5 FYCs for AMPAS Voters to Consider

So, because Oscar nominations ballots went out a few days ago and voters have until Wednesday to turn them in, this is a perfect time to remind them of certain films and performances that they should keep in mind as they fill their ballots.

While there’s plenty of personal FYCs I could come up with, here are five FYCs that I’d really hope for voters to consider. FYI, I decided not to go with fringe contenders like Delroy Lindo for Da 5 Bloods or Paul Raci in Sound of Metal because frankly, those are names that we all want to see make the cut and who might surprise on Nomination Morning. Instead, I wanted to focus on films and performances that are much longer shots but deserve a closer look.

Without further ado, AMPAS voters, if you’re reading this, please consider….

Ben Mendelsohn, Best Supporting Actor for Babyteeth

Ben Mendelsohn as Henry Finlay in “Babyteeth.” (IFC Films)

Ever since he burst onto the scene with Animal Kingdom, Australian character actor Ben Mendelsohn has been making a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s go-to actors for shady antagonists. Yet, in the Aussie indie Babyteeth, we get to see him in a refreshingly new light as he plays a psychiatrist caring for his cancer-stricken teenage daughter. Instead of his piercing blue eyes showing menace and calculation, like in Rogue One or Animal Kingdom, they show sorrow over the situation at hand along with gradual acceptance of what may eventually transpire. Also, his heart-wrenching pragmatism reaches a culmination during a pivotal beach scene which, without spoiling anything, is bound to have you reaching for the tissues. Other than the mustache, there’s no showy physical transformation involved in his performance, but it remains a wonderfully refined demonstration of his chameleonic prowess. After putting in dynamic work for decades, both in Australia and the States, I’d say it’s time that he got his due.

Nicole Beharie, Best Actress for Miss Juneteenth

Nicole Beharie as Turquoise Jones in “Miss Juneteenth.” (Vertical Entertainment)

When watching Turquoise Jones’ journey in Miss Juneteenth, it’s as if writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples was documenting the life of a mother trying to give her teenage daughter the best life she possibly can. A strong testament to not just Peoples’ direction but Nicole Beharie’s performance. Beharie’s rather lived-in portrayal is, without sounding hyperbolic, one that is akin to Ellen Burstyn’s Best Actress-winning performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. As Turquoise Jones enters her daughter Kai in the Miss Juneteenth pageant, which Kai herself has little interest in, she goes through the usual motions parents often experience. The struggle of self-satisfaction and having your children accomplish what you couldn’t while allowing them choose their own path. Even with just the use of her expressive face, Beharie etches out that debacle perfectly. As an actress, Nicole Beharie has a gift of creating fleshed-out characterizations out of even the smallest of parts (See Black Mirror: Striking Vipers for proof). But in Miss Juneteenth, she gets a rare starring vehicle and does such wonders with it.

Radha Blank, Best Original Screenplay for The Forty-Year-Old Version

Radha Blank as Radha in “The Forty-Year-Old Version.” (Netflix)

Admittedly, there is a case for Radha Blank to be nominated in any category she’s in contention for: Best Original Screenplay, Lead Actress, Best Picture, Best Director, and even Best Original Song despite “Poverty Porn” being left off the shortlist. But ultimately, while her direction and acting are exemplary, her screenplay remains the picture’s strongest suit. Besides being about the trials of being an artist of a certain age, especially one who’s a person of color dealing with racial microaggressions, The Forty Year-Old-Version is a crowd-pleasing yet poignant reminder that artistic pursuits have no age limit. Its script, which seamlessly blends these thematic elements together, is a strong source of its bittersweet impact and deserves proper recognition.

Birds of Prey, Best Costume Design

Birds of Prey may have come out back in February before the government shutdown, and even before AMPAS extended their eligibility window, yet no other costume work from any other film this season has come close to the brilliance from costume designer Erin Benach. From the Liberace-esque outfits worn by Roman Sionis to the vivid wardrobes worn by the different Birds of Prey members that reflect how their backstories tie to a different genre, the work from Benach is full of awe-inspiring detail. Voters, please take note.

Helene Louvart, Best Cinematography for Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Cinematographer Helene Louvart on the set of “Never Rarely Sometimes Always.” (Focus Features)

When Rachel Morrison earned her first Best Cinematography nomination for Mudbound back in 2017, she made history as the first woman to do so. It was a nomination that should open a door for other female DPs that haven’t gotten their due. Cinematographers like Helene Louvart who makes a solid case for her work on Never Rarely Sometimes Always. The work she does on the title scene alone warrants recognition and proves that great cinematography can be more than just colorful lighting and mise-en-scene. As Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) goes through a simple questionnaire about her relationships, it becomes an endurance test as Autumn struggles her way through each answer with the long pauses she makes hinting at her troubled history. Along with Flanigan’s acting, Louvart’s camera work becomes crucial to the scene’s impact as she zeroes in on Flanigan’s expressive face and never moves away. For my money, it’s THE scene of 2020.

What do you guys think? Which personal FYCs would you throw in? Please share your thoughts!