The Awards Pursuit: So Hamnet is In, What Else Is?
Congrats to Chloe Zhao, Focus Features and the cast and crew of Hamnet. That win for Toronto's Peoples Choice Award all but ensures it a spot in the Best Picture field. But who joins them? That's the question of the day. Let me put the contenders in five tiers: Should Be In: Hamnet (Focus)---Like I said, the win for the PCA should make them nearly a sure thing. Also helping is that pedigree (director Zhao, stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) as well as the rave reviews so far. I'm not sure it's a frontrunner, but I definitely sold short on it earlier and now I think it's in. Sinners (WB)---There's usually one film that captures the attention of the Academy that debuts in the first half of the year: 2024---Dune Part 2 (March 1) 2023---Past Lives (June 2) 2022---Top Gun: Maverick (May 27); Elvis (June 24); Everything Everywhere All at Once (March 25) And this year, it's the musical vampire horror film Sinners. I wouldn't be worried about Michael...