(Image: Universal Pictures, 20th Century Studios)
Voting for the 97th Academy Awards has officially closed, with nominations set to be announced on January 23rd. Ahead of the reveal, Variety's Senior Awards Editor, Clayton Davis, spoke with numerous voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who anonymously shared their unfiltered thoughts on this year's contenders, offering a glimpse into the current awards climate.
Davis revealed that some Academy members either didn't watch or didn't finish "The Brutalist," citing its daunting three-and-a-half-hour runtime and heavy subject matter as reasons for their lack of interest. However, members casting votes for films they haven't seen—or simply not voting at all—is an annual occurrence and a recurring reason why the integrity of the Oscars is often questioned.
(Image: Netflix)
With voters' standards often being arbitrary, their viewing habits are easily swayed. For instance, the Golden Globes are considered a major Oscar bellwether partly because some Academy members admittedly only watch films that win at the ceremony, a practice several voters confirmed following this year.
When it comes to the acting categories, however, many members are paying closer attention. This year has seen a number of actors in co-leading roles being campaigned in the supporting categories as a promotional strategy (such as Ariana Grande in "Wicked" and Zoe Saldaña in "Emilia Pérez"). Some voters expressed a desire to see them nominated as leads rather than in the supporting field.
The recent California wildfires, which have affected a large number of Hollywood celebrities and industry professionals, are also a significant factor shaping this year's Oscar race. Many in the industry lost their homes and are in no mood to watch somber, serious films that might worsen their spirits. Instead, they're opting for more uplifting fare. Since many of these individuals—from A-list stars to below-the-line crew—are voting Academy members, films with musical performances and nostalgic themes like "Wicked" and the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" may have a distinct advantage this year.
(Image: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Furthermore, Clint Eastwood's "Juror #2," which received almost no promotion from Warner Bros. Pictures, has become a surprise favorite among members. Many have heard it may be Eastwood's final directorial effort and want to cast a symbolic vote out of respect for the legendary filmmaker.
On the other hand, some members are also unhappy with Warner Bros. for its handling of the film. The studio allegedly misled the public by claiming it was intended for a streaming-only release, when in fact their original agreement with Eastwood was for a full theatrical run. The studio only reluctantly agreed to a limited theatrical release at the last minute. As a result, some members want to push "Juror #2" into the nominations as a middle finger to Warner Bros. That said, the film itself has earned excellent reviews since its release, making its support from voters entirely justifiable on its own merits.
via： Variety