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Greek epics, gory obsessions and awkward invites: where does this year’s Oscars race stand?
The Oscars race is taking shape amid a weaker-than-usual festival season, with studios increasingly avoiding major premieres to limit the risk of poor reviews and reputational damage. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is expected to be a major contender, but early attention has instead focused on films emerging from Sundance and other festivals, including Olivia Wilde’s The Invite and Josephine.
The Invite has built strong momentum after a successful Sundance premiere, an A24 acquisition, solid summer box office and sustained word of mouth; Wilde could become the first woman nominated for both acting and directing. John Turturro is also receiving praise for The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, while Sundance winner Josephine has earned acclaim for Channing Tatum’s performance but faces obstacles because of its disturbing subject matter and inexperienced distributor.
In short
- The Oscars race is developing without the usual festival buzz.
- Olivia Wilde’s The Invite is gaining serious momentum.
- Josephine is acclaimed but difficult to market and campaign.
Explained simply
The Oscars are the film industry’s main annual awards, and the race for nominations often develops over months. Film festivals such as Sundance give new films an early public screening, where reviews and audience reactions can help shape their prospects.
Studios and distributors decide when and where films are released, and may buy festival films they think can find an audience. Olivia Wilde’s The Invite has gained attention after its Sundance premiere and cinema release; Wilde is both its director and a performer, while John Turturro and Channing Tatum have drawn notice for other films.
Awards prospects can depend on more than reviews: a film’s subject, release plans and distributor can affect how widely it is seen and promoted. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is among the titles expected to draw attention, but the Oscars field is still taking shape.
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