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Although there were other potential storylines discussed along the way, this year’s Oscars served as a reminder that sometimes the most obvious choice is the best one. Oppenheimer proved to be a formidable competitor, not only with its record-breaking performance but also with the extended hype leading up to the event. This lead us to predict a potential Best Actor nomination for Cillian Murphy a year in advance.
We are once again playing the same game as we eagerly await next year’s ceremony and attempt to forecast which individuals may be part of the discussion. Here we go:
Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin has emerged as the most decorated male cast member of the final season of Succession, surpassing co-stars Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox. He is now poised to continue his award-winning streak in the film industry. His role in Jesse Eisenberg’s crowd-pleasing comedy drama A Real Pain has already garnered attention at this year’s Sundance, positioning him as an early frontrunner for awards. Culkin portrays the charming yet exhausting cousin of Eisenberg’s more introverted lead, playing into his typecasting but still managing to charm voters. With Searchlight acquiring the film for a hefty sum at the festival, it’s expected that a grand campaign will be launched.
Steve McQueen
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In 2014, Steve McQueen, an artist from Britain who became a film-maker, made history by becoming the first Black director to win an Oscar for best picture with his powerful drama 12 Years a Slave. Despite the critical acclaim, his subsequent film Widows did not receive the recognition it deserved. However, it showcased his ability to excel in the commercial realm. McQueen’s anthology series Small Axe also received praise, expanding his accolades to include television awards. With his upcoming film Blitz, set during World War II and starring four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, it appears that McQueen may once again be in contention for an Oscar. In this highly respected category, McQueen’s skillful and tactful approach to storytelling sets him apart from the norm, making Blitz Apple’s top contender for the next award season.
Angelina Jolie
For a period of time, Angelina Jolie, the actress, appeared to have been lost. Despite winning an Oscar, she had been focusing more on her philanthropic work off-screen, and her directing endeavors had captured her attention more than they had impressed critics. Her on-screen appearances were mainly limited to popular film franchises such as Maleficent 2 or Eternals. However, this year we will be reminded of her undeniable talent as she portrays Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s Maria. The Chilean director has a successful track record of guiding female leads to Best Actress nominations, having helped both Natalie Portman and Kristen Stewart deliver Oscar-worthy performances in biographical films Jackie and Spencer.
Barry Keoghan
Barry Keoghan, who was first nominated last year for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, was even more prominent during the recent awards season. While he did not receive a nomination for his performance in Saltburn, a movie that was not favored by the Academy, Keoghan was still in the spotlight, becoming a popular source for memes and a favorite on the red carpet. In contrast to the tiresome and exaggerated themes in Emerald Fennell’s work, Keoghan’s next project, Bird, with co-star Franz Rogowski from the film Passages, will take a different approach. The film was filmed last summer in Kent and centers around the marginalized members of society. Despite the limited information available, it was reportedly compelling enough for Keoghan to leave behind a more showy role in Gladiator 2 in order to be a part of it.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
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There are few things more exciting than the release of a new Mike Leigh movie, as it seems almost impossible for the talented writer-director to disappoint. However, his films are a rare occurrence, with only three being released in the past 14 years. Last month, there was a surprise announcement that Leigh will not only be coming back with a new contemporary drama called Hard Truths, but he will also be reuniting with his Secrets and Lies leading actress, Marianne Jean-Baptiste. While not many details are known about the film, it has been described as a “raw yet sympathetic exploration of family dynamics.” With Leigh’s history of capturing audiences and Jean-Baptiste’s exceptional acting skills (she was previously nominated for her role in their last collaboration), it’s safe to say that this is a film worth keeping an eye on.
Danielle Deadwyler
The FYC campaign for Andrea Riseborough, which was backed by popular stars, caused controversy last year for multiple reasons. It revealed how awards season often operates and also diverted attention from an actor who many believed would easily receive a nomination. Although Danielle Deadwyler’s performance in Till was difficult to watch, the actor, who had previously impressed in Station Eleven and The Harder They Fall, once again proved her talent. Next year, she may join the race for best supporting actress with a role in an adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, alongside John David Washington and Samuel L Jackson, who both appeared in its recent Broadway production. It is worth noting that Viola Davis won her first Oscar and received another nomination for her roles in the last two August Wilson movies.
Daniel Craig
After dedicating a significant amount of time and effort to physically demanding Bond movies, Daniel Craig is now approaching his 50s with a new perspective on his career. In the Knives Out series, he has found a new character that allows him more freedom to express himself. He has also taken on his first non-franchise role since 2017, in the film Kings (which may have been forgettable even for him). Most recently, he has collaborated with director Luca Guadagnino for an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel Queer, which was filmed in Italy last year. The movie also stars Oscar nominee Lesley Manville. In the film, Craig portrays an insecure man who falls for a younger man, played by Outer Banks star Drew Starkey.
Joan Chen
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Joan Chen, a Chinese-born actor, was a trailblazer in the late 80s. She gained recognition in Hollywood at a time when there were limited opportunities for Asian women. However, by the late 90s, she expressed her exhaustion with an industry that typecasted her and decided to take a break. She focused on film projects in China and Australia. Slowly, she has started taking on more roles in the US and in January, she appeared as a grandmother in “Didi”, a film about a 13-year-old Taiwanese-American adapting to life in the late 2000s. Chen, who also worked as an executive producer on the film, received praise for her subtle yet powerful performance. With Focus supporting the film, as they did with this year’s best supporting actress, Chen could become a part of the awards conversation.
Denis Villeneuve
The 2023 strike by actors resulted in Warners postponing the highly anticipated Dune 2 movie to 2024, adding to the troubled history of the franchise since the first film was released during the Covid pandemic. However, everything turned out well as the sequel surpassed the original in terms of domestic box office earnings and received even better reviews, with a 10% increase in Rotten Tomatoes score. This has led to many predictions of it being the front-runner for Best Picture next year. Although this may seem unlikely, considering the first film won six technical Oscars but director Denis Villeneuve was not recognized, it is highly possible that he will have a significant influence in his respective category this time.
Natasha Lyonne
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Last year at the Toronto film festival, while some of the more popular movies fell short, the small-scale family drama His Three Daughters quietly received some of the top reviews on the scene. The buzz surrounding the film was strong enough (with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes so far) for Netflix to acquire it and hold it for release as part of their upcoming slate. Although no release date has been confirmed, it is possible that Netflix is holding it for awards season. All three daughters – Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne – received praiseworthy reviews, with Lyonne standing out as a potential contender for the best supporting actress category. This recognition would be well-deserved for Lyonne, an industry veteran.
Source: theguardian.com
