Unlike TV, the movie industry has taken a real hit over the last year: due to COVID-19’s devastating effect on the box office, there has been a general of death of films being released. Moreover, with the Academy making the unprecedented move to allow films without traditional theatrical runs to be considered, the ‘unthinkable’ may finally happen: Amazon and Netflix may dominate the Oscars.
Although the two streaming services have had successes in the past (Roma, Marriage Story, Manchester by the Sea), this year they may well and truly clean up at the Oscars. Already this year Netflix’s Da 5 Bloods and Amazon’s Radioactive have gotten some Oscar-buzz, but what upcoming movies produced by these other upcoming streaming films are just as likely to hit big at the Oscars. Watch them now, tell everyone “I told you so” later.
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Fresh off her Emmy win for Watchmen, Regina King is making her feature-film debut with One Night in Miami, based off the play of the same name. The film tells a fictionalized story of Black legends Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke they meet to celebrate Clay’s surprise title win over Sonny Liston in a Miami hotel room in February 1964.
Since premiering at the Venice Film Festival, the movie has received acclaim from critics, achieving an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. King’s direction, the cast’s performances, and the adapted script are all expected to be recognized at the 93rd Academy Awards, and since the ceremony usually reflects contemporary moments, this film about Black brotherhood may be a favorite.
Mank seems like such stereotypical Oscar-bait, it’s no wonder why it’s predicted to do well. It’s the untold tale of Herman J. Mankiewicz, the screenwriter who fought with Orson Welles to be credited for Citizen Kane. A historical biopic that celebrates the ‘magic’ of cinema whilst also mildly chastising Hollywood’s storied past? Yeah, it’s probably going to do well.
However, the real magic is the story behind-the-scenes. The film is directed by David Fincher, based off his late father’s own screenplay; that’s a sob story powerful enough for even the most stoic critic. Starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Charles Dance, and Tom Burke, expect to see Mank pick up nominations for its acting, script, direction, and cinematography.
On the topic of the Oscars loving the history of cinema, also coming from Netflix is a remake of Daphne du Maurier’s classic, Rebecca. The first major remake of the novel since the 1940 Hitchcock version, Ben Wheatley’s version has big shoes to fill.
Starring Lily James as the unnamed protagonist who falls in love with the dashing billionaire, Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), the cast of the film is stacked. However, the film’s nominations may come from elsewhere: namely its costume and production design. Already critics have praised the look of the film, and have lauded the costumes revealed so far, so expect to see Rebecca pick up some of the less flashy nominations.
Sylvie’s Love is something of an enigma. The film burst onto the scene in January at the Sundance Film Festival, achieved a much-desired perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, had its distribution rights quickly bought up by Amazon, and not much has been heard about it since.
However, what is known is that it’s a love story, and that Tessa Thompson shines as its main character. Thompson has been on a tear in Hollywood recently, appearing in critically acclaimed titles like Dear White People, Selma, Creed, and Annihilation. With the Oscars being known to coalesce around actors that they feel have ‘earned’ nominations with their career thus far, Thompson seems a solid bet.
Time is different to all other entries on this list, in that it’s a documentary. Produced and directed by Garrett Bradley, it follows Sibil Fox Richardson, an entrepreneur, abolitionist, and mother of six, as she fights for the release of her husband who’s serving a 60-year prison sentence.
Since premiering at Sundance earlier this year, the film has built up noticeable hype, with Peter Debruge of Variety going as far to say that Time “will almost certainly rewire how Americans think about the prison-industrial complex”. The documentary category at the Oscars is known for celebrating films that reflect hard-hitting, contemporary social issues, like Of Fathers and Sons and Hale County This Morning, This Evening. Given everything currently happening in America, it is safe to assume that Time will do well.
Adapted from the Tony-nominated musical of the same name, The Prom is the dark horse of this list. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the film follows a set of has-been Broadway actors as they journey to help a teenage girl who’s been banned from her prom for being a lesbian.
Although the premise would make it seem that the film may be saccharin, the musical’s cast is incredible. Headlined by Oscar-legend Meryl Streep (who has been nominated for musicals in the past), it also features Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Kerry Washington and Ariana DeBose. With how topical its subject matter looks to be, The Prom may be nominated for its performances and its new songs when it premieres in December.
Based on the memoir of the same name, Hillbilly Elegy may be the vehicle in which Glenn Close and Amy Adams finally win their Oscars. Directed by Ron Howard, the film will look at the life and death of the American Dream, framed by three generations of one family, living in Appalachia.
With Close almost winning for The Wife a few years ago, and Adams for Arrival a few years before that, Hillbilly Elegy seems to be the kind of sentimental musing that the Academy loves to reward (see, August: Osage County). Moreover, with Hans Zimmer writing the score and up-and-comer Maryse Alberti handling the cinematography, expect to see Hillbilly Elegy do quite well across the board.
More than any other film on this list, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be special: it’s Chadwick Boseman’s final film appearance. Based off the 1982 play of the same name, the film features Boseman as hot-headed musician Levee – a member of Ma Rainey’s (Viola Davis) band, who have gathered in a Chicago recording studio to produce a new album.
Examining themes of race, art, and the historic exploitation of black recording artists by white producers, the film is expected to be outstanding, if the casts’ previous performances and the play version of the script is anything to go by. If nothing else, it is thought that it will be a fitting tribute to Boseman, an actor who dedicated the lion’s share of his life and career to elevate and celebrate Black voices.
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