Dunes reaps a string of nominations for the next Oscar ceremony, notably in the category of best film, but Denis Villeneuve was shunned by the academy for the Oscar for best director.
Filmed on an astronomical budget of almost 210 million Canadian dollars, Dune is in the lead with 10 nominations, including best adapted screenplay. The feature film also stands out in the categories of best costume, best editing or even best original music.
West Side Story by Steven Spielberg The Lost Daughter by Maggie Gyllenhaalet, Belfast by Kenneth Branagh and The Power of the Dog by New Zealand director Jane Campion also dominate nominations as 94 approachesand Oscars ceremony, which will take place on March 27 in Hollywood.
political satire Don’t look upone of the biggest hits of the year on the Netflix platform, will also compete for the most important distinction of the evening.
Definitely, Quebec will be well represented during this evening, which will mix blockbusters and auteur films to celebrate a cinematographic year once again marked by the pandemic.
Quebec artistic director Patrice Vermette, loyal accomplice of Denis Villeneuve, finds himself nominated for his work on Dunes. The president of the Max Films box, Roger Frappier, is one of the five producers of the western The Power of the Dogone of the biggest critical hits of the year and a favorite for the Best Picture Oscar.
In all, The Power of the Dog is cited 12 times, including Best Director (Jane Campion), Best Supporting Actress (Kristen Dunst) and Best Supporting Actor (Jesse Plemmons, Kodi Smit-McPhee).
Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays a dark cowboy with repressed sexuality in this film, could walk away with the statuette for best actor. Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Will Smith (King Richard), Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) and Andrew Garfield, for Tick, Tick… Boom!are also in the running in this category.
For‘Oscar for Best Actress, there are several big names, namely Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye)Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) and Kristen Stewart for her portrayal of Lady Di in spencer.
Even if House of Gucci received a rather lukewarm reception, observers still believed before Tuesday’s announcement that Lady Gaga still had a chance in this category. The academy has ruled that the singer-turned-actress will still have to wait her turn.
Disappointment also for Quebecers Annie St-Pierre (The big slaps) and Marianne Farley (Frost) who were considered for the Oscar for best short film and who learned on Tuesday that they were not ultimately part of the final selection.