Sarasota-Bradenton top movie picks, April 8-14

With "Godzilla vs. Kong" dominating as the pandemic's biggest box office hit so far, this week doesn't feature many new releases, though space drama "Voyagers" hits theaters and Melissa McCarthy superhero comedy "Thunder Force" heads to Netflix on Friday. There are still numerous Oscars contenders available to watch, including a few that scored Screen Actors Guild awards Sunday. And multiple film festivals around the country return this week, including Florida Film Festival. Here are this week's highlights (dates/venues subject to change.)

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More:‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ stomps to pandemic-best $48.5M opening, even with at-home streaming

1. 'Nomadland'

Writer-director Chloé Zhao's drama based on the 2017 nonfiction book follows a woman (Frances McDormand) who, after her town's U.S. Gypsum plant shuts down, travels the country living in her van as she takes various jobs. Like Zhao's previous film "The Rider," "Nomadland" features a cast of largely nonprofessional actors besides McDormand and costar David Strathairn, who blend in with ease, and beautiful Western landscapes. The movie has been nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture and Director, and is the current frontrunner in both categories.

Where to watch: Hulu

2. 'Minari'

Inspired by writer-director Lee Isaac Chung's own upbringing, this film follows a Korean American family who moves to rural Arkansas, with Steven Yeun playing the determined patriarch. A smart, sensitive film about immigrants and the American dream, "Minari" won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at last year's Sundance Film Festival and scored six Oscar nominations. Those include Best Picture, Chung's direction and screenplay and the performances by Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung as the family's grandmother, who won the supporting actress SAG Award.

Where to watch: Limited release in theaters and video on demand

3. 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

Shaka King's drama tells the story of Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Black Panther Party Illinois chapter who was killed in a 1969 police raid, and William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield), an FBI informant who infiltrated the party. "Judas and the Black Messiah" feels genuinely daring and vital in a way that historical awards season movies rarely do and is up for the Best Picture Oscar, along with Supporting Actor nods for Stanfield and Kaluuya. The latter won the Golden Globe and SAG Award in the category and is the frontrunner for the Oscar.

Where to watch: Video on demand

4. 'The Father'

Florian Zeller directs and co-writes this adaptation of his play, centering on an elderly man (Anthony Hopkins) dealing with the effects of dementia and his daughter (Olivia Colman) trying to find the best way to help him. An immersive portrayal of dementia building to a haunting conclusion, "The Father" features one of Hopkins' career-best performances that netted him a Best Actor Oscar nomination, with the film also up for Best Picture and Colman scoring a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Where to watch: Limited release in theaters and video on demand

5. 'Shiva Baby'

Writer-director Emma Seligman's debut feature, based on her earlier short film of the same name, follows a young woman (Rachel Sennott) who attends a shiva with her parents (Fred Melamed and Polly Draper), only to discover both her ex-girlfriend and married sugar daddy are there as well. A bracing comedy that immerses viewers in its claustrophobic setting as well as a deep vein of Jewish culture, "Shiva Baby" was one of the major discoveries of last year's film festival season.

Where to watch: Limited release in theaters and video on demand

Note: Florida Film Festival returns Friday-April 22, taking place this year as a hybrid virtual and in-person event. Most movies are available for Florida residents to watch online, including Sundance favorites like the Ed Helms-Patti Harrison comedy "Together Together" and adult animated movie "Cryptozoo" (featuring the voices of Lake Bell, Michael Cera and others), as well as François Ozon's coming-of-age tale "Summer of 85," which was chosen for last year's Cannes Film Festival.

The Orlando area-based festival will also feature exclusive in-person events at Enzian Theater including the world premiere of "Because of Charley," filmed in Florida and featuring "Coming to America" actor John Amos, a 35th anniversary screening of David Lynch's 1986 classic "Blue Velvet" followed by a live Zoom Q&A with star Isabella Rossellini, and the surreal Nicolas Cage-starring Sion Sono film "Prisoners of the Ghostland." For more information, visit floridafilmfestival.com.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

Oscar nominations 2023 full list: 'Everything Everywhere,' 'Banshees'

We don't know how it plays elsewhere in the multiverse, but in this reality, the Oscars really love "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

The genre-smashing sci-fi hit ruled Tuesday morning when nominations for the 95th Academy Awards were announced. The film scored 11 honors including best picture and screenplay, star Michelle Yeoh was nominated for best actress, Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu earned their first Oscar nominations and Cinderella story Ke Huy Quan garnered a nod for supporting actor.

