GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced its 14th Dorian Film Awards nominations last month. Leading the pack was one of my two favorite films of the year, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which received nine nominations.
My other favorite, “Triangle of Sadness” only received one nomination: for the excellent and unforgettable performance by Dolly de Leon in the Supporting Film Performance of the Year category.
Winners will be announced on February 23. In the meantime, here are a few predictions and predilections toward the nominations.
Film of the Year: “Aftersun”; “The Banshees of Inisherin”; “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; “The Fabelmans”; “Tár”
“Tar” (seven nominations), a film by writer-director Tom Ford starring Cate Blanchett as a dynamic, brilliant, and ethically challenged music composer, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (five nominations), a film by writer-director Martin McDonagh starring the seemingly ubiquitous Colin Farrell as a man who suddenly loses his best friend (Brendan Gleeson), and “Aftersun” (five nominations), an assured debut winner by writer-director Charlotte Wells, are very good films.
However, the dynamic writing-directing Daniel duo of Kwan and Scheinert’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a comedic, metaphysical, and lesbian-ish film is a rapturous insightful, joyous cinematic text that deserves all the rewards it is getting.
Disclaimer: I did not see: “The Fabelmans” (which did not receive a single other nomination)
Prediction: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predilection: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
LGBTQ Film of the Year: “Benediction”; “Bros”; “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; The Inspection”; “Tár”
Co-writer and director Nicolas Stoller’s well-scripted, occasionally inadequately acted “Bros” is worth a good chuckle while “The Inspection,” writer-director Elegance Bratton’s honest portrayal of a gay man, Ellis (Jeremy Pope), fighting to make it in the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Marines is damn good but hardly worth a good chuckle – although there is one brilliant comedic moment involving Ellis and his commanding officer. And like “The Inspection,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” deals with a gay child and parental unacceptance. And the power dynamic involving a lesbian with a lot of power in “Tár” is something considerably different.
Disclaimer: I have not seen “Benediction”
Prediction: “Tár”
Predilection: “The Inspection”
Director(s) of the Year: Todd Field, “Tár”; Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Sarah Polley, “Women Talking”; Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun”
From Field’s epic direction in “Tár” to the rapturous direction of Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” to McDonagh’s classical restraint, Polly’s conciseness in “Women Talking” and Wells’ poetry there is not a weak entry here. And they all garnered excellent acting performances.
Prediction: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predilection: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Screenplay of the Year: Todd Field, “Tár”; Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Sarah Polley, “Women Talking”; Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun”
The same nominations as the Director of the Year category are all worthy candidates, although elements of “The Banshees of Inisherin” are far-fetched, if not downright incredulous.
Prediction: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predilection: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Non-English Language Film of the Year: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany); “Close” (Belgium); “Decision to Leave” (Korea); “EO” (Poland); “RRR”(India)
The formerly best foreign language film section is almost always a reliable place to find films worth checking out. This year is pretty much the same, except “RRR,” which, to put it nicely, is a good old campy affair.
Prediction: “Close”
Predilection: “EO”
Unsung Film of the Year (to an exceptional movie worthy of greater attention): “Aftersun”; “After Yang”; “Benediction”; “The Eternal Daughter”; “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”; “The Menu”; “Emily the Criminal”
I guess the “worthy of greater attention” would apply to someone like me as I have not seen “After Yang”; “Benediction”; “The Eternal Daughter”; or “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.” On another hand, with five Dorian nominations, it seems “Aftersun” is not so unsung.
Prediction: “Aftersun”
Predilection: “Aftersun”
Film Performance of the Year: Cate Blanchett, “Tár” Austin Butler, “Elvis”; Viola Davis, “The Woman King”; Danielle Deadwyler, “Till” Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”; Mia Goth, “Pearl”; Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”; Jeremy Pope, “The Inspection”; Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
For the second year, GALECA no longer nominates and awards lead performances along traditional Cartesian patriarchal binary categories of males and females.
Disclaimer: I have not seen Austin Butler, “Elvis”; Danielle Deadwyler, “Till”; and Mia Goth, “Pearl”
Prediction: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predilection: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (kudos overdue!)
Supporting Film Performance of the Year: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”; Hong Chau, “The Whale”; Jaime Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Dolly De Leon, “Triangle of Sadness”; Nina Hoss, “Tár”; Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin”; Janelle Monáe, “Glass Onion: Knives Out”; Keke Palmer, “Nope”; Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once:”
As with the lead performance category, Dorian nominations are not demarcated along gender lines. While most of these nominations are worthy, there are definitely a few generous (or lethargic or sentimental) choices here. But the worthy ones are really tough to call. They are so good!
Disclaimer: I have not seen Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”;
Prediction: Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predilection: Hong Chau, “The Whale”; Dolly De Leon, “Triangle of Sadness”; Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Documentary of the Year: “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed”; “Fire of Love”; “Good Night Oppy”; “Moonage Daydream”; “Navalny”
The crime here is the year’s best documentary, “All That Breathes” is missing.
Prediction: “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed”
Predilection: “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed”
LGBTQ Documentary of the Year: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”; “Framing Agnes”; “Moonage Daydream”; “Nelly & Nadine” “Sirens”
See “Framing Agnes” before the likely Hollywood Oscar-bait version comes out.
Disclaimer: I have not seen “Sirens”
Prediction: “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed”
Predilection: “Framing Agnes”
Animated Film of the Year: Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”; “Marcel The Shell with Shoes On”; “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”; “Turning Red”; “Wendell & Wild”
“Pinocchio” is shaping up to be the year’s most overrated film. “Marcel The Shell with Shoes On” is uniquely cute. “Wendell & Wild” is a challenge to finish. “Turning Red” is super adore-a-bells!
Disclaimer: I did not see “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
Prediction: “Pinocchio”
Predilection: “Turning Red”
Other Dorian Film Award nominations include:
Film Music of the Year: “Babylon,” score by Justin Hurvitz; “Elvis,” score and music production by Elliott Wheeler; the music of Elvis Presley; various artists; “RRR,” score by M.M. Keeravani; “Tár,” score and curation by Hildur Guðnadóttir; “Women Talking,” score by Hildur Guðnadóttir
Visually Striking Film of the Year: “Avatar: The Way of Water”; “Babylon”; “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; “Nope”; “RRR”
Campiest Flick of the Year: “Babylon”; “Bodies Bodies Bodies”; “Elvis”; “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”; “Pearl”; “RRR”
The idea behind the Campiest Film of the Year category is that the nominations go to films that are really bad but you cannot stop watching them anyway.