The Power of the Dogwent into the SAG Awards with the most nominations among films—three but it left with a goose egg. It was a shutout for theDog. It’s not like the actors are ignoringDog—they gave it three nominations, after all—but they don’t seem to be biting on it the way the other guilds are. Even among its nominations, it did not get an ensemble acting nomination, the SAG equivalent to Best Picture. That could be becauseDogisn’t really an ensemble piece, it’s centered squarely on Benedict Cumberbatch’s character. Worth noting, compared to Will Smith and dark horse Andrew Garfield, Cumberbatch got a fairly cool reception from the room when he presented an award. There is definitely something toMeghan O’Keefe’stheory that popularity is playing a role in this award race. The Oscars are a popularity contest, after all, and as much admiration as there is for Cumberbatch as a performer, he doesn’t seem as popular as some of his peers as just, like, a person.
Momentum is shifting all over the place, andDogseems to be losing a little, well, power.CODAobviously got a big bump last night [link to CODA/Kotsur piece], and the USC Scripter Awards, which reward adaptations for the screen, happened over the weekend, too, and the prize went to Maggie Gyllenhaal and Elena Ferrante forThe Lost Daughter, beating outDogandDune, among others. If it were me, I’d give Best Picture to eitherDogorDrive My Car, the two best films of last year. But something to keep in mind about the Academy is that they, as a collective, are basic ass bitches who just like to feel good. AndThe Power of the Dogis NOT a feel-good film.
You know what is?King Richard. AndCODA,我敢打赌很多学院成员down to watch now that they’re hearing so much about it (Apple is also running a mega-expensive campaign for it). Feel-bad movies can win, for sure, as most recentlyParasitedid. But don’t forget that this is the same body that rewardedGreen Book. Two weeks will tell the tale. On the weekend of March 11, the Directors Guild Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, and the BAFTAs all go down, just a few days before final voting for the Oscars opens.The Power of the Doghas lost some heat coming out of the SAGs, but a good showing that weekend could reinstate some of their momentum. It might be too late for Benedict Cumberbatch, who might want to perfect his “losing to Will Smith” face, but I won’t quite count outDogyet. For sure, though, the Oscar race is not over.
