Welcome back to For Your Consideration with Reuben Schwartz! In this post, I will recap the nominations for the latest Golden Reel Awards, the various storylines going into the ceremony and look back to locate its place within LRF's history.
The Storylines
Last Resort Films has seen an influx of new talent in recent years. This is seemingly reflected at the Golden Reel Awards this season. In my 19 seasons doing this column, this this feels like the longest list of first-time nominees that I have ever assembled (so much that I had to leave a few names out of the highlights below). Of the twenty nominees in the acting and directing categories, only one has won a Golden Reel Award before. But more on that later!
When we last checked in, it was clear that At Night All Blood is Black was the front-runner for this season’s GRAs. Five rounds later, that is clearly the case as the Jimmy Ellis-penned film leads the pack with nine nominations. Fun fact: this could become the first film with more than four words in its title to win Best Picture. That being said, the rest of the three Best Picture nominees all come from the second half of the season so could that work against its favor?
Its biggest competition could very well be the other MUST SEE film of the season: Justice League War. On the surface, it has an uphill climb with only five nominations total and none coming from the main acting categories. However, there is a certain narrative that could portray the film as the crowning achievement of the studio’s DC Universe and a chance to reward that with awards gold. At the very least, it feels like that could help Michael Bay in the Director category.
Elsewhere, there are some fun storylines to follow in this ceremony. Johnny Depp and daughter Lily-Rose have the chance to become the first relatives to win acting awards at the same GRA category. Not only that, but they are also competing against one another in the Best Starring Couple Category. Meanwhile, Jamie Lee Curtis has the chance to become the oldest Best Actress winner at 66 (Patricia Clarkson is the previous holder of this record). And returning to the top award, Justice League War is vying to break the seal on a superhero film winning Best Picture.
Previous Winners
Christopher Walken - Walken is the only actor with a chance to win their second GRA at this ceremony. The Life Survey marks the second time that Walken has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He previously won back in Season 9 for Spark of Madness.
Previous Nominees
Michael Bay - The Justice League War helmer makes history as the first director to be nominated for a GRA in back-to-back seasons - the shooting schedule for the two-part Justice League films certainly helps here. This is his third time being nominated after he was also nominated in Season 19 for Cocaine Cowboys. He has yet to win.
Johnny Depp - This is not Depp’s first time at the GRAs but he seemingly likes to take a long break between appearances. He was one of three nominees for the first ever Best Actor award, but lost to Josh Brolin in Jonestown. He was then nominated again in Season 17 for The Sandman but lost to Tom Cruise for The King of Hearts. And now 14 seasons later, he returns to vy for his first win with The Diplomat.
Jenna Ortega - This nominee made her debut back in Season 24 with Her Dying Wish, for which she was nominated for Best Actress. With Ecstasy this season, this now means she has been nominated for 2 of her 3 roles at LRF.
Kirsten Dunst - The Eye of History marks the second time Dunst has been nominated for Best Actress after Season 9’s Black Dublin. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her most recent role at the studio in Season 24’s Everything Will Be Alright.
The Newcomers
Timothee Chalamet - The star made his debut all the way back in Round 5 of Season 1 in Tarsem Singh’s Paradise Lost. Since then, he has been featured in a whopping total of 20 films at Last Resort Films. Hideaway, his 21st film, marks his first individual acting nomination.
J.C. Chandor, Luca Guadagnino, & Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese - Besides Bay, all three director nominees are making their first appearance at the GRAs. Chandor and Guadagnino are being nominated for their fourth and sixth films at the studio, while Mosese is nominated for his debut.
Damson Idris - And speaking of debuts, this Best Actor nominee is already making a splash after being nominated for his first role at the studio.
Best Supporting Actress - The entire field for this category is composed of first-time nominees, although they have all been at the studio before. Nell Tiger Free is the most experienced of the group with four films on her LRF resume, while Lily Rose-Depp has had three films at the studio. Thuso Mbedu and Suzanna Son both debuted in the last few seasons and are nominated for their second films.
Harrison Ford & Jamie Lee Curtis - These screen legend have starred in a total of eight films here at LRF dating back to Season 3. Willamette marks the first time that either has been nominated for a Golden Reel Award.
Jack Brown - After making his name on horror adaptations, Willamette marks the first nomination for Brown in the Best Original Story category. Last season marked the first time a film with a horror subgenera won the award (Klitih: A Way of Life) - will the LRF horror renaissance continue with a second straight win here?
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