On an all-new episode ofFor Your Consideration, Collider’s awards expertsScott Mantz,Perri NemiroffandJeff Sneiderdiscuss the WGA Award nominations and make their own Oscar predictions in the category of Best Director.
Right off the bat, the gang is in agreement that the WGA nominations are a poor arbiter for the Oscar nominations, given how many top contenders are considered ineligible for various reasons. Movies such asMinari,Mank,Soul,The FatherandNomadlandweren’t eligible this year, which may account for adapted screenplay nominees likeBorat Subsequent MoviefilmandThe White Tiger, as well as original screenplay nominees such asPalm SpringsandJudas and the Black Messiah.
The discussion culminates with Jeff launching a passionate defense ofSound of Metal, while Scott and Perri seem partial to theBlack Messiahscreenplay, which is the opposite ofSound of Metalin many ways. This still feels likePromising Young Womanvs.The Trial of the Chicago 7, andOne Night in Miamivs.Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomto theFYChosts.
Meanwhile, the Best Director debate got surprisingly heated with Jeff’s inclusion ofMankdirectorDavid Fincher, who was on the outside looking in with regards to Scott and Perri’s lists. Jeff wasn’t even a fan ofMank, but thinks voters will admire the artistry and craftsmanship on display, while Scott and Perri are more confident in the chances ofLee Isaac ChungandEmerald Fennell. It still feels likeChloe Zhaohas this Oscar in the bag, but a lot can happen between now and Oscar night, which isn’t until April this year.
Mank is certainly an odd duck this awards season, as it may very well lead the field in terms of overall nominations, but it certainly seems to have regressed to also-ran status a laThe Irishmanlast year, which was also positioned as Netflix’s top contender. Instead,The Trial of the Chicago 7has shown staying power over the past several months, even if it plays things much safer than Fennell’s daring thrillerPromising Young Woman.
