I feel like I just went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson and Muhammed Ali in their primes after Sunday’s incredible slate of critics votes. Between 12 and 3 PST, four major groups announced their nominations with more coming late that night and early today. The Globes and SAG are right around the corner so let take stock of how the race has changed since Super Sunday and update those Oscar Predictions.
Helped by the Critics
-Her, which had a fantastic showing amongst the critics, is now surely on notice as a film to watch come awards season time. I really liked the film at AFI Fest, but definitely didn’t expect it to pick up this much steam with the critics. However, I am still finding it difficult that this Academy would go for a film like this in the big categories.
-Short Term 12 is popping up everywhere and rightfully so. That is one film that needs a lot of critics love to push it into the race and so far it’s getting the notices.
-The Wolf of Wall Street has come on full force. It has been a big critics player despite the fact that the film was screened so late. In Boston, a third of the voters haven’t seen the film and still came in 2nd place 5 times.
-The Wind Rises has won all but 1 critics award for animated film. Sure we know the critics love Myazaki but this kind of dominance surely brings into question if Frozen is as big a lock as we thought it would be.
-Captain Phillips, the supposed center piece of my fantasy draft, FINALLY starts showing up. Getting mentioned on the AFI Top 10 list is a big get for that movie and certainly puts it back in the race, at least for nominations.
-In the tech categories, Rush and Lone Survivor have started to duke it out for that final editing slot. I have moved Rush back into editing for the time being.
-Blue is the Warmest Color is making a better than anticipated showing in these critics awards, especially Adele Exarchopoulos. Might this push her into the actress five? That last slot is very open…
Hurt by the Critics
-The Butler has barely picked up any notices and while I think this movie can get in based on it’s cast, pedigree and studio head, its not good that Oprah hasn’t gotten anything so far.
-Performance Wise: Tom Hanks, who has barely gotten notices all year despite a stellar performance in Captain Phillips, and Michael Fassbender have been hurt the most.