"Everything" is up for the night's biggest prize with Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical "The Fabelmans," dark comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin," blockbuster sequel "Top Gun: Maverick," musical biopic "Elvis," a German remake of 1930 best picture winner "All Quiet on the Western Front," the satire "Triangle of Sadness," classical music drama "Tár," #MeToo drama "Women Talking" and otherworldly extravaganza "Avatar: The Way of Water."

Academy Awards acting categories feature a mix of old and new faces

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selected a wide variety of movies and actors to be honored at its March 12 ceremony (airing live on ABC), hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for a third time:

Cate Blanchett and first-time nominee Michelle Yeoh scored slots in the best actress race.

Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell, Austin Butler, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy are first-time best actor nominees.

Awards-season favorites Angela Bassett and Ke Huy Quan both garner Oscar nods.

Brendan Fraser and Colin Farrell in for best actor, Cate Blanchett vs. Michelle Yeoh for best actress

Blanchett ("Tár") and Yeoh ("Everything Everywhere") – who both scored victories at the recent Golden Globes – lead the best actress category and will compete against Ana de Armas ("Blonde"), Michelle Williams ("The Fabelmans") and surprise entry Andrea Riseborough ("To Leslie").

The field for best actor – which features all first-time Oscar nominees – includes Fraser ("The Whale"), Butler ("Elvis"), Farrell ("Banshees"), Bill Nighy ("Living") and Paul Mescal ("Aftersun").

Angela Bassett and Ke Huy Quan lead the Oscars' supporting actress and actor categories

Quan, whose comeback story with "Everything Everywhere" has been a highlight of awards season, was nominated for best supporting actor, as were "Banshees" co-stars Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan, Judd Hirsch ("The Fabelmans") and Brian Tyree Henry ("Causeway").

Bassett ("Black Panther: Wakanda Forever") earned her first Oscar nomination since 1994 with a slot in supporting actress alongside "Everything Everywhere" co-stars Curtis and Hsu, Kerry Condon ("Banshees") and Hong Chau ("The Whale").

Full list of the 2023 Oscar nominees:

Best picture

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Elvis”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

“The Fabelmans”

“Tár”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

“Triangle of Sadness”

“Women Talking”

Best actress

Ana de Armas, “Blonde”

Cate Blanchett, “Tár”

Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”

Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans”

Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best actor

Austin Butler, “Elvis”

Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”

Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”

Bill Nighy, “Living”

Best supporting actress

Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Hong Chau, “The Whale”

Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best supporting actor

Brendan Gleeson, “Banshees on Inisherin”

Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans”

Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”

Barry Keoghan, “Banshees of Inisherin”

Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Best director

Todd Field, “Tár”

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness”

Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”

Best international film

“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)

“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)

“Close” (Belgium)

“EO” (Poland)

“The Quiet Girl” (Ireland)

Best original screenplay

“The Banshees of Inisherin”

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

“The Fabelmans”

“Tár”

“Triangle of Sadness”

Best adapted screenplay

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”

“Living”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

“Women Talking”

Best animated film

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”

“The Sea Beast”

“Turning Red”

Best visual effects

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

“The Batman”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

Best cinematography

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”

“Elvis”

“Empire of Light”

“Tár”

Best costume design

"Babylon"

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

"Elvis"

"Everything Everywhere All at Once"

"Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris"

Best production design

"All Quiet on the Western Front"

"Avatar: The Way of Water"

"Babylon"

"Elvis"

"The Fabelmans"

Best film editing

"The Banshees of Inisherin"

"Elvis"

"Everything Everywhere All at Once"

“Tár”

"Top Gun Maverick"

Best makeup and hairstyling

"All Quiet on the Western Front"

"The Batman"

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

"Elvis"

"The Whale"

Best sound

“All Quiet on the Western Front”

“Avatar: The Way of Water”

"The Batman”

“Elvis”

“Top Gun: Maverick”

Best original score

Volker Bertelmann, “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Carter Burwell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Justin Hurwitz, “Babylon”

Son Lux, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

John Williams, “The Fabelmans”

Best original song

“Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”

“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”

“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

“This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”

Best documentary feature

“All That Breathes"

“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”

“Fire of Love”

“A House Made of Splinters”

“Navalny”

Best documentary short

"The Elephant Whisperers"

"Haulout"

"How Do You Measure a Year?"

