Surveying The Early Bird Oscar Contenders
Due to the extended eligibility period from last Oscar season, March has been our January. However, because we are now in July, we can still take a look at where the Oscar race might already be. Particularly, when it comes to films that have already been released in theaters/streaming/VOD. Without further ado, let’s take a look:
After being delayed for about a year, In The Heights finally made its way to theaters and on HBO Max this past month. What seemed like a potential Best Picture contender saw its chances in that category almost evaporate the minute both its box office numbers and household clicks were released. If it can overcome its underwhelming results, and early release, it should at least be in the running for craftsmanship awards including Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Cinematography.
Then, of course, there’s Best Supporting Actress for Olga Merediz who’s the heart of the film as Abuela Claudia. Her heart-wrenching musical number “Pacienca y Fe” is the kind of show-stopper that can bring a supporting actress in a musical to victory (i.e. Anne Hathaway singing “I Dreamed A Dream” in Les Miserables, Jennifer Hudson singing “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” in Dreamgirls, etc.). However, as Erik Anderson from AwardsWatch pointed out in his latest Supporting Actress post, it’ll be up to Warner Bros. and even year-end pundits to keep her in the conversation once the fall festivals, where Oscar season really kicks into high gear, commence.
Meanwhile, in the Best Animated Feature category, we have Luca, Raya and the Last Dragon, and The Mitchells vs. The Machines looking to make a case for an inclusion. Given Disney’s monopolization of this category, there’s bound to be up to two Disney nominees in the Oscar category of Best Animated (Disney) Feature. However, because we have Encanto coming later this year, that could be one of those two with either Luca or Raya falling by the wayside. Between both, it could be Raya since it came out a tad earlier than Luca did, but Onward managed to make the cut even though it came out back in March before the extension of the Oscar eligibility period. So, you never know.
While serving as a DJ at this year’s Academy Awards, artist Questlove introduced the trailer for his new documentary Summer of Soul which now has a limited theatrical release and is currently streaming on Hulu. This doc about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival earned rave reviews when it premiered at Sundance and unless it gets left out due to how fickle the Documentary branch is with potential front runners/audience favorites, like when Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and Life Itself got shut out, Summer of Soul should be a definite contender.
As for the tech categories, Cruella might be one to keep a sharp eye on in Best Costume Design. Both 101 Dalmatians and its sequel were nominated in that exact category and the costume work on Cruella was done by Oscar winner Jenny Beavan. Additionally, for obvious reasons, A Quiet Place: Part II could be a possibility for Best Sound while Best Visual Effects will likely serve as a hub for big-screen blockbusters like Godzilla vs. Kong and Black Widow.
Going back to potential above-the-line contenders, the new A24 road movie Zola recently opened to positive acclaim. The new film that’s based on an infamous viral Twitter thread might not seem like a traditional Academy film. But given how movies like Get Out and Promising Young Woman have been nominated for Best Picture with films like The Shape of Water and Parasite winning Best Picture, it’s safe to say we’re moving away from what a typical Oscar movie is.
As for where Zola could contend, its best chance at any Oscar love might just be Colman Domingo in Best Supporting Actor. The steadily working actor’s actor has been a consistent presence on film, TV, and the stage since the 90’s and hasn’t gotten his moment in the Oscar sun despite appearing in films that have been embraced by AMPAS like Selma, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and If Beale Street Could Talk. Depending on how the category pans out, and whether critics at least rally behind him, Domingo could be a factor in the Best Supporting Actor race for his charismatic villain role as X. Other areas where it at least deserves consideration include Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress for Riley Keough, Best Original Score, and Best Actress for Taylour Paige who deserves more than the inevitable “Breakthrough/Rising Star” awards she’ll be contending for.
Because that’s just a sampling of possibilities before fall festival season officially commences, I’ll now toss things off to you….
What do you guys think? Are there any early bird contenders you think could be in the mix? Please be sure to share your thoughts!
