ROAD TO OSCARS

On the Road To The Oscars ... 

I’ve been following Clayton Davis, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsCircuit.com for many years. Long before the brass at Variety did the smartest of moves and snatched up the Afro-Latino where he is now Variety's Film Awards Editor. 

Variety’s Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies — under Davis’ impeccable eye — and the column follows history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar and Emmy predictions which are updated regularly with the current year’s list of contenders in all categories. Variety’s Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases and runs all year.

Davis has been in the game for over 15 years and despite being rather young, his eye for excellence in covering television, and the film is respected at the highest level in the industry.  

Additionally, Davis is the founder and president of the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association, and a member of Critics Choice, AAFCA, and NYFCO.

Each fall, I begin to start taking a deep dive into the films that have a great chance of an Oscar nomination. In a recent article that appeared in Variety https://bit.ly/3vW2iom their team has identified 34 films.

Here a the ones that I agree with, right now.

KING RICHARD

(Warner Bros.)

As Richard Williams Will Smith the buzz is strong calling this one of his very best performances as the father and man behind Serena and Venus Williams. I feel it’s too early to predict a best picture nomination but some think that it will come along with a director nomination for Reinaldo Marcus Green and writer Zach Baylin.

THE HARDER THEY FALL

(Netflix)

You can’t look away from what writer, director, producer, composer, and songwriter Jeymes Samuel has created here. He’s taken the Western genre and flipped it, hard. Insiders whisper this could give Idris Elba and Oscar-winner Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) a best supporting slot. 

PASSING

(Netflix)

I’ve watched this film six times. It’s based on Nella Larsen’s novel of the same name ( 1929) and takes place during the Harlem Renaissance. This is Rebecca Hall’s first feature film and it might be nominated for best-adapted screenplay. An interesting fact is that Hall’s maternal grandfather was African-American and passed as white for most of his life. This tiny gem stars Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga and both show off their acting chops beautifully. 

THE POWER OF THE DOG

(Netflix)

Jane Campion is one of the most talented filmmakers in the game. She was the second woman to earn an Oscar-nommed for directing “The Piano” (1993) which also brought her an original screenplay nomination. Jaws are flapping over her step into the Western genre and her ability to build suspense and mystery. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. This film has played almost every festival on the fall circuit and that’s the well-trodden path to an Oscar nomination.  

HOUSE OF GUCCI

(United Artists)

Lady Gaga is under Ridley Scott’s direction. The story is about the 

Gucci family story and dishes up all those delicious things that make voters pay attention, like greed, passion, glamour, and murder.   Gaga is Patrizia Reggiani who marries Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), heir to the empire. Those in the thick of it believe there will be nominations handed out for this film including possible nominations for supporting actors — Jared Leto, Driver, and Al Pacino. Keep an eye on the adapted screenplay category for scribe Sara Gay Forden.

To listen to "Variety Awards Circuit" podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jenelle Riley, Jazz Tangcay and Michael Schneider (who produces) click here: https://apple.co/3GAI88f

This is your one-stop listen for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each week "Awards Circuit" features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines; and much, much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or anywhere you download podcasts. New episodes post every Thursday.

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