The actors, directors and producers guilds have all spoken and their nominations give awards watchers a good look at what will be the top choices this season.
“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a clear favorite across-the-board. Members of the Screen Actors Guild showered it with nominations for actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan, topping it off with a nod for best ensemble. Directors gave their blessing to helmer Martin McDonagh, who had previously paired Farrell and Gleeson in “In Bruges.” The producers also nominated it for best picture.
Who doesn’t love some Michelle Yeoh, especially after her moving Golden Globes acceptance speech? SAG nominated her and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan– also a Globes winner—along with an ensemble nod. The DGA gave its blessing to the Daniels, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, and the PGA slotted it in the contenders for best picture.
No surprise here. Steven Spielberg’s fictionalized tale of his early years earned him a DGA nomination as best director of “The Fabelmans.” The PGA gave it a shot as best picture and SAG nominated Paul Dano and the ensemble of the film, which includes Michelle Williams, Gabriel LaBelle, Judd Hirsch and Seth Rogen.
Don’t ever count out Tom Cruise, the hardest working man in showbiz. Although he did not score a SAG nod for “Top Gun: Maverick,” director Joseph Kosinksi did and the film is up for the top award at the Producers Guild. If it gets an Oscar nomination for best picture it would be producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s first.
The directors overlooked Baz Luhrmann, but SAG nominated Austin Butler for his betrayal of Elvis Presley – and he won the Globe for the “Elvis” role. The recent death of Lisa Marie Presley, who strongly supported the film and worked the awards circuit along with her mom, Priscilla, could lead to more accolades. It’s already on the PGA list.
Cate Blanchett was a lock for a nomination as soon as anyone laid eyes on her as brilliant, troubled symphony conductor Lydia Tár so naturally she got a SAG nomination. She also scored a Golden Globe in absentia. The DGA likes director Todd Field and the Producers Guild has Tár as one of its 10 nominees.
James Cameron’s epic sequel to his 2009 film earned a Producers Guild nomination for “Avatar: The Way of Water” but not one for him as director. Cass did not score an ensemble nod from SAG, but no matter, a number of more installments are on the way.
The memory of the late Chadwick Bozeman looms large over this sequel. SAG gave a nod to Angela Bassett for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and she recently won the Golden Globe. It’s also on the Producers Guild list of 10 nominees vying for best picture.
Like Colin Farrell and Austin Butler, Brendan Fraser is also a lock for an Oscar best actor nomination after scoring a SAG nod for his role in “The Whale,” while co-star Hong Chau also received a nomination. The film also made the list for PGA.
