In Friday’s Oscar Talk, Anne and I pondered the Oscar potential of Sony Pictures Classics’ typically robust stable of contenders. So far the best bet to have already hit theaters is Aaron Schneider’s “Get Low,” which could be a below-the-line play as well as a Best Actor possibility for Robert Duvall.
Films from Rodrigo Garcia, Atom Egoyan and Jean-Pierre Jeunet all came and went, while Woody Allen’s didn’t inspire much at Cannes. And that’s fine, by the way. The business isn’t all about awards, obviously, and Sony Classics knows how to make money. (There’s a reason the dependent is still standing tall.)
If we properly assume “The Illusionist” will have its day in the animated feature category, while “Inside Job” will be relegated to the documentary field, that leaves three possibilities for Oscar success: Mike Leigh’s “Another Year,” the recently acquired “Barney’s Version” and Nigel Cole’s “Made in Dagenham.” The latter is perhaps the one to watch out for.
This isn’t a revelation, of course. Guy’s first stab at predicting this year’s Oscar set noted that “the Academy frequently likes its Britpics chirpy and digestible” and that Cole’s film was “getting ‘next Full Monty’ buzz on its way to a prominent launch at Toronto.” Having seen the film last week, I have to say, I see his point.
For starters I’d like to mention this: Miranda Richardson may finally nail down the Oscar win many of us have desperately wanted to see her wrangle for years. If nothing else she’s on a clear track for a nomination. The actress is on fire as Barbara Castle, the Labor party Baroness who bravely threw her weight behind female Ford factory workers demanding equal pay in an unfair system, and at a time when it was raging against a fierce tide to do so. The supporting actress category is ripe for the taking this year and Richardson’s is exactly the kind of commanding, bold, yet humorous turn voters love to recognize.
Also, Sally Hawkins could ride a lot of goodwill from her “Happy-Go-Lucky” snub on the way to a Best Actress nomination. Her performance as machinist Rita O’Grady, a composite character and catalyst behind a 1968 strike that forced the hand of Ford suits back in Detroit, offers that mixture of comedy, heartbreak and strong will that plays right into a year shaping up to be one for the ladies. (More on that in Monday’s column.) It’s a tough category this year, but Hawkins has a lot going for her here.
Beyond that, the story is exactly the sort of underdog tale that can make an awards dent, especially in a field of 10. The ensemble is fantastic, whether it’s Richardson’s dominance, Hawkins’s control, Daniel Mays’s begrudgingly supportive and lesson-learning husband or Bob Hoskins’s equally supportive union representative. Even Richard Schiff gets to show off as a prick corporate type. And Rosamund Pike gets perhaps the best on-screen moment as a well-educated housewife inspired by Rita’s tenacity. A SAG ensemble nomination wouldn’t shock.
The other side of the equation is Mike Leigh’s “Another Year,” unquestionably a more nuanced, artful piece of work that could be the best film I’ve seen all year. But it’s a tougher sell than the heart-warming tale of “Made in Dagenham,” so maybe Guy’s nearly two-month-old intuition was right on the money. Perhaps “Barney’s Version” is still something to consider since it is, as Guy called it, “a soft lob to older middlebrow audiences.” But we’ll see what Toronto has to add to that.
Cole’s film will has a screening in Toronto today, so I suppose we’ll know soon enough whether the two of us are out to lunch here. But I don’t think we are. Again, more on all of this Monday.
[Photo: Sony Pictures Classics]
Comments
18 responses to “Underdog ‘Dagenham’ may have the AMPAS touch”
I’ve been looking forward to this for movie for quite some time, especially to see Sally Hawkins lead a film again after her amazing performance in “Happy-Go-Lucky.”
Given that the studio pushes this for Golden Globe recognition, do you think it would go for Musical/Comedy or Drama?
Hm, probably comedy.
Kris, I’m a little confused about what this means: “Miranda Richardson may finally nail down the Oscar nomination many of us have desperately wanted to see her wrangle for years.”
Richardson already has two Oscar nominations, so do you mean that you (and others) believe she is overdue for another one? Or that she may finally nail down a first win?
I’m not trying to be sassy… just looking for clarification. Did you make a mistake, or is there something I’m not understanding?
Win! Win! Clarified now. Sorry.
Dear Lord. The trailer for Made in Dagenham made me wretch. It looks like its completely unoriginal and full of really really annoying stereotypical characters.
I was hoping there would be some buzz for Rosamund Pike for this, because I personally thought she was great in An Education. Probably my favourite performance of an airhead! However I heard Guy say she was quite good in Barney’s Version so fingers crossed she might get in for a nom with that…
Odds are they pump Get Low for all categories as SPC’s lead horse. It has the highest Top Critic rating of all non-docs, non-foreign, non-animated films so far this year + actors really love the actors in the film. SAG = biggest Academy branch.
Any chance for an awards push for Jackie Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”? IMDB says Sony Picture Classics is “Kingdoms” U.S. distributor.
I actually forgot to mention that one. I can’t say, really. I’ve got her high on the chart but that has a lot to do with the weakness of the field (which isn’t meant to undercut her work, mind you…I’m just not sensing a campaign in the works yet). We’ll see how it goes.
Kris, are you sure? Because I read many pages and most people considerate this film more a dramatization of effects. Also with Bening and Hathaway in the comedy category…
Well, maybe this would be the chance for Oscar glory for Hawkins after all.
Xavi: Watch the trailer.
A SAG ensemble nod is on their way
SAG best ensemble predictions
THE KIDS ARE ALIRGHT
THE KING`S SPEECH
MADE IN DAGENHAM
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
THE WAY BACK
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Black Swan ended up with an ensemble nom at the SAGS, every review I read there is major praise for Portman and than also they tend to rave about one of the supporting players – Cassel, Hershey, Kunis and lately alot on Winona Ryder as well!
Dooby: Very unlikely. Totally not in SAG’s wheelhouse.
Guy, When I saw the trailer of TransAmerica I though it was more a dark comedy, so I have that doubt, especially for HFPA consideration
“Dance with a Stranger”
“The Crying Game”
“Damage”
“Enchanted April”
“Tom and Viv”
“Spider”
All Oscar-worthy performances. This is great news; can’t wait to see the film. I was lucky enough to see Richardson in London with Mike Nichols in “The Designated Mourner” and consider myself lucky to have had that opportunity.
I’m glad to hear your thoughts on Made in Dagenham! I saw this at TIFF premiere on Saturday, and the crowd went WILD! People applauded Miranda Richardson’s bitchy scenes like crazy. I really enjoyed this film…it was my favourite of the weekend after Trigger!
(and it’s most definitely a comedy.)
[…] can add in “Made in Dagenham” to that list as well. After the movie bowed at Toronto, Kris Tapley of In Contention stated that “the story is exactly the sort of underdog tale that can make an […]