Netflix’s pursuit⁣ of Oscar glory: ‌Could “Emilia Pérez”⁢ be the ​one?

Netflix’s⁢ cinematic journey

Netflix has been on a relentless quest to secure the elusive Academy Award for Best Picture. Each year,‌ the streaming ‍giant has come agonizingly ⁤close, with films like “Roma,” ​”The Power of the Dog,” and “All⁢ Quiet on the Western Front” garnering critical acclaim⁢ but ‍just⁣ missing⁤ the top honor. 2024, however, might be the year this⁢ changes with Jacques⁢ Audiard’s groundbreaking⁣ crime musical, Emilia Pérez.

A strong contender from Cannes

The Spanish-language drama⁣ Emilia Pérez premiered ‌ to rave reviews at Cannes, showcasing a ⁢stellar cast including‍ Zoe Saldaña,⁣ Selena⁢ Gomez,​ Karla ​Sofía Gascón,‌ and Adriana Paz. The film’s bold ‌narrative, riveting⁢ performances, and ‍ groundbreaking representation ⁢have ‌led to overwhelming critical acclaim. This critical success is further cemented by the film’s shared ​ Best Actress prize for the​ four stars.

Many industry pundits believe that Emilia Pérez has the potential to replicate ⁣the historic achievement of Parasite, which became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture ⁤ in 2020.⁢ Additionally,⁤ Emilia Pérez ⁤is also France’s⁤ submission for International⁤ Feature, boosting its chances further.

The⁣ path​ to⁤ Oscar⁤ success

Netflix’s journey in the Oscar ‍race has been both impressive and frustrating. Despite dominating⁤ the nomination tallies since 2019,⁣ winning the major categories has ⁣proven ⁢to be ​a significant challenge. Directors like ‍ Alfonso Cuarón (for “Roma”) and Jane Campion (for “The Power of‍ the Dog”) have secured historic directing honors. However, ⁢aside from a Best Supporting Actress win ⁣ for Laura Dern ‍in “Marriage ‌Story” (2019), Netflix has yet ​to secure the top-tier Best Picture award.

Why has Netflix not won Best Picture⁤ yet?

Even with⁢ substantial campaigning, winning Best Picture relies heavily on the movie’s intrinsic quality. Past ‌contenders like⁣ “Roma” and “Mank,” although ambitious and crafted by auteurs, received​ mixed reactions from industry voters. The preferential⁢ ballot system has sometimes put these films at a⁢ disadvantage, making it harder for them to clinch the win.

“There are films that seem⁢ destined to win early in the season, only to falter at the last minute for⁣ various reasons,” a veteran⁣ industry strategist shares. This unpredictability requires adaptable strategies to secure the final push.

Competitive​ dynamics and new hopefuls

The first streaming service to claim ⁤Oscar gold‌ for ‍Best Picture was ‍not Netflix but a competitor: Apple with “CODA” in ‍2022.‍ The⁣ achievement was a significant⁣ blow to Netflix, intensifying its hunger for the coveted ⁣award. This ⁣mirrored experience occurred in television, where Hulu scored an⁤ unexpected win with​ “The Handmaid’s Tale,” before⁢ Netflix responded ⁣with a⁤ historic triumph for ​”The ⁤Crown,” sweeping the major Emmy categories.

This year,‍ Netflix is backing several potential contenders. Alongside Emilia Pérez, ​there’s buzz around debut ​director​ Malcolm​ Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” featuring a noteworthy performance by⁤ Danielle Deadwyler. Another strong contender in​ Netflix’s arsenal is Pablo Larraín’s ⁤biopic⁣ Maria, starring Angelina ‍Jolie as legendary opera singer Maria Callas.

But there’s also formidable competition beyond Netflix’s lineup. Sean ⁢Baker’s Anora, featuring a breakout performance from Mikey Madison, and Brady Corbet’s historical epic The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, have been steadily gaining traction. ​This makes ⁤for a truly unpredictable ‍race this‍ year.

A ‍period of transition

Netflix has ​been navigating through a⁤ period of transition.‌ Early 2024 ‌marked the departure of film chairman Scott Stuber, who left ‌to start his own media venture. Amid industry upheavals, including strikes and production delays, the focus remains on Emilia Pérez, ‍which Netflix acquired ⁣out of Cannes.

