1 movie and a billion-dollar rescue for the industry.
OnMavericks tail cameAvatar: The Way of Water, which became the third biggest global-grossing film of all time.
And shock of shocks, both of those long-gestating sequels are Best Picture contenders with 10 nominations between them.
Best Picture nominees, clockwise from top left, ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ ‘Elvis,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ ‘The Fabelmans,’ ‘Tár,’ ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Triangle of Sadness’ and ‘Women Talking’Everett Collection
That means audiences may be ready to come back to theOscarsto root for their favorites, something sorely needed.
Throw in other box office successes likeElvisandEverything Everywhere All at Once, and you have a recipe for recovery.
Pundits have been calling it for all three, but only one will prevail.
(L-R) Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy
Here is how I see it playing out in my finalfinalpredictions in all 23 categories.
Major critics circles rallied aroundTar, although the televisedCritics Choice Awards heaped riches onEverything Everywhere All at Once.
Still, going way out on that limb…. With three other acclaimed performances all released in 2022, this could be his year.
That may be the edge in a race that is simply and truly too close to call.
Perhaps we will get a clue earlier in the evening ifElvisorThe Whalewin for Makeup and Hairstyling.
I am torn here in trying to read the Academys mind-set and actually hoping for a tie.
But can she actuallywin?
Going for a third Oscar, Cate Blanchett has been the front-runner all season long.
The betting odds still would favor the great Cate, however, in a once-in-a-lifetime role even for her.
Dont expect a repeat of that.
I was thrilled to see Hong Chau finally nominated after being egregiously overlooked forDownsizinga few years back.
Another tough call, but being in a popular Best Picture behemoth seems to favor Curtis right now.
Their win at Critics Choice was a mere preview of what would come.
Only eight times in the DGAs previous 74-year awards history has its winner not gone on to Oscar glory.
It looks set up to continue that impressive track record.
Sentiment for the two-time winner here could tip it to Spielberg, but that DGA recognition tells me otherwise.
The moving Belgian entryCloseis as deserving of a win here as any foreign-language film this year.
It didnt even make the longlist, which makes me wonder what is wrong with the documentary branch.
There is the much-acclaimedAll That Breathes, which dazzled doc groups this year.
A great story is a great story.
It has little chance.
Cute, but too much of a hybrid to win here.
That will win, and not just because its beloved creator has his name in the title.
The former just screams editing, a dizzying multiverse romp that hardly slows down to breathe.
Both are the punch in of songs that win here.
That may be enough.
The question is if the older-skewing AMPAS voters even saw the film.
It wasnt even nominated.
So who gets it now?
Son Luxs strong musical work forEverything Everywhere All at Oncefit the action to a tee.
Ninety-year-old five-time winner and 53-time nominee John Williams could have the sentimental vote for another fine score forTheFabelmans.
If it is a wash between the latter two, look for Bertelmann on the outside.
All these nominees make sense, withElvison the musical side andAll Quiet on the Western Frontgetting the war vote.
In between, we have box office behemoths with familiar titles likeBatman,Top GunandAvatar.
The former took the BAFTA for being anything but all quiet and was superb.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
A terrific category where each of the five are deserving in their own right.
With Globe and BAFTA wins, is this his year forThe Banshees of Inisherin?
Its WGA win wont hurt at all happening just as Oscar balloting was progressing.
This won at the Art Directors Guild and at BAFTA, so looking good.
Uh, that would be a no.
Harris Goes to Paris, a movie in which the costumes truly share co-star credit with Lesley Manville.
I wonder if voters will think they have already rewarded this franchise and look elsewhere.
I have a feeling Malalas visible presence this season might help her film.
It is a charmer.
