THB #392: Oscargasm! (5 Came Back)

If you have been a regular reader of mine over the years, you know that my title for Oscar pieces has been X Weeks To Oscar. That started 25 years ago. Not sure it fits the moment anymore. So I’m going to try this title out for a bit. I still reserve the right to countdown for you… we’re 26 weeks from Oscar.

“I’ll have what he’s having!”

So the first of three fall festivals have come and Telluride is done, Venice is a couple days from announcing awards (and ending), and Toronto starts tomorrow. So what did we learn? About what we expected.

Dune 2: Fear of Selling A Sequel moved to 2024, so we are down to 4 clear frontrunners from my earlier list of Best Picture nominations.

Barbie - WB
Oppenheimer - U
Killers of the Flower Moon - Apple/Par
Napoleon - Apple/Sony

Everyone has seen Barbie and Oppenheimer, no one has seen Sir Ridley’s Napoleon (4.5 hours or 3), and Sir Marty’s (ha) Killers of the Flower Moon was launched at Cannes, is beginning to screen for non-Cannes media, and is due theatrically in October.

The only movie that rolled out at the festival(s) that seems locked into a Best Picture slot is Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. The smartest and the most stupid were impressed alike. And Searchlight has got the skills (even after some unfortunate staff cuts forced by Bob I).

So… the lockdowns…

Barbie - WB
Killers of the Flower Moon - Apple/Par
Napoleon - Apple/Sony
Oppenheimer - U
Poor Things - Searchlight

Then there are 3 titles that are likely to take 2 slots, if not 3.