2024 Oscars slugfest: Editors and freelancers analyze the pre-Christmas ‘state of the race’ [WATCH]
“We are back once again for yet another slugfest, with the cream of the crop,” jokes Gold Derby senior editor Rob Licuria as he introduces a pre-Christmas “state of the race” discussion. He hosts predictions and analysis about what and who are the most likely contenders at the 2024 Oscars, focusing on some of the potential jaw-dropping surprises that many won’t see coming at this relatively early stage on the awards calendar. Licuria is joined by fellow senior editor Matt Noble and contributors Charles Bright, Tony Ruiz and Jack Mahanes to dish who and what to expect when the 96th Oscar nominations are announced in just over a month’s time on Jan. 23 2024. Watch our 2024 Oscar “state of the race” video slugfest above.
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Before the guys dive in to the myriad of contenders jostling for a spot in the Best Picture lineup and all four acting categories, the discussion kicks off with a doozy: “I have a very important question that I think we need to start this discussion off with,” Licuria exclaims. “What is the number one thing that you are most excited about this Oscar season at this point in the race?”
“Barbenheimer,” Noble says right off the bat. “How much will those two movies dominate nominations at the Oscars and how many of the other smaller films will be able to upset and sneak into the winner’s circle?” Mahanes is also on the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” train, but mostly because of his love for the Christopher Nolan epic. “I’ve thought about this for a while. It’s as of right now, not just my favorite film of the year, it’s my favorite film of the 2020s. I loved it that much, and saw it once in theaters and no pun intended, but I was blown away by it. When I saw it again I was able to pick up even more. And it just it works in every way, on every level. It’s just such a phenomenal film,” he says.
“I think we could have a lot of double digit nominees,” Ruiz chimes in. “What I love is how some there’s real potential for some for some very small films to make very impressive showings like ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ or ‘The Zone of Interest,’ or like ‘The Holdovers,’ which is my number one film of the year, so far. To see things like ‘Past Lives,’ maybe have a shot at some major nominations, to see these small films breakthrough in a really big way, I think is exciting to show the breadth of cinema this year. I think this was a banner year for great filmmaking.” After agreeing that there is a real possibility that numerous films might score double digit nomination tallies, Bright says he is most excited about Best International Feature category. “I feel like it’s a very open field, and that could lead to a really interesting and possibly surprising winner come Oscar night,” he explains.
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