The Gotham Awards aren’t a prime Oscar bellwether, but they do elevate the profile of specialty films with best picture hopes.
Focus Features should see this with its R-rated bio-drama TÁR, which expanded wide this weekend to 1,087 theatres. Its 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes should help it as an awards contender.
With perfect timing as Oscar buzzes are building, TÁR just got five Gotham Awards nominations, the most of any title. That’s exactly the kind of achievement to promote to Academy members. Gotham voters applauded it for best feature, screenplay (Todd Field), lead performance (Cate Blanchett) & supporting performance (Nina Hoss & Noémie Merlant).
Winners will be announced in NY on 11/28 at Cipriani Wall Street with lots of valuable media coverage. A TÁR best feature win would make it a must-see film for Oscar voters, who don’t have time to see anything that’s not already a serious contender. Field, who directed TÁR, was an Oscar nominee in 2002 for his adapted screenplay for IN THE BEDROOM, the best picture nominee that he also co-produced. In 2007, Field was Oscar-nominated for his adapted screenplay for LITTLE CHILDREN.
Blanchett, who plays composer-conductor Lydia Tár, the first female music director of a major German orchestra, has won two Oscars — lead actress for Woody Allen’s dramedy BLUE JASMINE (pictured) in 2014 & supporting actress in 2005 for Martin Scorsese’s bio-drama THE AVIATOR.