It's Way Too Early To Talk About The Oscars...

Added: Sep 8, 2023

Early Oscar Predictions

The hosts begin the episode by discussing their early Oscar predictions. They acknowledge that these predictions are subject to change as more films are released and the awards season progresses. However, they provide insights into the films and performances that have generated buzz so far.

Standout Performances and Films

The hosts express their disappointment that some highly anticipated films, such as David Fincher's "The Killer" and Michael Mann's "Ferrari," will not be showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). However, they highlight other films that have received positive reviews at festivals like Venice.

One film that stands out is Bradley Cooper's "Maestro," which has garnered praise for Cooper's directing skills and the overall quality of the film. The hosts believe that this could be a breakthrough moment for Cooper as a director. Another film generating buzz is "Hitman" by Richard Linklater, with Glenn Powell's performance being touted as a potential Best Actor nomination.

Competitive Supporting Actor and Actress Categories

The hosts delve into the competitive supporting actor and actress categories. For Best Supporting Actor, they predict that Ryan Gosling for "Barbie" and Robert Downey Jr. for "Oppenheimer" are strong contenders. Gosling's performance has exceeded expectations, while Downey Jr. delivers a transformative performance that showcases his acting range.

In the Best Supporting Actress category, Emily Blunt for "Oppenheimer" and America Ferrera for "Barbie" are mentioned as potential nominees. Blunt's performance is praised for its depth and impact on the overall story, while Ferrera delivers a powerful monologue that resonates with audiences.

Other notable performances include Lily Gladstone in "Killers of the Flower Moon," Viola Davis in "Air," and Rosamund Pike in "Saltburn." These performances have garnered critical acclaim and could potentially secure nominations.

Best Actor

In the podcast, the hosts discuss the Best Actor category for the upcoming Oscars. They mention that Damon has been nominated multiple times in the past but has not won for his acting performances. They speculate that if he were to be nominated again, he might not expect to win and would simply enjoy the experience of attending the ceremony. They also mention that Damon won an Oscar for his writing in "Good Will Hunting" but was nominated for Best Actor for "The Martian." They briefly discuss whether he was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for "Good Will Hunting" but are unsure.

The hosts then move on to discuss Anthony Hopkins and his potential nomination for his role in "Freud's Last Session." They mention that Gold Derby considers him a leading contender in the category. They also mention another film he has in Toronto called "One Life," where he plays a character who saves Jewish children during World War II. They praise Hopkins for his consistent career and note that he has never had a role that was considered embarrassing or out of character for him.

Best Actress

The hosts discuss the Best Actress category and mention Greta Lee for her performance in "Past Lives." They express concern that her performance might get overlooked due to the film's limited release and the flood of screeners that will be sent out to voters. They urge anyone who is a voting member to watch the film and consider voting for Lee. They describe her performance as phenomenal and one of the best of the year.

They also mention Emma Stone for her role in "Poor Things," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Stone previously worked with Lanthimos on "The Favourite" and was nominated for an Oscar for that performance. They note that Stone has been nominated twice before and speculate that she might have a good chance of getting nominated again.

The hosts briefly discuss Margot Robbie and her potential nomination for "Barbie." They mention that while Robbie is praised for her performance, the focus of the film's discussion has been on other aspects, such as Ryan Gosling and the songs. They express their surprise that Robbie's performance hasn't been talked about more and note that she would also be a producer nominee for the film.

They also mention Carrie Mulligan as a potential nominee and discuss a film called "May December" with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, directed by Todd Fields. They note that there are still many films they haven't heard of yet, so the category is likely to be stacked with great performances.

Best Director

The hosts discuss the Best Director category and unanimously agree that Christopher Nolan will likely be nominated and could potentially win for his film "Oppenheimer." They mention that Ridley Scott might not have the same level of favor with the Academy and note that he wasn't nominated for Best Director for "The Martian." They also mention that his recent films, such as "House of Gucci," haven't made a big splash.

They also mention Jonathan Glazer for his film "The Zone of Interest," which received good reviews at the Venice Film Festival. They note that Glazer is a director who doesn't make films frequently, so his work is always worth paying attention to.

Best Picture

The hosts discuss the potential Best Picture nominees and mention several films that have been well-received. They mention "Maestro," "Four Things," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Past Lives," and "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." They also mention "Oppenheimer" but exclude it from the discussion since it is the obvious choice.

They note that "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" could potentially get a Best Picture nomination if there are 10 slots available. However, they express some doubt about its chances since it hasn't been talked about as much as other films.

They also mention "The Color Purple" and "Priscilla" as potential contenders. They discuss the challenges of releasing films at festivals and note that the momentum gained from a festival premiere doesn't always carry through to the Oscars.