"The Martha Mitchell Effect"

"Stranger at the Gate"

Best animated short

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”

“The Flying Sailor”

“Ice Merchants”

“My Year of Dicks”

"An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe it”

Live action short

“An Irish Goodbye”

“Ivalu”

“Le Pupille”

“Night Ride”

“The Red Suitcase”

More on the 2023 Oscars

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'Wish Lisa Marie was here':Austin Butler's 'Elvis' Oscar nomination is 'joyous' but 'bittersweet'

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'The Whale':Brendan Fraser wants to change 'hearts and minds' about people living with obesity

Ke Huy Quan:'Indiana Jones' star waited 'more than 30 years' for 'Everything Everywhere' role

The 10 best movies of 2022:From Tom Cruise's 'Top Gun: Maverick' to 'The Whale,' 'RRR'

All 94 Oscar best picture winners:Ranked from worst to best

Academy Awards: How, where you can watch all 2021 Oscar ...

Note: This guide will be updated each Wednesday up to the 93rd annual Academy Awards ceremony April 25.

Well, the Oscars are almost here. And, for the first time, you can actually watch every movie that's nominated — most of them from the comfort of your couch.

Here's where you can see this year's Oscar nominated movies. Theaters are as of April 23. Remember that many theaters are open only a few days a week; check theater websites for details.

Among the ones you can see in theaters this week: Landmark Downer Theatre is showing both the live-action short film nominees and the animated short film nominees April 22, and all three shorts programs (including the documentary shorts) are on the big screen at the Avalon Theater April 23-29 (see avalonmke.com for tickets and showtimes). Sofa Cinema, Milwaukee Film’s online portal, is streaming all three nominated short-film programs at mkefilm.org/sofacinema.

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RELATED:At the movies in Milwaukee this week, including streaming picks

'Another Round'

Nominations: 2 — director (Thomas Vinterberg), international feature film (Denmark)

Where you can watch it: Available on demand, including on Milwaukee Film's Sofa Cinema (mkefilm.org/sofacinema); also, streaming on Hulu

'Better Days'

Nominations: 1 — international feature film (Hong Kong)

Where you can watch it: Available on demand; also streaming on Hulu and available on Hoopla, a borrowing service available through some area libraries

'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'

Nominations: 2 — supporting actress (Maria Bakalova), adapted screenplay

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Amazon Prime

'Collective'

Nominations: 2 — documentary feature, international feature film (Romania)

Where you can see it: Available on demand, including on Milwaukee Film's Sofa Cinema (mkefilm.org/sofacinema) ; also, streaming on Hulu

'Crip Camp'

Nominations: 1 — documentary feature

Where you can see it: Streaming on Netflix

'Da 5 Bloods'

Nominations: 1 — original score

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Emma'

Nominations: 2 — costume design, makeup and hairstyling

Where you can watch it: Available for purchase on demand; also, streaming on HBO Max

'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'

Nominations: 1 — original song ("Husavik")

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'The Father'

Nominations: 6 — picture, actor (Anthony Hopkins), supporting actress (Olivia Colman), film editing, adapted screenplay, production design

Where you can watch it: In theaters (Landmark Downer Theatre); also, available on premium video on demand

'Greyhound'

Nominations: 1 — sound

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Apple TV+

'Hillbilly Elegy'

Nominations: 2 — supporting actress (Glenn Close), makeup and hairstyling

Where you can watch it: Netflix

'Judas and the Black Messiah'

Nominations: 6 — picture, supporting actor (Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield), original song ("Fight for You"), original screenplay, cinematography

Where you can watch it: Available on premium video on demand

'The Life Ahead'

