Awards season is underway – and in a 12 months with few clear-cut entrance runners, and plenty of the films out late within the day within the UK, the race is wanting fairly unpredictable.
This is a whistle-stop tour of a few of the motion pictures you will be listening to tons extra about and the place to observe them.
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Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon in Emilia Perrez. Pic: Netflix
It is 22 years since a musical took finest image on the Oscars however now, like buses, two come alongside without delay.
First there’s Emilia Perez – a principally Spanish musical from a French director a few Mexican drug lord who modifications gender, performed by trans actress Karla Sofia Gascon.
Essentially the most nominated foreign-language movie in Oscar historical past with a whopping 13 nods – only one in need of the all-time file – Gascon’s private bid for Oscar glory has nose-dived after problematic tweets she despatched resurfaced.
The film additionally stars Zoe Saldana, who as a darling of blockbusters together with Guardians Of The Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity Battle and the Avatar franchise, is taking a punt on a extra uncommon movie this time round.
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Selena Gomez has ‘no regrets’ over new film
Whereas the film received 4 Golden Globes earlier this 12 months, together with finest movement image within the musical and comedy class, it is proved divisive for some Mexican viewers who say it reduces them to crude stereotypes.
Giant components of the trans group have additionally stated its therapy of transitioning feels regressive.
Plus, its reported use of AI to tweak a few of Gascon’s excessive notes has not gone with out remark.
Emilia Perez is offered to view on Netflix.
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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Depraved. Pic: Common Photos
Then there’s Depraved – the Wizard Of Ozprequel starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, whose press interviews have been steadily emotional.
It has been a field workplace hit, turning into the highest-grossing musical adaptation. However will it have the identical magic contact at forthcoming awards?
It took one Golden Globe, within the shiny new class of cinematic and field workplace achievement, becoming a member of final 12 months’s inaugural winner Barbie.
Depraved is offered to lease or personal on demand, together with on Sky Retailer.
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Adrian Brody in The Brutalist. Pic: A24
Chunky male-led dramas are awards season staples – and this 12 months isn’t any exception.
The Brutalist stars Adrien Brody as Hungarian architect Laszlo Toth, making an attempt to rebuild his life within the US after the Second World Battle.
You want endurance to take a seat by this one – it is over three and a half hours lengthy and even has its personal interval.
Man Pearce and Felicity Jones co-star, with Pearce crediting Brody’s achievement within the position, noting he’s “almost intimidating he’s so good”.
Brody already has one finest actor Oscar win beneath his belt – this would possibly safe him a second.
The film took finest movement image within the drama class on the Globes, in addition to wins for Brody and its director Brady Corbet.
In the meantime, just a few eyebrows have been raised over the usage of AI to “refine” the lead actors’ Hungarian accents.
The Brutalist is in cinemas now.
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Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence in Conclave. Pic: Focus Options 2024
Conclave is all about selecting a brand new Pope – a papal X Issue if you’ll.
Within the movie, greater than 100 high-ranking clergymen, every with their very own chequered previous, elect the following Catholic figurehead whereas sealed off from the general public within the secretive voting course of.
Essentially the most nominated movie at this 12 months’s BAFTAs, with loads of star energy and Ralph Fiennes on the helm, it is a research of the Catholic Church – warts and all.
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‘It is not a facile takedown of the Catholic Church’
“There’s obviously corruption. There are all kinds of transgressions we know about that have taken place, but it exists because the Catholic Church also offers, I think, a sort of support to communities. It’s a foundational place to go where the community has a structure, so I think it’s a big thing to sort of open up and discuss.”
Conclave, which additionally stars Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, is offered to lease or personal on demand, together with on Sky Retailer.
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Nickel Boys stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson (L-R). Pic: Orion Photos
Nickel Boys, about abuse at a US reform college within the Sixties, is the movie with maybe essentially the most distinctive visible type, shot nearly solely from the 2 lead characters’ standpoint.
It is a disorientating drama that can stick with you lengthy after the credit roll.
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Depicting trauma in The Nickel Boys
Nickel Boys is in cinemas now.
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Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Half Two. Pic: Warner Bros. Photos/Niko Tavernise
We’ll name this the Timothée Chalamet part – flying the flag for 2 very completely different movies.
Firstly, saving the universe in sci-fi sequel Dune: Half Two.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Chalamet steps again into the position of Paul Atreides, who, following the primary film, is now looking for revenge in opposition to those that decimated his household.
The third movie is due out subsequent 12 months.
Dune Two, which additionally stars Zendaya and Florence Pugh, is offered to lease or personal on demand, together with on Sky Retailer.
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Chalamet is Bob Dylan in A Full Unknown. Pic: Searchlight Photos
Chalamet’s second punt within the awards choices sees him choose up the guitar and provides it some mumbling Bob Dylan vitality in A Full Unknown, taking part in the Nobel prize-winning people hero regarded by many as a lyrical genius.
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Chalamet on the Full Unknown UK premiere. Pic: AP
Chalamet spent 5 years engaged on his singing, harmonica and guitar abilities. Will the awards reward him for his efforts? Or will he be on his bike?
A Full Unknown is in cinemas now.
After which there’s the female-led motion pictures – from gritty, to horror, to devastating actual life.
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Mikey Madison in Anora. Pic: Neon/Augusta Quirk
Anora stars newcomer Mikey Madison as a intercourse employee from Brooklyn who marries into cash.
Assume Fairly Girl however with out the sugar coating.
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Mikey Madison on getting ready to play a intercourse employee
Anora is offered to lease or personal on demand, together with on Sky Retailer.
I am Nonetheless Right here sees a mom of 5 combating Brazil’s authoritarian army regime within the Nineteen Seventies after her husband is forcibly “disappeared”, leaving her to seek for the reality and rebuild her life.
Based mostly on a real story, this Portuguese-language movie is creating an surprising buzz, with three Oscar nods and one Golden Globe win for its star, Fernanda Torres.
The Brazilian drama’s probabilities within the worldwide class on the Oscars is healthier than honest.
I am Nonetheless Right here is because of go on restricted launch in cinemas on Friday 21 February.
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Demi Moore re-evaluates her value as an older girl in The Substance. Pic: Mubi
Lastly, physique horror film The Substance has given its star Demi Moore a profession reboot like no different.
The well timed narrative about an older actress refusing to fade into obscurity, with horrifying penalties, is one voters are prone to lap up.
It noticed Moore take finest actress in a musical or comedy on the Golden Globes, and her acceptance speech by which she spoke about being written off as a “popcorn actress” early on in her profession laid the bottom for additional wins together with a Critics’ Selection gong.
Will Moore win finest actress on the BAFTAs and Oscars? If the excitement is to be believed, she might effectively nab them.
The Substance, which additionally stars Margaret Qualley, is offered to lease or personal on demand, together with on Sky Retailer.
The competitors’s vast open – might one of the best motion pictures win!
The BAFTA ceremony shall be held on the Southbank Centre’s Royal Competition Corridor in London on Sunday, 16 February.
The Academy Awards ceremony shall be held on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, 2 March.
