Welcome to my first Emmy Chatter post! Over the next few days I’ll be taking a look at the major category races, before wowing all of you will my final predictions on Friday. I won’t reveal just who I have picked, but with these posts I hope to enlightened everyone as to how I see the race. Let’s breakdown Best Movie and Miniseries, which has been split into two categories this year and as such has made predicting a bit easier.
Outstanding Miniseries
American Horror Story: Coven
For: Probably the most buzzed about season, all those acting nominations, Ryan Murphy
Against: season did not end well, Ryan Murphy, has yet to win the big prize
Bonnie & Clyde
For: Holiday Granger’s performance, beloved subject matter
Against: the 1967 film still looms large, long and pesky like Hemmingway and Gelhorn
Fargo
For: EVERYONE seems to love it, wonderful performances, nominations out the wazoo
Against: sometimes being the frontrunner can doom you, key tech loses
Luther
For: Idris Elba, return to form for the series, really strong finale
Against: It never really factored into the race before, no one is checking for it, not a lot of tech support
Treme
For: still critically beloved
Against: this is still on the air?, bigger shows with more buzz
The White Queen
For: period piece, wonderful performances, lots of tech nominations
Against: not as well heard of as the other nominees, no acting mentions
The Chatter
Either way the TV academy votes, FX is set to win, as the two front runners for this prize are American Horror Story and Fargo. I mean congrats to Treme, The White Queen, Bonnie and Clyde and perennial nominee (and in correctly placed) Luther, but this is coming down to the FX titans. American Horror Story has so many acting nominations but Fargo already has more impressive tech wins. Plus, no one is mad at how Fargo ended a season.
Outstanding Television Movie
Killing Kennedy
For: Well received, Bill O’Reilly fans, period piece with dramatic intrigue
Against: Bill O’Reilly + more liberal movies, not as buzzy
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight
For: great mix of established and up and coming actors, interesting subject matter
Against: kind of came and went when it debuted, no acting or writing nominations
The Normal Heart
For: 7 acting nominations, groundbreaking material, timeliness, Ryan Murphy
Against: some tech loses, Sherlock, Ryan Murphy
Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)
For: people LOVE it, some major tech wins, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are ubiquitous
Against: The Normal Heart, not as “important” as other films
The Trip To Bountiful
For: Cicely Tyson’s wonderful performance, enduring love for the material, the woman vote
Against: muted praise, The Normal Heart and Sherlock, will a Tyson win be reward enough
The Chatter
Before the Creative Arts Emmys this weekend, I was all set to hand deliver this award to The Normal Heart, but Sherlock’s wins across the board in the tech categories has me shook a bit. Sure it still seems to be the front runner, because it’s got love in almost every category and a ton of acting nominations, however, I could see a world where it didn’t win the top prize. What could step in it’s place? Well SHerlock does seem primed for the upset, but I think The Trip to Bountiful would be the competition as it probably will win Best Actress and was warmly received.