Your time is precious, but you know that you want to catch up on movies. But, you also want to be informed as awards season progresses, and we get Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, and eventually the Oscars, among other awards ceremonies. Taking some of the long-shot contenders out of the race, here are ten films you can watch over Thanksgiving, somewhere, that have audio description, and are all but guaranteed to get a nomination somewhere.
#1- Dune Part II
Where You Can Stream It: MAX, VOD Services
Dune Part II may have opened too early in the year to feel like a current contender, but there’s no chance this well-regarded continuation totally misses out. Even if it somehow missed out on all the above the line races, it is still virtually guaranteed a Visual effects nomination, as well as Sound, and very likely Score. Dune Part II is still considered a safe bet for Best Picture, and director Denis Villeneuve has a decent shot at director. Adapted Screenplay is also in play, as are nominations for Hair/Makeup, Costume Design, production Design, Editing, and Cinematography. Realistically, Dune part II is likely to land 7-10 nominations. Will it win?
#2- Conclave
Where You Can Watch With Audio Description: Theatres
Edward Burger’s follow-up to Best Picture nominee All Quiet On The Western Front is looking like a strong contender in a wide array of categories. Also considered a safe bet for Best Picture, Burger might also land a director nomination, and Ralph Fiennes is looking good for Best Actor. Two supporting performances are in the mix, from Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, as well as a virtual lock nomination for Adapted Screenplay. Below the line nominations for Editing and Score are likely, and perhaps even Cinematography. At the end of the day, Conclave is looking for probably 6-8 nominations.
#3- The Wild Robot
where You Can Watch It With Audio Description: VOD
Dreamworks latest entry has dazzled audiences enough that some are asking if the animated hit can be the animation studios first Best Picture nomination. It is very rare for an Animated Feature to land a Best Picture nomination, and only Disney has pulled it off thus far, though maybe it’s time to spread the love? If nothing else, this is a lock for Animated Feature, where it is the favorite to win. It could also land nominations for Original Song and Score.
#4- Wicked
Where You Can Watch It With Audio Description: Theatres
It may be fresh to the competition, and now pundits are measuring its possibility in an array of categories. While it might land some heavy nominations in Picture, Director, Actress, and Supporting Actress, where it remains a lock are in the technical categories, where the spectacle makes Wicked a sure thing in production Design, Hair/Makeup, and likely Visual Effects. Wicked is likely to ride off the massive box office success it will have, and should end up landing 7-10 nominations when all is said and done, truly defying gravity.
#5- Enora
where You Can Watch It: Some theatres
It is wide enough for me to include here, but Sean Baker’s Palm d’Or winning film is doing well for Neon right now. This is one people think could actually win Best Picture. It is considered a lock at this point in picture, with Sean baker looking good for director, and Mikey Madison a front runner in Best Actress. This isn’t a huge technical achievement, but it will likely also get a screenplay nomination, and probably editing. It if really overperforms, it will get one of its Supporting Actors in as well. Should get 5 or 6 nominations.
#6- Inside Out 2
Where You Can Watch It With Audio Description: Disney Plus, VOD
While it provides some competition for The Wild Robot, it has a slim chance of winning. there’s really no chance it doesn’t at least get the nomination, as this branch has typically been kind to Pixar and Disney. The bigger question is whether Disney can land two in the category with Moana 2. Inside Out 2 made so much at the box office, it seems like it wouldn’t be the one to lose out.
#7- Gladiator 2
Where you can Watch It With Audio Description: Theatres
While Picture and Director remain a mystery, and Paul Mescal a longshot, most people agree Denzel Washington is a safe bet for Supporting Actor. But beyond that, you don’t spend 300 million on a film to not get technical nominations. Even Napoleon, which was not well received managed below the line nominations. Gladiator 2 should get visual Effects, Sound, and likely Costume Design and Production Design. Add Washington to that, and we’re looking at a pretty solid 5 nominations.
#8- The Substance
where You can Watch It: VOD
A lock? This? Yes. I think this qualifies in one category. Hair/Makeup. Previously this branch shortlisted Crimes of The Future, which was body horror, but that film didn’t have the same awards profile. While this will not be for everyone, the campaign for Demi Moore is so strong, and the word of mouth makes it feel like this could be a huge surprise, with potential outside of just Makeup or Moore, and perhaps a package that included Picture, Director, Supporting Actress, Screenplay, and other below the line nominations. but, it is on this list because even though the Oscars rarely lean in on the horror genre, with this much press, it seems impossible it gets snubbed in Hair/Makeup.
#9- Moana 2
Where You Can Watch It: Theatres
While I’m not sure if Disney gets two in the Animated Feature race, Moana 2 seems more likely than inside Out 2 to snag a Best Original Song nomination, or even two. After all, if your kids are still screaming How far I’ll Go or You’re Welcome after all these years, I’m sure there’s an Into The Unknown here somewhere. So, I’m qualifying it based on the Original Song race, though it likely will also get in Animated Feature.
#10- Emilia Perez
where You can Watch With Spanish Audio Description: Netflix
Yeah, sorry sports fans, but Netflix’s biggest Oscar contender isn’t available to those who are blind and don’t speak Spanish. However, for those that do, this does have audio description in your language, something not every International title will claim. This is a lock for International Feature, as it is being submitted by France, and considered a safe bet for picture as well. With the original songs, it could easily end up in Original Song and/or Score, and several performances are being talked about with this being a safe bet in Actress and Supporting Actress. Perhaps Netflix will cave and make an English audio descritpion track. After all, they did make sure Matilda The Musical translated into five audio described languages. But, yes, technically there is audio description, this is just for the bilingual crowd. And, yes, this is a lock for at least one Oscar nomination.