Everything has screened, I think. Unless “The Matrix Resurrections” of “A Journal for Jordan” turn out to be masterful. What are the chances of that happening?
The four late-breaking Oscar players have been seen.
“Licorice Pizza,” driven by its excellent reviews, and industry love for PTA, is destined to nab one of the 10 Best Picture slots. Alana Haim could get a Best Actress nomination for her lovely performance. A screenplay nod is also a real possibility for Anderson.
When it comes to “Don’t Look Up,” the industry love is abundantly clear. The embargo hasn’t lifted yet and reviews might turn out be all over the place, but those who love it REALLY love it. Expect Leonardo DiCaprio to pick up his sixth Oscar nomination and Meryl Streep her 22nd. Other less-likely notables are supporting players Jonah Hill and Mark Rylance.
Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” currently has an 87 on Metacritic. That is more than enough for a Best Picture nomination and, when all is said and done, frontrunner status is not out of the question. Acting-wise, 90-year-old Rita Moreno seems destined to garner a Supporting Actress nomination. Mike Faist, who plays Riff, also has an excellent shot at garnering a Supporting Actor nom. As for lead Rachel Zegler, it’s all up in the air, but her performance is well-loved and if it weren’t for a crowded Best Actress field then she’d be a shoo-in.
As for Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley,” if it gets recognized by the academy then it will most likely be in the tech categories such as Sound Design, Costume Design and Cinematography.
I’m sticking with these 10, at the very least, until the new year comes.
West Side Story
The Power of the Dog
Belfast
King Richard
Dune
Don’t Look Up
CODA
Licorice Pizza
The Last Duel
The Tragedy of MacBeth
Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.