Nominations: 1 — original song ("Io Si")

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Love and Monsters'

Nominations: 1 — visual effects

Where you can watch it: Available on demand

'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom'

Nominations: 5 — actress (Viola Davis), actor (Chadwick Boseman), costume design, makeup and hairstyling, production design

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Mank'

Nominations: 10 — picture, director (David Fincher), actor (Gary Oldman), supporting actress (Amanda Seyfried), cinematography, costume design, original score, makeup and hairstyling, production design, sound

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'The Man Who Sold His Skin'

Nominations: 1 — international feature film (Tunisia)

Where you can watch it: Available on demand through Milwaukee Film's Sofa Cinema digital portal (mkefilm.org/sofacinema); also, streaming on Hulu

'The Midnight Sky'

Nominations: 1 — visual effects

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Minari'

Nominations: 6 — picture, director (Lee Isaac Chung), actor (Steven Yeun), supporting actress (Yuh-Jung Youn), original score, original screenplay

Where you can watch it: In theaters (Rivoli Theater); also, available on demand

'The Mole Agent'

Nominations: 1 — documentary feature

Where you can watch it: Available on demand; also, streaming on Hulu, and available on Hoopla, a borrowing service available through some area libraries

'Mulan'

Nominations: 2 — costume design, visual effects

Where you can watch it: Available on demand; also, streaming on Disney+

'My Octopus Teacher'

Nominations: 1 — documentary feature

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'News of the World'

Nominations: 4 — cinematography, original score, production design, sound

Where you can watch it: Available on demand

'Nomadland'

Nominations: 6 — picture, director (Chloé Zhao), actress (Frances McDormand), adapted screenplay, cinematography, film editing

Where you can watch it: In theaters (Landmark Downer Theatre); also, streaming on Hulu, and available on demand

'The One and Only Ivan'

Nominations: 1 — visual effects

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Disney+

'One Night in Miami … '

Nominations: 3 — supporting actor (Leslie Odom Jr.), original song ("Speak Now"), adapted screenplay

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Amazon Prime

'Onward'

Nominations: 1 — animated feature film

Where you can watch it: Available on demand; also, streaming on Disney+

'Over the Moon'

Nominations: 1 — animated feature film

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Pieces of a Woman'

Nominations: 1 — actress (Vanessa Kirby)

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Pinocchio'

Nominations: 2 — costume design, makeup and hairstyling

Where you can watch it: Available on demand

'Promising Young Woman'

Nominations: 5 — picture, director (Emerald Fennell), actress (Carey Mulligan), original screenplay, film editing

Where you can watch it: Available on demand

'Quo Vadis, Aida?'

Nominations: 1 — international feature film (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Where you can watch it: Available on demand; also, streaming on Hulu

'A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon'

Nominations: 1 — animated feature film

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Soul'

Nominations: 3 — animated feature film, original score, sound

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Disney+

'Sound of Metal'

Nominations: 6 — picture, actor (Riz Ahmed), supporting actor (Paul Raci), original screenplay, film editing, sound

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Amazon Prime

'Tenet'

Nominations: 2 — production design, visual effects

Where you can watch it: Available on demand

'Time'

Nominations: 1 — documentary feature

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Amazon Prime

'The Trial of the Chicago Seven'

Nominations: 6 — picture, supporting actor (Sacha Baron Cohen), original song ("Hear My Voice"), original screenplay, cinematography, film editing

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'The United States vs. Billie Holiday'

Nominations: 1 — actress (Andra Day)

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Hulu

'The White Tiger'

Nominations: 1 — adapted screenplay

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Netflix

'Wolfwalkers'

Nominations: 1 — animated feature film

Where you can watch it: Streaming on Apple TV+

Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12.

John Williams first composer to get AFI's highest honor

Maria Puente

USA TODAY

The American Film Institute is set to award multiple Oscar-winner John Williams with its highest honor — the 44th annual Life Achievement Award — and it's the first time it's going to a film-score composer.

But what a composer: He holds the record for the most Oscar nominations of any living person — 49 for films between 1968 and 2014.

Williams, 83, who has won five Oscars, will get the award next June at the AFI gala, which will air later on TV on TNT and on Turner Classic Movies.

