Category: Precursors
-
Precursor: 18th Toronto Critics – Canadian Film (2014)
Catching up on some precursors from the past week, The Toronto Film Critics Association announced their winner for Best Canadian Film, which went to Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy, beating out Michael Dowse’s The F Word and Canadian Foreign Language Film submission to the Oscars Xavier Dolan’s Mommy. The Awards Best Canadian Film Enemy Toronto Film Critics…
-
Precursor: 56th British Academy Nominations (2014)
Before anyone panics, Selma and Cake (Jennifer Aniston) were likely not eligible as they did not release in Britain in time. That said, this list mostly follows conventional Oscar season narratives with the distinctions being Steve Carell got moved to supporting actor, British performers and productions still do disproportionately well (Paddington nominated for Best Adapted…
-
Precursor: 6th Make-Up Artists Guild Nominations (2014)
Proof there’s a lot of below-the-line support for Guardians of the Galaxy, which might help it’s Oscar Best Picture chances, the Makeup artists have tied it with Into the Woods for most nominations at this year’s makeup and hairstyling awards. The organization had given out awards early in the 2000’s, but had taken a break…
-
Precursor: 28th USC Scripter Nominations (2014)
With the Writers Guild of America increasingly stingy with its nominations (only to guild members and products made under a WGA contract), the precursor that seems best at predicting the Adapted Screenplay category at the Oscars is the USC Libraries and their annual Scripter Awards. Recognizing the screenwriter and the source material author, the Scripter…
-
Precursor: 17th Costume Designers Guild Nominations (2014)
Unlike the Art Directors Guild, the Costumers got behind a few more interesting picks. Selma finally makes it to the guild rounds. I can’t see any major omissions here, though Belle missing the list is a bit surprising. That’s the type of small period film this group usually goes for. Not a single one of…
-
Precursor: 67th Writers Guild Nominations (2014)
Knowing that half the major Oscar contenders weren’t even eligible for the WGA awards (not made under WGA-sanctioned contracts or by WGA members), it’s unsurprising to see something like Guardians of the Galaxy sneak into Best Adapted Screenplay when it has no hope at the Oscars. Don’t read much into these considering the ineligible contenders,…
-
Precursor: 29th Cinematographers Guild Nominations (2014)
A list that excludes Interstellar is ok by me, though including The Imitation Game, which is journeyman work at best, seems like a slap in the face to so many other great cinematographers this year, including those for Ida and Nightcrawler who got quite a bit of attention this year. Don’t read too much into…
-
Precursor: 9th Oklahoma Critics Awards (2014)
Seeing the same results over and over again give these small regional critics problems since everyone’s heard the narrative and have moved on to the more obvious precursors. Still, this group gives out some interesting other awards, though I don’t particularly like the term Guilty Pleasure, especially when applied to a film that is aesthetically…
-
Precursor: 4th Georgia Critics Nominations (2014)
After a drubbing from two different critics groups this morning, Selma got welcome news by topping the nominations for the Georgia Film Critics Association nominations. Thanks to two separate nominations in the breakthrough category, the film easily topped Oscar nomination front-runners Birdman, Boyhood and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Nominations Tallies (9) Selma (7) Birdman, Boyhood,…
-
Precursor: 26th Producers Guild Nominations (2014)
Warner Bros. should either be kicking itself or should fire its entire awards publicity staff. Selma, which is receiving very strong reviews, was entirely ignored on this year’s Producers Guild of America list, completely destroying the film’s chances at winning Best Picture. The film, about legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., is directed…
-
Precursor: 19th Art Directors Guild Nominations (2014)
The Art Directors Guild have presented their nominations for this year’s best in production design. As always, they break their recognition into three categories, period, fantasy and contemporary. After missing out on a nomination from the American Cinema Editors, Unbroken comes back with a nod here while Selma, which Warner Bros. failed to send to…
-
Precursor: 49th National Society of Critics Awards (2014)
I don’t have a lot to say about these heavily idiosyncratic choices other than the fact that they aren’t that reflective of current prevailing opinions. Award Tallies (2) Boyhood, Mr. Turner The Awards Best Picture Goodbye to Language (25 points) Boyhood (24 points) Birdman (10 points) Mr. Turner (10 points) Best Director
-
Precursor: 54th Editors Nominations (2014)
The American Cinema Editors have announced the nominees for the 54th Annual Eddie Awards. The big surprise here is that Best Picture contender Selma is completely missing with a six-film lineup. Nightcrawler and Whiplash got surprise nominations, which puts them in stronger position for Best Picture nominations. The rest of the year’s major contenders are…
-
Oscar Preview: Precursor Winners & Losers, Week 5
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). With a small number of critics groups still to announce, this week we move into the real nitty…
-
Precursor: 23rd Southeastern Critics Awards (2014)
Wes Anderson claims his second Best Picture prize with the Southeastern Film Critics Association falling in love with his mystery caper. The usual suspects show up in this list as well. Award Tallies (3) The Grand Budapest Hotel (2) Boyhood The Awards Best Film The Grand Budapest Hotel Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher Gone Girl The Imitation…
