How Guild Week is Impacting the Oscar Race
The Battle Rages On: One Battle After Another's Dominance in the Awards Season
The awards season is in full swing, and the guilds are making their voices heard. With the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Director's Guild Awards, and Producers Guild Awards all wrapped up, the race for the Oscars is heating up. One film, in particular, has been making waves: Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. This movie has been a force to be reckoned with, leading the nominee field in almost all precursor ceremonies and winning every major Best Film statuette so far. It's the clear consensus choice, and with a record-setting seven SAG nominations, it's hard to imagine any other Best Picture scenario than a coronation for this film on Oscar night.
But here's where it gets interesting. What if a different film were to upset the odds? What if Sinners, Ryan Coogler's acclaimed vampire movie, were to win Best Drama at the Golden Globes? It's a long shot, but it's not impossible. And this is the part most people miss...
International Flavor Missing from Guilds, but Not from the Oscars
One thing that's notable about the DGA, PGA, and SAG results is the lack of international flavor. While the PGA recognized a foreign-language film among its nominees, other global favorites like It Was Just an Accident and The Secret Agent were completely shut out. This isn't a new phenomenon, as the guilds tend to recognize U.S.-based talent. But as the Academy voting body grows more international, this trend will come under increased scrutiny. The category most impacted by this is Best Director, where international auteurs like Jafar Panahi, Joachim Trier, and Kleber Mendonca Filho are being eyed as top finishers.
The Little Films That Didn't Make It
While One Battle After Another and Sinners are in the lead, there are smaller contenders that had big groups of people rooting for them. Films like The Testament of Ann Lee and Train Dreams didn't fare as well with the guilds, but there's still hope for them. Train Dreams, in particular, scored a PGA nomination and is still in the running for Best Picture. However, its star, Joel Edgerton, was blanked by SAG voters, which puts his dark-horse Oscar hopes in jeopardy.
Looking Ahead to the Golden Globes and Beyond
As we head into Golden Globes weekend, the race is far from over. The guilds have spoken, but the Academy voters will make their choices soon. With international flavor missing from the guilds, but not from the Oscars, the final nominees will be a mix of familiar and unexpected names. The battle for the Oscars is far from over, and the awards season is sure to keep us on the edge of our seats.
