In a refreshing and unpredictable swerve, Aaron Schimberg’s New York theater satire “A Totally different Man” picked up Greatest Function on the 2024 Gotham Awards on Monday night time. The Sundance premiere, a couple of washed-up actor (Sebastian Stan) with neurofibromatosis who undergoes facial reconstruction surgical procedure solely to be confronted by his way more assured double (Adam Pearson), shot on the Higher West Facet in New York and has been an awards season darkish horse with help from critics right here.
Stan can be within the Oscar combine for his portrayal of Donald Trump in “The Apprentice,” which didn’t place on the Gotham nominations checklist. Bets have been on “Anora” to win the Greatest Function prize, so “A Totally different Man” profitable was an sudden deal with.
On the occasion held at Cipriani on Wall Avenue, I ran into Stan and Pearson early within the night, with Pearson flying in from the U.Ok. over the weekend and again in New York having fun with the bar scene after a packed press cycle again in September, when “A Totally different Man” opened to muted field workplace however robust critiques. This morbidly humorous film shall be an element within the New York Movie Critics Circle vote occurring on Tuesday, December 3.
“Sing Sing,” a summer season launch from A24, cleaned up as properly. The drama, set contained in the Upstate New York jail a couple of troupe of actors forming inside its partitions, gained Excellent Lead Efficiency for Colman Domingo (the Gothams now consolidate all lead performers no matter gender into one class) and Excellent Supporting Efficiency for Clarence Maclin in his function movie debut. Earlier within the night time, the movie additionally picked up a pre-packaged Social Justice Tribute Award from the Gotham Institute; “Sing Sing” revolves across the Rehabilitation By way of the Arts program, which has seen a low recidivism fee for its contributors. Directed by Greg Kwedar, “Sing Sing” wanted this increase heading into the Oscar race, the place Colman Domingo appears destined for a nomination, not less than.
Although keep in mind that the Gotham nominations are chosen by clusters of insiders — critics and programmers who don’t overlap with the Academy and make their selections in tightly huddled Zooms for just a few. “Anora” was anticipated to win not less than one thing, however the film went dwelling empty-handed. Not so for “Nickel Boys,” which wants help heading into the Oscar race and gained Greatest Director for RaMell Ross and Breakthrough Performer for Brandon Wilson as a younger man subjected to the cruelties of an abusive reform college within the Nineteen Sixties.
Getting some awards-voting consideration was “Dune: Half Two” director Denis Villeneuve with a tribute from “Challengers” star Zendaya. “Challengers” screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes was in attendance along with his associate, Celine Tune, who was the belle of the ball final yr along with her Greatest Function win for “Previous Lives.” Her subsequent movie, the star-studded “Materialists” with Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal, is in post-production at Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler’s Killer Movies, which backed “A Totally different Man.” Whereas the romantic drama (one other love triangle of kinds) isn’t anticipated to pop at Sundance as was the case for “Previous Lives,” we may see it at Berlin or Cannes.
Prime nominees like “Babygirl,” “I Noticed the TV Glow,” and “The Brutalist,” all from “A Totally different Man” distributor A24, have been also-rans. Trans filmmaker Vera Drew gained Breakthrough Director for her outré tackle the titular DC villain with “The Individuals’s Joker.”
Angelina Jolie, who appears a lock for a Greatest Actress Oscar nomination for “Maria,” gave a heartened speech about impartial movie artistry upon accepting her personal tribute award. I used to be happy to see Azazel Jacobs win Greatest Screenplay for the awards-season-underrated and beautiful “His Three Daughters,” additionally at Netflix. “No Different Land,” in regards to the Israeli navy dissolution of a Palestinian settlement within the West Financial institution, gained Greatest Documentary Function. It has no U.S. distributor however stays a frontrunner for the Greatest Documentary Function Oscar. It’s on many a high 10 checklist, together with the #2 spot on IndieWire’s personal.