Gotham Nominations Add New Contenders Like ‘Babygirl’ to the Awards Race

At this stage of the Oscar race, several things are certain. Palme d’Or winner “Anora” (Neon), which scored four nominations on October 29 for the first of the award shows of the season, the Gothams, remains the frontrunner in the Oscar race. Sean Baker’s film is followed by Netflix’s French Oscar submission “Emilia Pérez,” which was not eligible for Best Feature but didn’t land an international nod, either. Does “Emilia Pérez” need a Gothams nod in its pursuit of Oscar glory? No.

As regional festivals announce their award winners, the Gothams serve mainly as an opportunity to put some titles on the board for consideration, maybe inspiring Academy voters to watch a film they never heard of. Most of the juries for the Gotham nominations are critics, many based in New York and Los Angeles. This recognition provides clues as to where the New York and Los Angeles and national film critics groups, which have far more influence on Oscar voting, may be heading.

It’s no surprise that festival favorite “Nickel Boys” (MGM) made the cut with three nominations, but Luca Guadagnino’s crowdpleaser “Challengers” (MGM) was not expected, along with feminist horror flick “The Substance,” which pits Demi Moore against Nicole Kidman (“Babygirl”) in the 10-actor race for Lead Performance.

Expect to see nominee Adrien Brody in the Oscar race for “The Brutalist,” along with Supporting Actor Guy Pearce, as well as lead performance nominee Colman Domingo, the star of prison drama “Sing Sing,” Kieran Culkin who breaks hearts in costar Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain,” and Danielle Deadwyler in August Wilson adaptation “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix) should also make the Oscar cut.

One movie to keep an eye out for is cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut “The Fire Inside” (MGm, December 25), a gritty true sports drama starring nominees Ryan Destiny (breakthrough performer) and lead performer Brian Tyree Henry. The film played well at the fall festivals and could be a late-breaking player in the Oscar race.

Among the international features, Payal Kapadia’s India-snubbed “All We Imagine as Light” got a needed boost in its quest for Oscar nominations including Best Picture, also landing a best Director slot. British director Mike Leigh is not to be counted out with “Hard Truths,” which also scored a nod for Marianne Jean-Baptiste. And Italy’s Oscar submission “Vermiglia” also made the Gothams cut.

As the documentary race continues to contain multitudes, yet again the movie that keeps cropping up on every list is “Sugarcane.”