The persistent wait for Netflix to break through seems poised for an end. With critical acclaim, strategic ⁢positioning, and an undeniable cinematic appeal, Emilia Pérez ‍stands as ‍Netflix’s best hope⁤ to finally clinch Best ‌Picture.

This week’s Oscar predictions (Updated on Oct. 24, 2024)

Best Picture

• Anora ‌
• Blitz
• The Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune: Part‌ Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Gladiator II
• The Room ⁣Next Door
• Wicked

Director

• Jacques Audiard,⁣ Emilia Pérez
• Edward Berger, Conclave
• Brady Corbet, The ‌Brutalist
• Ridley Scott, Gladiator⁢ II
• Denis Villeneuve, Dune: ‍Part ⁤Two

Actor

• Adrien Brody,⁢ The​ Brutalist
• Timothée Chalamet, A⁣ Complete Unknown
• Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
• Ralph ⁣Fiennes, Conclave
• Paul Mescal, Gladiator II

Actress

• Angelina Jolie, Maria
• Karla​ Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
• Mikey Madison, Anora
• Saoirse Ronan, ‍The Outrun
• Tilda Swinton,‍ The Room Next Door

Supporting ⁣Actor

• Kieran ‍Culkin, A Real Pain
• Clarence Maclin, Sing ⁣Sing
• Guy Pearce, ‌The‌ Brutalist
• Stanley Tucci, Conclave
• Denzel‌ Washington, Gladiator II

Supporting​ Actress

• Danielle ‌Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
• Ariana Grande, Wicked
• Saoirse Ronan, Blitz
• Isabella ⁢Rossellini, Conclave
• Zoe Saldaña, Emilia ‌Pérez

Original Screenplay

• Anora
• The ⁤Brutalist
• A Real Pain
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig
• September 5

Adapted⁤ Screenplay

• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Emilia Pérez
• The​ Room Next Door
• Sing Sing

Animated Feature

• Inside Out 2
• Memoir​ of ⁤a Snail
• Piece by Piece
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• The Wild Robot

Production Design

• Blitz
• The Brutalist
• Dune: Part Two
• Gladiator⁣ II
• Wicked

Cinematography

• The Brutalist
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Gladiator II
• Nosferatu

Costume Design

• Blitz
• Dune: Part Two
• Gladiator II
• Nosferatu
• Wicked

Film Editing

• Anora
• Conclave
• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Gladiator II

Makeup and Hairstyling

• Dune: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Saturday Night
• The Substance
• Wicked

Sound

• Blitz
• The Brutalist
• Dune:⁢ Part ⁢Two
• Emilia Pérez
• Gladiator ‍II

Visual Effects

• Dune:⁢ Part Two
• Gladiator II
• Kingdom of the Planet of‌ the ​Apes
• Mufasa: The Lion King
• Wicked

Original Score

• The ​Brutalist
• Emilia Pérez
• Gladiator II
• The Room Next Door
• The ⁤Wild Robot

Original Song

• Winter Coat ⁣from Blitz
• Mi ⁣Camino from‌ Emilia Pérez
• Beyond from Moana ‍2
• The ‌Journey‌ from The Six Triple Eight
• Harper and Will Go ‌West from‌ Will & Harper

Documentary Feature

• Black Box Diaries
• Dahomey
• Daughters
• No Other Land
• Sugarcane

International ⁤Feature

• Dahomey from ‍Senegal
• Emilia Pérez from France
• Grand Tour from Portugal
• I’m Still Here from ⁣Brazil
• The⁣ Seed of the Sacred Fig from Germany

Animated Short

• Above Ground
• An Almost Christmas Story
• A Guest From Elsewhere
• Maybe Elephants
• Remember Us

Documentary Short

• Chasing Roo
• Denial
• The Final Copy of Ilon Specht
• Julia’s Stepping ⁢Stones
• Wings of Dust

Live ​Action Short

• Anuja
• Bogotá ⁢Story
• Motherland
• 1Up
• Say Hi After You Die

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