Williams' five Academy Awards were awarded for Fiddler on the Roof (1972); Jaws (1976); Star Wars (1978); E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1983); and Schindler's List (1984).

And by the way, his other awards for his music, including Emmys, Golden Globes, Grammys and BAFTAs, are too numerous to list, but he tops 150 credits across seven decades in film and television, AFI says.

“John Williams has written the soundtrack to our lives,” said Sir Howard Stringer, chairman of the AFI board of trustees, in a statement.

“Note by note, through chord and chorus, his genius for marrying music with movies has elevated the art form to symphonic levels and inspired generations of audiences to be enriched by the magic of the movies. AFI is proud to present him with its 44th Life Achievement Award.”

A classically epic Williams score is unmistakable on first hearing; AFI says his music has "helped define over half a century of the motion picture medium."

Three of his scores are on 100 Years of Film Scores, AFI's list of the 25 greatest American film scores of all time, including the Star Wars soundtrack at number one.

The biggest drama at the Oscars: Which one of these 5 movies will ...

Would a real Oscar front-runner please stand up?

With less than two weeks until the Academy Awards on Feb. 9 (ABC, 8 p.m. ET/5 PT), it has become painfully obvious who’s taking all the acting gold but not so much what’s going home with the big prize: best picture. This awards season has spread the love around, giving every major film contender a time to shine and every person in an Oscar pool a chance to chew on his or her nails.

Throwing other wrenches into the works: Best picture is voted on through a preferential ballot, where academy members rank their choices rather than just pick one winner, plus a voting body that is slowly getting younger and more diverse every year.

Best picture:15 films that didn't deserve the Oscar – and the ones that should have won instead

Oscar tally: Here are the films and actors leading the race

While one movie hasn’t risen to rule them all quite yet, some have been left in the dust. The racing drama "Ford v Ferrari" may win some technical awards but that's it, the best chances for coming-of-age adaptation "Little Women" and divorce drama "Marriage Story" are in the screenplay categories, and the World War II satire "Jojo Rabbit" looms as a dark horse with key guild nominations but has yet to make a splash this season.

Here are the five, though, with the right resumes to conquer the best-picture race on Oscar night:

‘1917’

The closest thing to a favorite is director Sam Mendes’ World War I thriller, about two British soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) racing to deliver orders in time to save 1,600 fellow military men. The film has had big wins at the Directors Guild Awards and Producers Guild Awards, the latter a strong predictor for the Oscars: The PGA honoree has gone on to win best picture 21 out of 30 times, including the past two years with “The Shape of Water” and “Green Book.” Also in its favor is a Golden Globe victory for best drama and an impressive box office, scoring $104 million with only a few weeks of nationwide release. One troublesome statistic remains: “1917” doesn’t have an acting nomination, and only 11 films in Oscar history – most recently “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009 – have won best picture without one.

‘Parasite’

The Oscars have gone 91 years without awarding the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' highest honor to a foreign-language film, so history is not exactly on the side of South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed black comedy about class and social inequality. There is real love in the industry for “Parasite,” however, evidenced by the crowd eruption when it snagged a surprise win for outstanding ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. With actors being the largest voting bloc in the academy, the victory – plus an honor for best drama given by the American Cinema Editors – gives “Parasite” momentum going forward, though like “1917,” it also has the problem of no Oscar acting nominations.

‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’

Quentin Tarantino’s star-packed Tinseltown fable – one that intertwines the lives of a washed-up actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), his steely stuntman (Brad Pitt) and the Manson Family – has been a favorite among movie lovers ever since its summer release. “Once Upon a Time” won best comedy at the Golden Globes and best picture at the Critics' Choice Awards, it’s a strong contender in the 10 Oscar categories where it’s nominated (Pitt’s pretty much a lock for supporting actor and Tarantino has a good shot at original screenplay), and the Academy Awards since their inception have always adored movies about Hollywood. This one has it right in the title.

