Did a wide-open Oscar race just get a frontrunner?
Sean Baker’s Brooklyn comedy “Anora” secured top honors at both the Producers Guild Awards and the Directors Guild Awards on Saturday night, propelling it to the status of a favorite for the Oscars after winning awards from these highly regarded Academy Awards precursors.
During this award season in Hollywood, there has been an unusual level of uncertainty with around six films being seen as genuine contenders for the best-picture category. Initially, some identified “Anora” as the leading candidate at the beginning of the season following its success when the film, featuring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite other films briefly stealing the limelight, such as the Golden Globe winners “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez,” “Anora” made a significant resurgence over the weekend. Baker’s movie also clinched the best picture award at the Critics Choice Awards on Friday.
Both guild ceremonies were held in Beverly Hills, California. The PGA’s top prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, has matched the Oscar winner for best picture in 16 of the last 21 years. Since 2009, when the guild and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences both adopted a preferential ballot to pick a winner from 10 nominees, they’ve corresponded all but three times.
The DGA is similarly predictive. In the past 74 years, 66 winners have gone on to triumph at the Oscars. That makes Baker the favorite for best director in a field entirely composed of first-time nominees.
The guild also named RaMell Ross’ “Nickel Boys” best first film. Ross’ movie, nominated for best picture by the Oscars, is his narrative film debut.
Oscar voting begins Tuesday. Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” is the lead nominee with 13 nominations, but the Netflix film has seen its chances crater following multiple waves of backlash and controversy.
Another Oscar category also found clarity over the weekend. On Saturday at the Annie Awards, DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” cleaned up with nine awards including best film. “The Wild Robot” will be the heavy favorite to win best animated film at the March 2 Academy Awards.
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