As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for detail and a heart full of passion for the art of storytelling, I find myself utterly captivated by this year’s Academy Award nominations. With a background in cinematography and a life spent immersed in the silver screen, I can confidently say that 2023 promises to be an exceptional year for cinema.
The Universal Pictures adaptation of the popular Broadway musical “Wicked” has made a strong entry into the award season, propelled by outstanding ticket sales, positive critic reviews, and a cultural presence that occurs only once or twice a year. Moreover, the film’s success may not be limited to the box office. With its captivating storytelling, “Wicked” could also enchant Oscar voters, potentially making it a significant contender for the Best Picture award. Directed by Jon M. Chu, this film stands out amidst a competitive and varied awards season, which is dominated by highly-anticipated sequels such as Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.
Here are five reasons why the Academy Awards could be primed for a big green takeover.
Box office bona fides
Success at the box office can significantly boost a film’s chances for an Oscar, particularly in the competition for the top award. The movie “Wicked” opened to massive earnings, indicating wide audience appeal, which is often appreciated by Academy voters who tend to favor films that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Strong box office revenues have been key factors in past best picture winners such as “Titanic” (1997), “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003).
As a film enthusiast, the impressive box office earnings I’ve witnessed for this movie provide Universal with the necessary ammunition to launch a bold and relentless campaign for awards recognition.
Critical Acclaim and Genre Representation
The musical film “Wicked” has received widespread acclaim from critics. Critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, scoring in the range of high 80s to low 90s, have lauded director Chu’s direction, the film’s stunning visuals, and the exceptional performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Despite musicals often facing genre prejudices, “Wicked” is paving a route similar to successful productions such as “Chicago” (2002), which won six Oscars including best picture, and “La La Land” (2016), which garnered 14 nominations (and for a brief while, many believed it would win best picture).
The movie’s impressive action sequences and deep emotional content have left critics praising it profusely. By skillfully combining grand cinematic moments with intricate storytelling, “Wicked” might earn the respect required to move beyond being merely a crowd-pleaser and attract the Academy’s discerning taste for auteur-focused productions.
A Feel-Good Message for Uncertain Times
oscars often lean towards films that promote positivity and optimism, particularly during periods of societal or political upheaval. The film “Wicked” delivers a universal message of friendship, tenacity, and overcoming the odds, which might resonate with viewers in today’s divisive climate. This aspect was a significant contributor to the success of recent winners like “CODA” (2021), which emphasized inclusivity and familial ties just months after the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Following the intense and contentious presidential election, a touching narrative might just be the winning ticket that appeals to Academy members.
The Preferential Ballot Advantage
In a year where no single film stands out as the obvious choice, the Academy’s preferential voting system could play a crucial role in deciding the night’s top winner. Movies that enjoy broad appeal, but might not be universally adored, can gain an advantage by receiving high rankings on various ballots. With significant contenders like “The Brutalist” and “Gladiator II” causing polarizing opinions, “Wicked” could potentially become the film that most voters agree upon.
This system significantly contributed to films such as “Green Book” (2018) and “Moonlight” (2016) winning in unexpected years. With its relatable plot, stunning visuals, and dedicated audience, “Wicked” possesses all the key elements of a film that could potentially take the second and third positions on voting slips – enough to clinch the top prize.
Dominance in Technical Categories
The craft-focused divisions within the Academy, including cinematography, production design, costumes, and others, make up over 65% of its membership. It’s anticipated that “Wicked” will excel in these areas, making a significant impact in the races for production design, costume design, sound, and visual effects, due to its detailed reinterpretation of Oz’s enchanting landscapes. Movies that perform well among craft categories, such as “Oppenheimer” and “The Shape of Water,” often gather steam towards winning. If “Wicked” receives numerous votes in these categories, the same voters (who also vote for best picture) could potentially elevate the film to their preferred choice for the top spot.
Will “Wicked” be that pop-u-lar? Let’s see how long the buzz lasts.
Below are this week’s Oscar predictions (in alphabetical order) in all 23 categories.
See all Academy Award predictions
EbMaster Awards Circuit: Oscars
Oscars Predictions Tracking
(Nov. 26, 2024)
In the category of “Best Picture,” we have nominees such as “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “Gladiator II (if it exists),” “The Room Next Door,” and “Sing Sing.” Lastly, the intriguing title “Wicked” is also in contention.
Filmmakers Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Sean Baker (“Anora”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), Jon M. Chu (“Wicked”) and Ridley Scott (“Gladiator II”) are each working on separate projects.
Actors: Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Daniel Craig (“Queer”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”)
Actresses: Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), Angelina Jolie (“Maria”), and Mikey Madison (“Anora”)
In the movie “Anora”, we have Yura Borisov playing the role of a Supporting Actor. Kieran Culkin can be seen in “A Real Pain”. Clarence Maclin stars in “Sing Sing” and Guy Pearce features in “The Brutalist”. Lastly, Denzel Washington is cast as the Lead Actor in “Gladiator II”.
Actresses in Supporting Roles: Monica Barbaro from “A Complete Unknown”, Danielle Deadwyler in “The Piano Lesson”, Ariana Grande featured in “Wicked”, Isabella Rossellini appearing in “Conclave”, and Zoe Saldaña playing the role of Emilia Pérez.
Original Screenplay“Anora”“The Brutalist” “Hard Truths”“A Real Pain”
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”
Adapted Screenplay“Conclave”“Emilia Pérez” “The Room Next Door”“Sing Sing”
“Wicked”
One possible paraphrase for “The Wild Robot” could be “The Adventures of the Robot in the Wilderness”. This title aims to convey the same essence as the original, which suggests a robot living and interacting with wildlife in a wild environment. The new title is more straightforward, making it easier for readers to understand the story’s context.
Production Design“Blitz”“Dune: Part Two”“Gladiator II”“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”
Cinematography“The Brutalist”“Dune: Part Two”“Emilia Pérez”“Maria”
“Nosferatu”
Costume Design“A Complete Unknown”“Dune: Part Two”“Gladiator II”“Maria”
“Wicked”
Film Editing“Anora”“The Brutalist”“Conclave”“Dune: Part Two”
“Wicked”
Beautifying Hairdos and Cosmetics
Sound“Blitz”“A Complete Unknown”“Dune: Part Two”“Gladiator II”
“Wicked”
“Improved Special Effects” – This term is a bit more descriptive and could be used to refer to the enhanced visual effects in movies like “Better Man”, “Dune: Part Two”, “Gladiator II”, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, or “Wicked”. It emphasizes that these visuals are improved upon from previous versions, making them more appealing and realistic.
Original Score“The Brutalist”“Conclave”“Emilia Pérez”“The Room Next Door”
“The Wild Robot”
Original Song“Forbidden Road” from “Better Man”“El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez”“Mi Camino” from “Emilia Pérez”“The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
“Kiss the Sky” from “The Wild Robot”
Documentary Feature“Dahomey”“Daughters”“No Other Land”“Sugarcane”
“Will & Harper”
Feature from Around the World: “Dahomey” hails from Senegal, “Emilia Pérez” represents France, “I’m Still Here” is from Brazil, and “Kneecap” comes from Ireland. Meanwhile, from Germany, we have “The Seed of the Sacrated Fig.
Animated Short“An Almost Christmas Story”“Back to Normal”“Humantis”“Remember Us”
“Silent Panorama”
Titles with a twist:
Live Action Short“Dovecote”“The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”“Motherland”“Ripe!”
“Room Taken”
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2024-11-26 20:54