of lauded performances in Wild Rose and Beast, has a chance to really announce herself on a big stage. Despite being the youngest, Millie Bobby Brown might be the best known person on this cast and could bring in younger viewers. And then there are the likes of Rebecca Ferguson and David Oyewolo, who never hurt any film they’re in.
There are a number of more critics-friendly films that we know of so far. Paul Thomas Anderson returns after winning Best Picture with Bastion. But that’s probably not even the biggest headline, which would be the first appearance of legendary actor Denzel Washington. And he’s paired with PTA favorite Joaquin Phoenix! Yowza. We also have a similar director/actor pairing that is intriguing: the introduction of Ridley Scott to an LRF audience paired with Josh Brolin, making his first appearance since Season 3. Well-known collaborators Jean-Marc Vallee and Mo Buck are re-teaming for And the Birds Rained Down, which is already assembling a very interesting cast. Rian Johnson, a flexible filmmaker who hasn’t ventured outside of sci-fi at this studio, is taking a new step with Meirad Tako’s Hotel California. And James Morgan releases always garner some sort of awards conversation and we will see how western Of Rocks and Sand does to open up this second half.
Then there’s the stuff we don’t know much about yet. For example, Kurt & Courtney: All Apologies, presumably the much-discussed Kurt Cobain biopic, could be a real acting force at the GRAs depending on who is cast. For that, we will need to wait and see.
And so again, just like last season, a lot of the races are wide open. For once, Best Actress definitely has stronger contenders than the male category at this point (at least in my opinion. We already have heavy hitters like Larson, Margot Robbie, Aubrey Plaza, Lily James and Jennifer Lawrence - who has been nominated for Best Actress for all three of her other roles. On the other hand, if you were trying to predict the Best Actor race at this point, would you have anyone that feels like a lock? In our most recent film, Ryan Gosling might have solidified a spot. Luke Evans, perhaps? Maybe but that still leaves a lot of room for possibilities in the second half. And so keep your eyes peeled as awards season is about to get well and truly underway.
No comments:
Post a Comment