Although “The Son” and “Blonde” are still left to be screened on, respectively, Wednesday and Thursday, most of the big titles from Venice and Telluride have already been unveiled these last 5 days.
There were many disappointments. We will maybe Have to scratch off “Bardo,” “Empire of Light,” “White Noise,” and “The Whale” from our Best Picture predictions. Only a few survived: “TAR,” “Women Talking,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” and “Bones and All.” Although the latter, a gory cannibal romance directed by Luca Guadagnino, will probably be too extreme and divisive for the Academy.
As it stands, on 09.05.22, this is how the Best Picture race looks like on my end:
1) TÁR
2) Babylon
3) The Fabelmans
4) Women Talking
5) Top Gun: Maverick
6) Everything Everywhere All At Once
7) Elvis
8) The Banshees of Inisherin
9) The Son
10) Triangle of Sadness
Other possibilities: Avatar: Way of the Water, She Said, Till, Glass Onion, The Good Nurse, Pinocchio (Del Toro), The Whale, Empire of Light, Bones and All, The Inspection, Amsterdam, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Armageddon Time
Weak year, right? I could have easily waited until Wednesday to post these, that’s when “The Son” is unveiled at Venice, but I just couldn’t help myself. So much has gone on these last five days. If anything, the amount of underwhelming films has further cemented the odds of us seeing “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Elvis” as Best Picture nominees.
And, what to make of Laura Poitras’ “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”? Maybe the best-reviewed movie out of Venice. A documentary about the opioid epidemic that is destined to become one of the best-reviewed movies of the entire year. Does it have a shot? Maybe with NYFCC or LAFCA. Never has a documentary been nominated for Best Picture. I’ll be catching it this week at TIFF.
We are now headed to Toronto where Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion,” and Peter Farrelly’s “The Greatest Beer Run” will try to crash the Best Picture race. Watch out for Spielberg’s film, it wouldn’t surprise me if it gets rave reviews, but it wouldn’t be a shocker either if mediocre reviews come its way.
What else could make a splash from TIFF? Options are far and few, although it could be something surprising, like “The Good Nurse,” and “Bros,” but don’t bet it …