Netflix and Amazon each boast a plethora of strong performances for Oscar voters to choose from this year and will no doubt mount awards campaigns for multiple movies on their slate, but the streamers recently set category placements for actors in two of their top contenders –The Trial of the Chicago 7andOne Night in Miami.
Aaron Sorkin’s courtroom dramaThe Trial of the Chicago 7is based on the true story of seven (well, eight, actually) very different activists who faced conspiracy and inciting to riot charges (among others) following anti-war protests that took place at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Sacha Baron Cohen,Eddie RedmayneandYahya Abdul-Mateen IIstar alongsideJeremy Strong,Mark Rylance,Michael Keaton,Joseph Gordon-Levitt,John Carroll LynchandFrank Langella, the latter of whom shines as out-of-controlJudge Julius Hoffman. While there had been some early talk that Cohen and Redmayne might be campaigned as leads,the Hollywood Reporterhas confirmed that the entire cast will be pushed in the supporting actor category.
THR notes that the decision echoes that ofSpotlight, which went on to earn nominations forMark RuffaloandRachel McAdamsin addition to winning Best Picture. Past awards contendersCrash,Little Miss SunshineandBabelalso embraced the all-supporting approach, withMatt Dillon,Abigail Breslin,Adriana BarrazaandRinko Kikuchiall nominated, andAlan Arkinwinning forLMS.
Now, this year’s lead actor race has no shortage of strong contenders, which may explain Netflix’s decision, in which case, Cohen and Redmayne stand to benefit, especially given their extra screentime compared to their co-stars. However, like Redmayne, Rylance is a recent Oscar winner himself, while Keaton and Langella have both been nominated for an Oscar just like Cohen (though his was for writing), and rising stars Strong and Abdul-Mateen II just won Emmys forSuccessionandWatchmen, respectively. What I’m getting at is that there’s simply too much talent on hand for just five slots.
Of course, it’s entirely possible thatChicago 7could score multiple nominations in a single category, but it’s just as possible that voters won’t be able to come to a consensus as to who the film’s standout is, leaving the entire ensemble to split the vote. No film has landed three acting noms in a single category sinceThe Godfather Part IIin 1974.
Some awards watchers have speculated that Cohen’s spirited turn asAbbie Hoffmancould be rewarded by Hollywood after the actor struck a blow against Republicans withBorat 2, but again, it’s also possible that Amazon’s high-profile comedy could siphon awards attention away from Cohen’s performance inChicago 7. Much has been made of the age difference between Cohen and the real-life Hoffman, but speaking as a guy from Massachusetts, it’s the English actor’s shaky Boston accent that should be raising eyebrows – if you care about that kind of thing. Otherwise, I thought he was pretty damn good, too. Was he the best in the cast though? I don’t know about that…
In fact, THR tried to explain Netflix’s decision to run the entireChicago 7cast in the supporting category by (correctly) saying that everyone seemed to have a different favorite, and there was no clear standout among the talented ensemble – unlikeSpike Lee’sDa 5 Bloods, where critics and strategists agreed thatDelroy Lindowas the film’s true lead, and everyone else (Clarke Peters,Isiah Whitlock Jr.,Norm Lewis,Jonathan Majorsand the lateChadwick Boseman) would campaign as supporting actors. Speaking of Boseman, Netflix will also campaign him for aposthumous nomination in the lead actor categorythanks to his upcoming turn inMa Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s own period pieceOne Night in Miamifrom first-time directorRegina Kingand writerKemp Powershasalsobeen earning awards buzz on the virtual festival circuit. The film imagines an incredible meeting between Black iconsMalcolm X,Cassius Clay,Jim BrownandSam Cookeas they try to define a new world for themselves and their people in 1964.
Amazon will campaignKingsley Ben-AdirandEli Goreeas lead actors for their respective turns as Malcolm X and the boxer who would soon call himself Muhammad Ali, whileAldis HodgeandLeslie Odom Jr.will compete in the supporting category after playing football star Brown and soul singer Cooke. I haven’t seenOne Night in Miamimyself yet, but word on the street suggests that Goree and Odom Jr. stand the best chance of scoring nominations. I can’t wait to weigh in on that debate at a later date.
BothThe Trial of the Chicago 7andOne Night in Miamiare expected to be top contenders for the Screen Actors Guild’s Best Ensemble award, which is considered an important bellwether for the Oscar race. Personally, I just hope the Academy remembersSound of MetalstarsRiz AhmedandJohn Racicome February, because they are bothincrediblein that film. But don’t take my word for it!Click hereto readMatt Goldberg’s review out of Sundance, and thenclick hereto watch the trailer for the hard-hitting film, which arrives on Amazon Prime Video later this month.
