THB #282: 13 Weeks To Oscar - The New Default?

I hinted at this in last week’s Oscar newsletter. I now think that we have a new default Best Picture winner. The Banshees of Inisherin.

Why?

The film is not universally beloved… but I don’t hear many, in any, people saying that they dislike it. And God knows, I am hearing a lot of people wanting to talk about how much they hate this movie or that. For those who are not in love with the film, the alternate seems to be at least “not bad.”

I am not saying, to be clear, that Banshees WILL win. I am saying that it is the movie of the group that seems likely to be nomination that seems to be the most universally liked right now. There is a ton of passion for other titles and that can ultimately lead to a win for another one of these movies, no question. But Banshees feels closest to a consensus builder right now… to me.

Second place in consensus building potential right now is, for me, Women Talking. I know… seems impossible in some way. It’s just… women talking. But it’s not. The art and th…