‘The Irishman’

Martin Scorsese’s Netflix gangster epic came into Oscars like a heavyweight, but like “A Star Is Born” last year, is starting to look like an also-ran. The film, which tracks World War II veteran and Mob hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) over multiple bloody decades, received widespread critical acclaim but has lost out on every major honor so far. Still, don’t count out “The Irishman” yet: Crime dramas tend to do well at the Oscars (Scorsese’s “The Departed” marked his first and only best picture in 2007), Netflix put a lot of horses behind its campaign, everyone involved is a Hollywood favorite – not only Scorsese and De Niro, but also supporting-actor nominees Al Pacino and Joe Pesci – and it could benefit from the preferential ballot if it's the second or third choice for a majority of voters.

‘Joker’

Of course the Oscars’ biggest wild card is the one with the iconic comic-book supervillain. Joaquin Phoenix seems destined to win best actor for his unnerving transformation from mentally unstable outcast to face-painted nihilist in Todd Phillips’ psychological thriller origin story. The film's chances for best picture aren’t as good as in other categories – such as original score and hair/makeup – but “Joker” leads with the most Oscar nominations (11 total). Like "Irishman," it might also be helped by the preferential ballot, plus the controversial "Joker" has made enough money ($334.6 million domestically, $1.1 billion worldwide) that it can’t be ignored.

'Licorice Pizza,' West Side Story,' 'Dune' score top guild nominations ...

AP Entertainment

Hopes that a few of last year's biggest box-office hits, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "No Time to Die," might join the best picture Oscar race were dealt a blow on Thursday when several of Hollywood's top guilds announced their film nominations.

The Producers Guild nominations are considered one of the strongest predictors for what films are most likely to make the Academy Awards best-picture field. Both the PGA Awards (which will be be handed out March 19) and the film academy use a preferential voting ballot and choose 10 nominees, and their picks often closely overlap.

The 10 films up for the producers' top prize, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award, are: "Being the Ricardos," "Belfast," "CODA," "Don't Look Up," "Dune," "King Richard," "Licorice Pizza," "The Power of the Dog," "tick, tick ... BOOM!" and "West Side Story."

SAG Awards 2022:'House of Gucci,' 'The Power of the Dog' lead nominations with three each

Not every PGA nominee always makes it to a best picture nomination, but in the past three years only one film ("The Father," last year) joined the Oscar field after missing out with the PGA.

The producers, who have nominated films like "The Dark Knight," "Deadpool" and "Skyfall," are also more likely to nominate big-budget successes than the academy. So that the PGA overlooked "No Time To Die" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" – both of which harbor outside Oscar hopes – suggests their chances are slim at the Academy Awards.

While the producers nominated a number of starry, bigger-budget films in "Dune" (which sold the most tickets of the bunch) and "West Side Story," five of the nominees came from streaming services: Netflix's "The Power of the Dog," "tick, tick ... BOOM!" and "Don't Look Up," Apple's "CODA" and Amazon Prime's "Being the Ricardos." Warner Bros.' "Dune" and "King Richard" were also released simultaneously on HBO Max.

Later Thursday, the Directors Guild followed up with their nominations for its March 12 ceremony. The nominees for the DGA Awards' top honor are: Paul Thomas Anderson ("Licorice Pizza"), Kenneth Branagh ("Belfast"), Jane Campion ("The Power of the Dog"), Steven Spielberg ("West Side Story") and Denis Villeneuve ("Dune").

Those nominees not only give a snapshot of the most likely Oscar nominees for directing, but also suggest those five films are favorites for a best picture nomination. In the last decade, every DGA nominated film has scored a best-picture nod at the Academy Awards.

Campion, a DGA nominee for 1993's "The Piano," is only the second woman to be nominated twice for the guild's top award. It's Spielberg's 12th nomination from the Directors Guild, not including the lifetime achievement award he was given in 2000. He's won three times before.

Four women were among the guild's nominees for best first feature for directing, a field that includes Maggie Gyllenhaal ("The Lost Daughter"), Rebecca Hall ("Passing"), Tatiana Huezo ("Prayers for the Stolen"), Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Tick, Tick … BOOM!"), Michael Sarnoski ("Pig") and Emma Seligman ("Shiva Baby").

