As a seasoned gamer of both the big and small screen, I can confidently say that this year’s Gotham Awards nominations have truly piqued my curiosity! Having traversed through countless cinematic universes, I am always eager to explore new indie gems that often go unnoticed by the masses.
For over three decades, the Gotham Awards have been honoring independent films. Known for being one of the first significant award events to announce nominations during the award season, this tradition holds true this year as well, with the Gotham Awards announcing their nominees ahead of other early award season precursors such as the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films of the Year. The nominees for Best Picture include “Challengers”, “The Nickel Boys”, “Babygirl”, “Anora”, and “A Different Man”. In the Best International Feature category, standout films from 2024 like “Green Border” and “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell” were joined by lesser-known titles such as “All We Imagine as Light”, “Hard Truths”, and “Vermiglio”. You can find more details about the nominees here.
Isn’t it fantastic to learn that Vera Drew, the director of “The People’s Joker,” has been nominated for Breakthrough Director? Initially, it seemed unlikely that “The People’s Joker” would ever be released due to persistent legal issues. But now, the filmmaker is receiving the recognition she deserves! What a remarkable turn of events! It’s also exciting to note that Clarence Maclin and Katy O’Brian have been nominated for Best Supporting Performance in “Sing Sing” and “Love Lies Bleeding,” respectively. If there had been space for a nod to “Hundreds of Beavers” here, one might think I selected these nominees intentionally!
It’s no surprise that some people will be examining the nominees closely in search of clues about potential blockbusters for 2024-2025. Since this event primarily honors independent cinema (although the removal of a budget cap last year has made it less exclusive), many Best Feature Gotham Award nominees don’t usually align with Best Picture Oscar nominees. Oh, how wonderful if Before Midnight, Inside Llewyn Davis, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Old Joy had received Best Picture Oscar nods!
Over the past few years, there has been some overlap between movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and the Gotham Award for Best Feature. Generally speaking, one film from the Gotham Award Best Feature category (such as “Past Lives”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, “Nomadland”, “The Favourite”) has been included in the running for the Best Picture Oscar. However, there was a period where more than one Best Feature nominee made it to the Best Picture nominees list. For instance, two Best Feature nominated films from both the 26th and 27th Gotham Awards received Best Picture Oscar nominations. In an unusual case, three Best Feature nominees from the 20th Gotham Awards managed to secure a spot in the Best Picture Oscar nominees list as well.
Among the five films nominated for Best Feature at the 34th Annual Gotham Awards, “Anora” seems to be the strongest contender for a Best Picture Oscar nomination. In fact, it’s been generating some buzz as a potential winner in that category, although we won’t know how likely or unlikely that is until much later. The latest Palme d’Or winner looks set to secure a Best Picture Oscar nomination at the very least. On the other hand, “Nickel Boys” is the only other film among these nominees that I believe has a chance of being nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It happens to be my favorite movie of 2024 thus far.
That’s not a reflection of my personal feelings or how much I’m anticipating/dreading certain movies. Award season stuff is cynical and often motivated by factors far beyond artistic merit. Babygirl and Challengers are more mainstream plays, their heavy emphasis on sex will likely scare away Oscar voters. Meanwhile, the terrific dark comedy A Different Man is probably a tad too small to get much Best Picture momentum. That leaves Anora and Nickel Boys as the most likely Best Picture Oscar contenders here.
Another intriguing point to ponder regarding the upcoming award season 2024-2025: It’s surprising that Emilia Perez wasn’t nominated for anything here, as it wasn’t eligible for Best Feature but could have been considered in other categories. Notably, significant media outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are currently tipping it as a strong Best Picture contender for the Oscars. However, its more controversial post-Cannes reviews and absence from the Gotham Awards nominations hint at potential hurdles for Jacques Audiard’s latest film. Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of time for Emilia Perez to make an impact in the coming months.
Instead of getting caught up in the chatter about award season predictions, focus on the exceptional movies that have been nominated. Take a closer look at some lesser-known titles on this list and broaden your cinematic horizons. I plan to catch up on Gotham Award nominees like “Black Dog” and “Good One,” starting today! The world of cinema is vast and ever-evolving, offering countless exciting new films to explore. Let the 34th Gotham Awards nominations guide you towards enriching movie experiences. You can’t go wrong with movies as outstanding as “The Nickel Boys” and “The People’s Joker”!
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2024-10-29 23:44