(Los Angeles) With the resumption of filming and the reopening of cinemas in the United States, candidates are scrambling for Oscar nominations this year, where films like Dunes, Belfast, West Side Story and The Power of the Dog should figure prominently in the selection unveiled on Tuesday.
Posted at 12:03 p.m.
Many blockbusters, whose theatrical release has often been postponed because of the pandemic, will compete for the most envied nominations in American cinema with independent films or released on video-on-demand platforms.
“Last year, we had very independent Oscars… This year, it’s the return of great cinema, great studio films,” said a member of the Academy of Oscars, who requested anonymity.
“The race is very open,” adds Pete Hammond, editorial writer for the specialized site Deadline.
Dunes, a high-performance sci-fi film that has been released both in cinemas and on the internet, should easily earn a nomination in the Best Feature Film and Best Director categories. It should also be retained in a myriad of technical categories (photography, special effects, sound, etc.).
“In fact, I think it might be the film with the most nominations,” notes the member of the Academy.
Although it did not ignite the box office, Belfasta film by Kenneth Brannagh inspired by his youth in the violence of Northern Ireland in the 1960s, was much appreciated by Hollywood among those who were looking for stories about family and solidarity.
“It resonates right now, in a time when people are craving connection,” says Pete Hammond.
Deemed superfluous by some critics, the remake of West Side Story by Steven Spielberg was still well received for its technical prowess and choreography. However, it will not be able to match the record of the original which remains the most awarded musical film in Oscar history.
“It’s a risky bet, but I think it will be in the nominations” for best feature film, Mr. Hammond said.
The Power of the Dogdark and psychological western crossed with thriller, broadcast on Netflix, emerges as one of the other great favorites
Its director, New Zealander Jane Campion, has a good chance of making history as the first woman to land two Best Director Oscar nominations, 28 years later. The Piano.
Spider-Man and James Bond?
The ultra-commercial blockbusters of which Hollywood has the secret, which have also been praised by critics, could also carve out a place of choice in the nominations on Tuesday.
Spider-Man: No Way Home and the latest James Bond, Dying can waitwere the only ones to draw crowds to theaters comparable to pre-COVID-19 crowds.
“We reward the big screen experience. And Spiderman almost saved the cinema single-handedly last year,” said the Oscar voter interviewed by AFP.
The popularity of the films in the running will be an important element to take into account for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which awards these prizes. Because the 2021 edition of the Oscars had awarded low-budget films that the general public had often barely heard of.
“I guarantee you that the big shots at the Academy are praying that Spiderman is in the Best Feature nominations because they really need it for the show,” says Pete Hammond.
For his part, the Oscar voter would be “surprised” if his peers retained a superhero film in this flagship category, despite the precedent set by Black Panther a few years ago. “I’m not sure the members of the Academy are ready,” he said.
King Richardabout the childhood of champions Serena and Venus Williams with Will Smith as the father trainer, as well as Don’t Look Up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep, also have their chances on Tuesday.
On the actor side, Will Smith is once again one of the favorites, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch for his role as a repressed cowboy in The Power of the Dog.
The competition is even fiercer among actresses, between Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Jessica Chastain (The Eyes Of Tammy Faye) and Lady Gaga (House of Gucci).
Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter) and Penélope Cruz (Madres Paralelas) could also be among the five candidates in the running for this 94and editing.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for Hollywood on March 27.