As the precursor awards continue unabated until Oscar night, I’m going to be providing a weekly update highlighting the films that have won and lost momentum through the precursor awards (and in some cases other outside influences).

This past week brought only three guild awards, so it’s unlikely that the impact felt here will be felt in any other place.

But, before we get into this week’s winners and losers, let’s take a look at what’s coming up this week:

Week 15

Tue. 27 – Academy Award Voting Ends (Oscars) (Official)
Wed. 28 – The Oscar Concert (Oscars) (Official)
Sat. 03 – Razzies (Awards) (Official)
Sat. 03 – Spirit Awards (Awards) (Official)
Sun. 04 – Academy Awards (90th) (Oscars) (Official)

Big Winners

Darkest Hour finally picked up another prize it needed with its victory at the Make-Up and Hair Stylist’s Guild. This cements its Oscar chances for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, though it doesn’t seem to indicate much else.
Dunkirk has struggled much of precursor season, but it ultimately managed to win an award it desperately needed from the Cinema Audio Society. It also means that it could pick up the companion sound prize at the Oscars.
The Shape of Water has had a satisfactory, but sometimes unexceptional ride this Oscar season, but winning the Costume Designers Guild award over the perceived frontrunner Phantom Thread is good news for the film as it seems to be pushing towards the Production Design/Costume Design pairing at the Oscars.

Big Losers

Phantom Thread was always a questionable frontrunner for Best Costume Design. Although some insist it’s the easy frontrunner, history suggests that may not be true. Although Best Picture nominees and winners can sometimes win when otherwise expected, this isn’t the category they usually take. That means Phantom‘s position has weakened measurably.
Beauty and the Beast is in the same boat as it lost out on the Fantasy award at the CDG. While I don’t know that Beauty is more injured than Phantom, it’s definitely not good news for either film.