Emma Thompson's “Good Luck to Leo Grande” is back in the Oscar race. The film is now eligible for consideration by the Academy after Searchlight, which acquired the movie out of Sundance but never released it in U.S. theaters, appealed.
Again, the film did NOT open in US theaters. What was the point of the Oscars changing the rules if they can just let this one slide? Now watch a few other films try this tactic.
If you remember, this past May, the Academy announced its reversion to pre-pandemic rules that required one-week theatrical runs in one of six American cities. Searchlight somehow found a limp loophole excuse by telling the Academy it had made its release plans based on pandemic rules, not knowing how the theatrical world would shake out.
That just sounds like a total lie.
Regardless, the Academy took the bait. Searchlight actually found a way to get Emma Thompson back in contention. You can now re-add her to your Best Actress predictions.