Voting for Oscar nominations began Thursday as the guild nominations were rolling in. That timing could be the guild awards could have a greater influence on this year's thus-far largely virtual awards season amid the pandemic. It's also a lengthier one, with the Oscars set for March 27. Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards will be announced Feb. 8.

The Writers Guild turned to many of the same films in their nominations Thursday.

Up for best original screenplay at the WGA Awards (set for March 20) are: "Being the Ricardos," "Don't Look Up," "The French Dispatch," "King Richard" and "Licorice Pizza." The nominees for best adapted screenplay are: "CODA," "Dune," "Nightmare Alley," "tick, tick ... BOOM!" and "West Side Story."

A handful of notable contenders weren't eligible for WGA Awards, including "Belfast," "The Power of the Dog" and "The Lost Daughter."

Oscars boost Adele's 'Skyfall,' Shirley Bassey's fame

Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY

Adele%27s James Bond theme sells 56%2C000 copies thanks to Oscar performance and trophy

Surprise %27Goldfinger%27 performance by Shirley Bassey sets Twitterverse spinning

%27Life of Pi%27 score enjoys best sales week to date

The Academy Awards show, known for delivering big returns at the box office, is also goosing record sales after this year's music-centric production.

Adele, whose Skyfall won the Oscar for best original song, sold 56,000 downloads, up 56% from a week earlier, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Adele had a moment despite audio difficulties that had the band drowning her out through most of the song," says Keith Caulfield, Billboard's associate director of charts/retail.

Skyfall is the first James Bond theme to win the prize and the first Billboard top 10 hit to win since Eminem's Lose Yourself in 2003. Her victory "has a lot to do with the fact that it's Adele and the rule change loosening the reins on how nominees are determined (implemented) after last year's debacle." In 2012, only two songs competed in the category.

Spikes this week are modest since the tally count ended Sunday, the night of the Oscars and the last day of SoundScan's tracking week. Greater gains may be reflected after a full week of sales in next week's data, but huge boosts are unlikely.

"Even though this was a music-focused production in some ways, the Academy Awards are about promoting films," Caulfield says. "This might be it."

The surprise return of Shirley Bassey, who reprised the title track from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, boosted sales of the song to 1,000 copies, up 310%. While her sales pale against Adele's, the Welsh singer, 76, stirred a bigger buzz.

It's better to measure her impact in social statistics," says Caulfield, noting that Topsy analytics reported 36,000 Bassey mentions on Twitter Sunday night versus 150 the day before.

"Who knows how many of those comments were 'Who is this broad?' but she got a lot of positive comments," Caulfield says. "She really kicked the pants off that song. She was the one performer that the vast majority of viewers hadn't seen in a long time or weren't familiar with to start with."

Barbra Streisand's 1974 hit The Way We Were, sung in a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch, sold 2,000 downloads.

The toast to recent musicals "didn't move the needle very much," Caulfield says. "You have to wonder why they did it. It's the second-most watched TV event of the year and you can't sell more than a handful of copies?"

Anne Hathaway's I Dreamed a Dream sold 8,000 copies, up 70%, a jump that may owe more to her film clip than the ensemble performance. Sales of the Les Miserables soundtrack fell. Jennifer Hudson's And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, from Dreamgirls, sold 1,000. Catherine Zeta-Jones' lip-synced All that Jazz from Chicago registered "negligible" sales, meaning fewer than 500.

The Oscar-winning Life of Pi score had its best week to date, selling 1,000 copies, up 230%. Film scores are notoriously poor sellers.

'Maze Runner' tops weekend box office, Oscar pics get boost

Associated Press

Maze Runner: The Death Cure is the highest grossing film of the weekend, but according to studio estimates Sunday, many moviegoers also chose the first weekend after Oscar nominations to catch up with some awards contenders like The Shape of Water, which had its highest grossing frame with $5.7 million.

In first place, The Death Cure took in a higher-than-expected $23.5 million. It's the third and final installment in the Maze Runner series based on James Dashner's dystopian young adult novels and the weakest opening of the three. (The first opened to $32.5 million and the second to $30.3 million.) Part of that may be attributable to stalled momentum and a 2 ½-year gap between the second and third films. The Death Cure's release was delayed a year by 20th Century Fox after star Dylan O'Brien's on-set injury in early 2016.

