We had one film release this past weekend with the potential for Oscar nominations.

mother!

Not since Stanley Kubrick has there been such an idiosyncratic director whose work mystefies at times and thrills in others. Darren Aronofsky’s ability to twist and manipulate film as a medium to tell stories has put him at the forefront of artists working today. His films tend to please his partisans and confound or frustrate those less interested in his work.

The Academy, for the most part, has been modestly supportive. With only seven films on his filmography since his celebrated debut in 1998 with Pi, Aronofsky has pleased Oscar voters enough two land three of his films Oscar nominations (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black Swan). Three of his films never came close (Pi, The Fountain, Noah). Here we are with his most divisive film yet and his record is about to either go up or down from 50-50.

My guess is that mother! is ultimately ignored. Originally, its stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Ed Harris were at various points in the conversation for nominations. With such animosity hurled at the film and its likely collapse at the box office, their chances have diminished. Aronofsky could still see his script nominated and the film could make a play in Film Editing, Sound Mixing, and Sound Effects, but at this juncture, it looks like he’s about to go 3 for 7 with the Oscars. Not that he likely cares.