Almost There: Penélope Cruz in "Ferrari"

by Cláudio Alves

To celebrate the return of the Almost There series, let's consider the season's buzziest turns, starting with a contender who came close to her third Best Supporting Actress nomination and fifth overall nod. She's won before, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in a much different register than the one she's exploring in this latest bid for gold. Of course, I'm talking about Spanish superstar Penélope Cruz, who molded her natural accent into some vaguely Italian sound to play Laura Ferrari in Michael Mann's long-gestating biopic project. It's an immense performance, primordial in its power and classical in construction. Devastated and devastating, she's grief incarnate…

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Who came in sixth at the 96th Academy Awards?

by Cláudio Alves

The last minute campaign for ORIGIN didn't work. But did the film come close to a nomination?

Every year, the aftermath of the Oscar nominations announcement is full of talk about "snubs," much outrage, speculation on who was closest to the lineup and which of the nominees took that last spot. This season, the reactions reached rare levels, igniting pure chaos all over social media and even prestige publications. Four days after it began, it seems like the animus is starting to quiet down – or maybe that's just wishful thinking. Alas, as reason's regained, here's hoping the conversation can be had with a bit more level-headedness and a little less fire. Hold that thought, for I've prepared a collection of polls about every one of the year's Oscar races so that The Film Experience readers can decide for themselves.

From Director to Live-Action Short, let's vote on who was the likelier sixth-placer, so close to the nomination but still left looking from the outside in. And, of course, in Best Picture, one must figure out what movie placed eleventh…

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Almost There: The Return and the Unlucky Thirteen

by Cláudio Alves

Everybody's fighting about Oscar "snubs" since nominations were announced.

It's been a while. The last time I wrote an Almost There piece was nearly a year ago, last February, still reeling from Danielle Deadwyler's lack of an Oscar nomination. Since then…nothing. Personally, I needed a break from the format, and maybe you did too. While the race for gold can be used to contextualize and remember films and performances of yesteryear, it also limits what one can discuss and how. In any case, the series has been on pause for enough time, so let's welcome its return on the heels of the latest batch of Oscar nominations. 

That reminds me - this comeback merits some oomph. Because of that, I'm planning something special for the following weeks…

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"Ode to a Snub". Plus nominations that had us reeling on Tuesday

While Oscar nomination morning (this past Tuesday) brought its share of happiness -- which we'll get to soon. It also brings small shockwaves (never large, really) at unexpected nominations and sadness in the form of beloved favourites missing from the "Best" conversation, however unthinkable that may be in the moment. So we polled Team Experience asking them for their saddest snub* and nominations that had them reeling for various reasons.

"Past Lives"

Their answers are after the jump and we hope yours are in the comments shortly...

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Who Should Win?

A round of applause to all of the newly minted Oscar nominees for their achievements! Hooray. Now, it's time to begin the daily "Who should win" voting on the individual charts. Vote daily for your favs in each category. (The charts will become more robust as we add details) ...and while you're doing the first round of voting why not sign up for the substack It's not active right this second but Oscar season is a good time to make it into a weekly thing. 

Okay VOTE on the charts... PICTURE | DIRECTOR | ACTRESS | ACTOR | SUPPORTING ACTRESS | SUPPORTING ACTOR | SCREENPLAYS | VISUALS | MUSIC | INTERNATIONAL | ANIMATION AND DOCS