Oscar Volley: Who's Really Safe in Best Actress?

Team Experience is discussing each Oscar category as we head into the precursors. Here's Eurocheese and Nick Taylor to talk Best Actress . . . .

Lily Gladstone is coming on strong for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON . . . .

EUROCHEESE: Hi Nick! So excited to discuss the award we all care about most here at The Film Experience - Best Actress. This year has given us a deep bench of competitors, making this feel like a category where we could see a curve ball or two.

Maybe it's best to get the obvious out of the way first - Lily Gladstone's subtle, moving work in Killers of the Flower Moon steals the film from her veteran costars, and Emma Stone's risky, inventive performance is the heart of Poor Things. I don't see the Actress field without them, and I expect one of them will most likely run away with the Oscar. Which one of them takes it? I don't think that's clear yet. I don't put any stock in LA Critics' Supporting mention for Gladstone though - these are our sure things.

NICK: Hi Euro! I’m so excited to discuss this category with you again. I remember we did the pre-nomination volley for last year’s Best Actress contenders. There were so many fun performances to talk about, and in the end I got maybe 3/5 of my predicted lineup right. This year looks similarly crowded, though who knows if another To Leslie is lying in wait . . . .

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Friday Awards Wrap-Up: Critics, Documentaries and Top Ten Fever!

by Cláudio Alves

Lily Gladstone started strong, but Emma Stone takes the lead in Best Actress this week.
Another week, another slew of critics awards and top 10s from some of the world's most prestigious film publications. Though Killers of the Flower Moon continues to lead the Best Picture race, it's not a consensus pick. Indeed, a wide variety of titles have taken top honors, making for an exciting season. Well, at least it's like that in the most important category. Da'Vine Joy Randolph continues to sweep the Supporting Actress prizes, having won every single one in the season so far, while Emma Stone has taken the lead in Best Actress over Lily Gladstone. The men's categories are more chaotic, while Nolan is ahead among directors. All in all, it's been a busy week…

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Venice 2023: Three terrific films that could be formidable Oscar players

by Elisa Giudici

Venice's 80th edition feels weaker (in terms of competition films) than the previous editions I've covered for The Film Experience. That said there are some strong contenders for the Golden Lion, and a few exceptional pieces of filmmaking. Here are three movies that stand out from the crowd. What's more they each have the potential to be strong Oscar contenders after Venice. 

I'll present them in order of their excellence, from the very good to the simply superb...

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Yes No Maybe So: "Poor Things"

by Cláudio Alves

Vasilis Marmatakis has done it again. Yorgos Lanthimos' preferred poster designer always knocks them out of the park, and his latest creation's no different, hitting that sweet spot between beauty and unease. Poor Things looks impossibly enticing, mixing the lushness of period stylings with bodily discombobulations that hint at the mysteries of Emma Stone's character. She'll be Bella in this adaptation of Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel, a resurrected young woman who pursues personal freedom beyond the will of Dr. Baxter, the scientist who brought her corpse back to life. The original text has been described as funny, cerebral, and dirty, making it sound like the perfect playground for Lanthimos and his particular brand of off-kilter cinema.

Along with this new poster, Searchlight Pictures also released the theatrical trailer for the movie, whose American release is scheduled for September 8th. Considering that date, one wonders if the work might be headed to the Venice Film Festival. While waiting for confirmation, let's delve into the trailer and give it the customary 'Yes No Maybe So' treatment…

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'The Help' just keeps on being an Oscar good luck charm!

by Nathaniel R

from Jessica Chastain's Instagram

They is kind. They is smart. They is important. They is winning Oscars. Have you noticed that the cast of The Help, one of 2011's biggest hits (just behind the first Captain America, no joke, that year) just keeps collecting golden statues?! The Help had detractors from the start but it was hugely popular with the public considerably raising the profiles of all of its cast members, except the ones who were already enduring stars (hey Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, and Cicely Tyson! xo). It's greatest legacy might now be the Oscar winners it shoved towards the Dolby Theatre stage... 

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