Holding Space [Oscars Shortlist Edition]
The Oscars shortlists are here, with Emilia Perez making waves amid backlash, Wicked staying strong, and surprises that have us all buzzing.
Hi all, and Merry (almost) Christmas! Normally, I’d try to find some holiday-themed topics to chat about, like I did for Halloween, but award season typically takes over the month. It’s also been pretty slow for film news, but seeing film twitter feels the opposite. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe the sheer amount of discourse surrounding some of the movies that recently dropped on PVOD. We’ll dive into one of those discussions today, but the main focus is the Oscars shortlists! I’ll break down some key takeaways and what they could mean for certain films and their chances. After that, we’ll cover a few updates that have popped up and check out this weekend’s new releases.
included in today’s edition:
Oscars Shortlists Takeaways
Cast Updates
Production News
Upcoming Releases
Oscars Shortlists Takeaways
We’re getting closer to the Oscar nominations, and the shortlists have just been released! Every year, the Oscars announce 15 films and songs that advance for nomination consideration across 10 categories.
One of the biggest takeaways this year is how popular Emilia Perez is with the Academy, despite the backlash it has faced. The film landed in five categories, making it clear that it resonates with Academy voters and industry professionals. Having seen it, I find it pretty wild how much recognition it’s getting this awards season. The backlash, though, is primarily coming from Mexicans (myself included) who feel the film misrepresents Mexico and perpetuates a white European perspective.
I didn’t find the film authentic to Mexico at all. It’s in poor taste to inaccurately depict some of the country’s biggest issues, like drug cartels and feminicides, and then give the character causing these issues a redemption arc. Many Mexicans are understandably upset that such a serious real-life issue is being portrayed so poorly, while people outside of Mexico are praising it. The discourse online has been exhausting. On social media, I’ve seen non-Mexicans defend the film while invalidating Mexican critics, suggesting they’re unwilling to “face the reality” of their country’s issues. It’s genuinely mind-blowing to see people who don’t live in Mexico, and aren’t even Latin American, claim they know the country’s problems better than the people who live there. Even more disheartening is that the film tackles these issues without a Mexican cast, crew, or production involvement. Some of the film’s stars have even dismissed the criticism entirely. Watching Mexicans defend their perspective to white audiences feels truly insane. It’s been one of the most frustrating aspects of this award season. At least some Mexican filmmakers in the industry have spoken out about it, such as Rodrigo Prieto.
At the end of the day, though, this film will likely rack up several nominations and thrive with Academy voters. It’s no surprise that Emilia Perez made the shortlist for Best International Film (and I do think it will win). What’s surprising, and frankly disappointing, is that this film made the list while Mexico’s official submission, SUJO, a powerful, authentic film by actual Mexicans about the drug cartels, did not. Huh. So, while the Academy has made strides toward diversity, we all know who still makes up the majority of its voters.
Switching gears, Wicked is doing well, showing up in four categories, which honestly was expected. And for The Substance heads… STAY IN LINE!! The film made the shortlist for Makeup and Hair Styling, which is exciting. That said, it’s disappointing that it didn’t make the Visual Effects shortlist, as many were hoping. Given how strong The Substance’s campaign has been, people are speculating about its chances at the Oscars. Some even believe it could nab a Best Picture nomination. Personally, I think that’s a long shot. While the Academy has been more open to taking risks lately, it’s usually with international films, not horror. Still, I do think Demi Moore has a strong chance of landing a Lead Actress nomination. Here’s to hoping!
Cast Updates
We’re back at it again!! Charli is joining the cast of Cathy Yan’s new film The Gallerist, alongside Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Sterling K. Brown. Is this Charli’s sixth cast update recently? I know her roles are likely small in each film, but being involved in so many productions one after another is really impressive. I’m especially excited about this film because of Cathy Yan. She’s known for directing Birds of Prey, which does has its flaws, but I had so much fun with that movie. I could easily look past its imperfections because of how much I enjoyed it. So, let’s hold space for her next project and see what she brings with The Gallerist.
Production News
The movie gods were not on my side with this one. Greig Fraser is not returning as cinematographer for Dune: Messiah. Instead, Linus Sandgren, known for his work on La La Land, Saltburn, and Babylon, will be stepping in as the DP for the new film. Obviously, it’s a bummer that Fraser won’t be returning. I’m guessing it has to do with him being busy as the DP for The Batman 2. Fraser did such a masterful job crafting the stunning world of Dune and collaborating seamlessly with Denis Villeneuve. Dune: Messiah will be interesting, especially considering where the story is headed this time around. I’m not worried, but I do think we’ll have to accept and even expect Dune: Messiah to feel and look different. With all things considered, that’s probably not a bad thing.
New Releases
No exciting new streaming releases this weekend, but there’s a ton happening in theaters, especially on Christmas Day.
This weekend, we have Barry Jenkins’s Mufasa: The Lion King, a live-action prequel to The Lion King. I remember being genuinely shocked when this was announced and learning that Jenkins would be directing. Lately, there’s been a trend in Hollywood where indie directors take on big-budget studio projects like Disney live-action films, classic remakes, or even Marvel movies. It doesn’t always work out, though, and many directors have been vocal about how studios interfere with their vision. I know The Lion King live-action didn’t get the best reviews, but it still pulled massive numbers at the box office. It’ll be interesting to see how this prequel performs and whether it dominates or has to compete with other films, like Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
On Christmas Day, we’re getting three new films premiering, which is kind of crazy? What’s even crazier is that I might actually go see one of them on Christmas (just listen and dont judge!). The film I’m most excited for is Nosferatu by Robert Eggers, one of my most anticipated films of the year. I’m incredibly hyped for this, especially knowing it’s a passion project for Eggers. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, so I’m expecting all the creepiness, goriness, and gothiness. Honestly, it’s amusing seeing people talk about how they first learned about Nosferatu from that SpongeBob SquarePants episode with the Hash-Slinging Slasher because that was also me lol. Either way, for all my horror lovers, this is going to be an absolute must-watch.
Alongside Nosferatu, we’ve got Halina Reijn’s Babygirl releasing! Honestly, the marketing for this has been so much fun, and we’ve even been blessed with more Nicole Kidman memes from the press run.
Lastly, in theaters on Christmas Day is the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet. He’s been carrying their marketing on his fragile little back, and it’s been endlessly entertaining to watch.
Anyway, there’s a lot to see, so use your days off to catch something good!
No meme this week, but I found this amusing for all the Succession fans out there:
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays everyone!
P.S. I rarely do this, but if you didn’t catch the title reference of this post and feel like the Ariana Grande in this situation, then here you go. 💚