On this week’sFor Your Consideration, Collider’s awards expertsScott Mantz,Perri NemiroffandJeff Sneiderrecap the Critics Choice Awards and discuss whether they’ll have any impact on next week’s Oscar nominations. Scott and Jeff also make a bet regarding the Best Actress race, which still feels wide open following the tie betweenGlenn CloseandLady Gaga.
Scott is a big believer in Oscar history and has bought into the narrative that Close is due, citing examples likeAl Pacino’s win forScent of a WomanandPaul Newman’s win forThe Color of Money. Jeff thinks history is overrated, since this is an entirely different Academy with over 2,000 “new” members. To suggest that this group of 8,000+ voters will take its cues from the Academy of the mid ’80s and early ’90s is preposterous in his eyes. Jeff is content to agree to disagree until Scott whips out his wallet. At least give him credit for putting his money where his mouth is.
Perri was delighted to seeThe Favouritewin Best Acting Ensemble at the Critics Choice Awards, but unfortunately, that’s not an actual Oscar category. WithGreen BookandBohemian Rhapsodysuffering plenty of slings and arrows on the campaign trail, willYorgos Lanthimos' female-driven costume drama be the beneficiary, or is it Netflix’sRomathat stands the most to gain from those stumbles?
What is clear now, and what has been clear for the past several months, is thatAlfonso Cuarónappears to be a lock for Best Director, no matter how badlyBradley Cooperwants that particular statue. Say what you will aboutRoma, but even the film’s detractors commend Cuarón for his gorgeous personal vision, and it’s all but assured that the Mexican filmmaker will pick up his third Oscar (remember, he won two forGravity, including one for editing), if not his fourth as well, given that he also served as his own cinematographer.
Best Actor remains a toss-up, with the panel divided betweenChristian Bale,Rami Malekand Cooper, who isn’t out of the race yet and still has many, many fans within the Academy. Bale has had several opportunities to deliver killer acceptance speeches, which may have upped his chances, but Cooper hasn’t been afforded the same time at the podium. What’s an Oscar contender to do when he doesn’t have the microphone?
The supporting races seem a bit firmer, withMahershala AliandRegina Kingleading the charge. But, of course, if you’re applying Scott’s “Glenn Close is due” argument to the supporting actress category, then why doesn’tAmy Adamshave a better chance, given the fact that she hasn’t won an Oscar either despite five previous nominations. The gang dives into that debate and is excited to see what happens next week, when the nominations set the stage for the Academy Awards on February 24.
To keep up with all thingsFor Your Consideration, follow the gang on Twitter and Instagram at @MovieMantz, @PNemiroffand @TheInSneider. Hit up the comments section and let us know what you thought of the Critics Choice Awards and whether Scott or Jeff will win the Glenn Close bet. Stay tuned next week for our live episode following the Oscar nominations, and we’llFYC-ya later!
