Another day, another awards season week in the bag. In the last gasp of October, both the Gotham Award nominees unveiled as did the finish of Los Angeles’ AFI Fest. While the Gotham Awards are an early indicator of where some favorites lie, remember that these nominations (of which “One Battle After Another” reigned supreme after the formerly indie film ceremony eliminated its budget cap) are chosen by high-minded clusters of critics and film programmers. They are not reflective of Academy tastes, though a number of the films get a boost as voters elsewhere do a search on who’s in the running as they ready their ballots.
On this week’s episode of IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast, co-hosts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio take a look at who got a boost from the Gothams. The indie spirit of the nonprofit Gotham Film & Media Institute — with awards formally dating back to 1991 — was retained in Best Feature picks like “Lurker,” “East of Wall,” and “Familiar Touch.” A24’s “Sorry, Baby” and “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” also scored multiple nominations in this category and more, but they’re up against “Sinners,” “Hamnet,” and “One Battle After Another,” largely expected to be the top three vying for Best Picture at the Oscars. As of now, anyway. The race can change like the weather.
“Bugonia,” “Train Dreams,” and “The Testament of Ann Lee,” which Searchlight picked up some time after its Venice premiere, are also up for Best Feature. Anne finally caught up with “Ann Lee” at AFI Fest and is more an admirer than passionate fan; Ryan commends how Mona Fastvold finds a parallel in her own massive directing effort to the utopia built by the titular Shaker movement leader.
Elsewhere at AFI Fest, Craig Brewer’s “Song Sung Blue” made its world premiere to decent reviews. The true story stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman as a pair of down-on-their-luck performers who start up a Neil Diamond tribute band. It seems more like a Golden Globes play in the Musical/Comedy category than a movie bound for Oscar; it’s not releasing until Christmas, so potential audience enthusiasm could tip its favor.
All of that’s to say that these latest developments in the awards season race don’t mean a hell of a lot. Just yet.
Listen to this week’s episode below.