Is ‘Anora’ in Trouble After That Golden Globes Shutout?

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  • Mikey Madison Has Lost Some Ground to Demi Moore
  • ‘Anora’ Will Still Earn Oscar Nominations But Wins Are Less Certain Now

In most award seasons, a particular film gains significant attention early on, garnering numerous nominations and probable wins. This year’s contender seems to be Sean Baker’s movie Anora, which captivated critics during its premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Palme d’Or. Its subsequent showings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival further elevated its status, with many predicting that Mikey Madison’s powerful performance will make her a strong contender for the Best Actress award at the Oscars.

After achieving great critical acclaim (with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and a profitable box office performance ($31.3 million globally, making it Baker’s highest-grossing film), there has been a change of events in recent weeks. The once assured dominance of Anora seems less certain now. Madison has garnered numerous critics’ awards, and it is expected to receive several Oscar nominations. However, what was unexpected was its loss at the Golden Globe Awards, despite being a strong contender in the Musical or Comedy category where it was nominated, and having a total of five nominations. Has Anora lost some of its luster? Or was the Golden Globes an exception, and its eventual awards success is still imminent?

Mikey Madison Has Lost Some Ground to Demi Moore

For many awards season enthusiasts, Madison was not just seen as a strong contender for an Oscar nomination but also as the likely winner on the most prestigious Hollywood night. Her remarkable performance sparked significant and well-earned attention, maintaining her leading role throughout much of the season.

It’s almost certain that Madison will be nominated for her role, but her journey to victory faced a significant setback when she didn’t win the Best Actress – Comedy or Musical award at the Golden Globes. She had been considered a strong contender in this category, but Demi Moore’s impressive performance in “The Substance” garnered more industry attention, leading to her winning the Golden Globe. This victory significantly increased Moore’s chances not only for an Oscar nomination but also for potentially winning the award on that very night.

Both actresses have compelling stories that make them strong contenders during awards season. Madison, a relatively fresh talent, delivers what some consider a breakout performance, reminiscent of a star being born. Awards often recognize emerging young talent, and in this case, Madison’s exceptional portrayal certainly helps her chances. Conversely, Moore’s narrative revolves around making a successful comeback in 2024, which appeals to voters. As she herself puts it, she has been acting for 45 years, and this year’s Golden Globe win marked the first time her work was ever recognized with an award.

The Golden Globes typically honor well-known figures (like Madonna’s victory for Evita in the past), but Moore has managed to garner support among voters for The Substance. Moreover, Moore has been tirelessly promoting the film, ensuring it receives attention. The Golden Globes have shown that a win for Madonna is not guaranteed and instead, it seems like the contest will be between her and Moore. Interestingly, Moore’s chances appear to be growing stronger with each day passing.

In another category where it appeared most likely to take home the award was Best Comedy or Musical, with its main competitors seemingly everyone else in the category except the eventual winner. It might have made more sense to hear about contenders like “The Substance”, “Challengers”, or “Wicked”, but the film ended up losing to “Emilia Perez”, a movie that has been widely praised by critics and awards bodies, yet it has generated mixed reactions among regular cinema-goers.

As a passionate moviegoer, I initially thought my favorite film, “Anora,” was destined to take the top prize due to its overwhelmingly positive response that started at Cannes Film Festival. However, the Golden Globes surprisingly opted for the less conventional pick, Emilia Perez, which has now positioned itself as a strong contender in several major categories, regardless of its critics. The stage is set for an intriguing battle between Anora and Emilia Perez. To be honest, even the critically acclaimed film, The Substance, seems to be a potential threat against my beloved “Anora” at this point. This situation underscores the fact that there’s no clear route to victory anymore.

‘Anora’ Will Still Earn Oscar Nominations But Wins Are Less Certain Now

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In a somewhat predictable turn of events, it seemed that Anora was not the favorite to win in the Golden Globes categories where it was nominated. Yura Borisov’s exceptional performance in his role earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination, but at this point, it appears that Kieran Culkin is leading the race for A Real Pain. The film also received nominations for Best Director and Screenplay for Baker, however, Brady Corbet seems to be favored in the Best Director category for The Brutalist. As for the screenplay win at the Oscars, it’s not entirely out of reach, but it’s also not a guaranteed victory. Films like The Brutalist and Conclave have been gaining traction and are becoming formidable competitors for Anora.

The point being made here is that Anora is likely to be nominated for Oscars in major categories, but after missing out on some key awards at the Golden Globes, it appears that the race for wins in these categories, particularly Best Actress and Best Picture, has become more competitive. Anora can be streamed on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.

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2025-01-13 02:31