NBR naming Steven Spielberg best director cranks up the already potent Oscar prospects for Universal/Amblin’s THE FABELMANS.
FABELMANS is already many awards pundits’ top prediction for best picture & directing Oscars. Having NBR put FABELMANS (pictured) in the media spotlight now — and again 1/8 right before Oscar noms voting starts — can only help. It’s also good news that it made AFI’s Top 10 list.
Last year NBR’s best picture was the small romantic dramedy LICORICE PIZZA & LP’s Paul Thomas Anderson won the best director. Driven by NBR & other wins, LP went on to nab Oscar nods for a picture, directing & original screenplay (Anderson).
This time around, NBR’s top winners are mainstream and should have a better shot at Oscar gold. Here’s a look at some other key wins:
BEST ACTOR: Colin Farrell was already a top contender for Searchlight’s THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN. Winning NBR will keep his momentum going.
BEST ACTRESS: The Oscar buzz says it’s either Michelle Yeoh for A24’s EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE or Cate Blanchett for Focus Features’ TÁR. So winning NBR is a big boost for Yeoh.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Brendan Gleeson winning NBR for Searchlight’s BANSHEES is a major help since the buzz is either him or EVERYTHING’s Ke Huy Quan.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Janelle Monáe, who won Netflix’s GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY, isn’t a big buzz Oscar contender right now. But supporting the actress looks like a wide-open race, so winning NBR could help. What doesn’t help is that GLASS didn’t make AFI’s Top 10.