A Star Is Born Is the Best-Picture Front-Runner, and It Needs Competition, Fast
After an expectations-busting opening weekend that has already cemented it as a bona fide hit, Bradl..
After an expectations-busting opening weekend that has already cemented it as a bona fide hit, Bradley Coopers A Star Is Born officially has everything it needs for a strong position in the Oscar race. As discussed on last weeks Little Gold Men podcast, audience response will be key for keeping the romantic drama in the conversation for months to come—and after several years of best-picture winners with modest box-office performances, this film could drive the exact level of interest in the Oscars broadcast that the ill-fated popular-Oscar was trying to drum up.
So whats the problem? Well, theres a long distance between early October and the end of February, and for A Star Is Born to keep up momentum between now and then, its going to need to stop looking like the front-runner—or at least drum up some substantial competition—quickly. After all, every Moonlight needs its La La Land, every Shape of Water needs its Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. So, what will A Star Is Borns main rival be?
On this weeks Little Gold Men podcast, Richard Lawson, Katey Rich, and Joanna Robinson discuss the possibilities, including this weeks new release First Man—incidentally, the new film from La La Land director Damien Chazelle. They also discuss the titles making their way through a series of regional film festivals around the country, including Joannas local favorite, the Mill Valley Film Festival, and Kateys local favorite, the brand-new Film Fest 919 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They also discuss another new release from this week, Bad Times at the El Royale, and whats shaping up to be a very, very good fall for Cynthia Erivo.
The episode ends with Richards conversation with Billy Magnussen, who has three major projects this fall: the Netflix series Maniac, the CBS All Access series Tell Me a Story, and the just-released Ike Barinholtz–Tiffany Haddish film, The Oath.
Take a listen to this weeks Little Gold Men above.
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