As The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences postpones introducing a popular film category, Instep looks at possible contenders.
With the strong, positive response to A Star is Born, starring Lady Gaga, which marks the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper as well as the riveting, standing-ovation nod to Damien Chazelle’s First Man starring Ryan Gosling as astronaut Neil Armstrong at Toronto International Film Festival 2018, it looks like we have another brilliant and intriguing cinema-season upon us.
How many actually stand a chance with new members and a new category - that has now been put on hold by the Academy – remains to be seen.
In a statement, Dawn Hudson, the academy’s chief executive said, “There has been a wide range of reactions to the introduction of a new award, and we recognize the need for further discussion with our members.”Within the industry - as some criticized the recent decision – others deemed it cautious as it was taken to appeal to a younger demographic, which to some had little merit in the first place.
Nonetheless, these are just some of the films that have a shot come February 2019.
As noted by Forbes, though it’s still early, predications are already being made and several films have a Best Picture victory chance including Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Felix Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carrell.
Variety noted that Joel Edgerton’s Boy Erased is also on the long list of films that have a chance to make it to the Oscars 2019. “Russell Crowe and particularly Nicole Kidman are aces in Boy Erased,” noted one piece. But good enough to nab an acting nomination and surpass their colleagues from various films, that will be determined by other contenders as well.
Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick with Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey is a possibility as well, in acting category at least. Ben is Black starring Julia Roberts and directed by Peter Hedges is high on the list so far as well.
Noted Variety, “Julia Roberts’ performance as a mother determined not to give up on her son. She scratches and claws her way through the film in support of someone she knows, deep down, she can’t trust, but who keeps aflame the instinct to never give up.”
Is there another Oscar in the pipeline for Julia Roberts? We hope so.
Academy Award winning actor Viola Davis is starring in the upcoming Steve McQueen film, Widows, and neither the director nor the actor is to be underestimated. As she mourns the loss of her husband in the film, can Viola pick up another one for a worthy performance?
Other early favourites include Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma and Barry Jenkins’s If Beale Street Could Talk.
– With information from Variety, Forbes and Vulture.