It was still enough to push Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle back down to second place for the first time in three weeks. Down only 16%, Jumanji added $16.4 million, bringing its total to a robust $338.1 million.

"It was going to take a big franchise film to knock Jumanji off the top of the chart," said comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

In third place, the Christian Bale Western Hostiles expanded wide to 2,816 theaters in its sixth weekend and earned $10.2 million. The Hugh Jackman musical The Greatest Showman kept going strong in fourth with $9.5 million, down only 11% and now boasting a total of $126.5 million.

Many audiences also took advantage of the added theater counts of many Oscar hopefuls following nominations Tuesday. Steven Spielberg's Pentagon Papers drama The Post, from 20th Century Fox, placed fifth in its third weekend in wide release with $8.9 million.

Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance The Shape of Water, which had a leading 13 nominations for Fox Searchlight, added 1,001 theaters, which put it back in the top 10 in its ninth weekend of release. The film's nominations include best picture, director, actress (Sally Hawkins), supporting actress (Octavia Spencer) and supporting actor (Richard Jenkins). It has grossed $37.7 million to date.

Fox Searchlight also added theaters for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which scored seven Oscar nominations and earned $3.6 million over the weekend (an 88% boost). And Focus Features upped the theater count for Darkest Hour and Phantom Thread, which both took in $2.9 million after getting six nominations each.

"The Oscars offer the greatest marketing hook in the history of movies. These are films that would usually be played out," said Dergarabedian. "For audiences, it's a validation. If anyone is on the fence, a best-picture nomination is a pretty good way to push people in the direction of the movie theater."

With six weeks until the Oscars, there is plenty of time to catch up on the best-picture nominees, but they won't be without competition — the third installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise opens Feb. 9 and on Feb. 16 the highly anticipated Black Panther roars into theaters.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. Maze Runner: The Death Cure, $23.5 million

2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, $16.4 million

3. Hostiles, $10.2 million

4. The Greatest Showman, $9.5 million

5. The Post, $8.9 million

6. 12 Strong, $8.6 million

7. Den of Thieves, $8.4 million

8. The Shape of Water, $5.7 million

9. Paddington 2, $5.6 million

10. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, $4.2 million

Netflix has been trying to win best picture. This might finally be the ...

New York CNN Business —

Netflix has accomplished a lot in Hollywood: It’s partnered with notable filmmakers, produced buzzy hit films and launched the streaming craze that revolutionized the industry.

Yet there’s one coveted Tinseltown accolade Netflix (NFLX) hasn’t received: the Academy Award for best picture.

That could change this weekend. Netflix’s film “The Power of the Dog” is among the frontrunners to take home the Oscars’ biggest prize on Sunday night. It would be the first streaming service to win the category.

Critics have hailed “Dog,” a western starring Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by Jane Campion, as one of the year’s best films. It’s earned a 94% score on review site Rotten Tomatoes, is most nominated film at this weekend’s Academy Awards and has swept much of the awards circuit in winning major accolades at the BAFTAs, the Director’s Guild of America and the Golden Globes.

That’s good news for Netflix, which has tried — and failed — to win best picture for years.

The power of winning best picture

Can "The Power of the Dog" finally win Best Picture for Netflix? Kirsty Griffin/Netflix

Netflix scored its first best picture nomination with “Roma” in 2019. The following year it received two best picture nominations with “The Irishman” and “Marriage Story” and another for “Mank” in 2021.

Getting that type of respect from the Academy typically doesn’t come cheap. The Los Angeles Times reported that Netflix spent at least $70 million in 2020 to promote its films to Academy voters. That money likely helped the company pick up a few Oscars that year, but not the coveted top prize.

And for Netflix, it does matter. The Oscars may be losing their luster with the general public given that its ratings recently hit record lows, but the show still carries a lot of prestige in Hollywood. A best picture win could serve both as a marketing tool and as an enticement for top talent.

“As the tech outsider this gives them the ultimate form of acceptance inside Hollywood,” Zak Shaikh, vice president of programming at research-based media firm Magid, told CNN Business. “To win best picture says they are a legitimate movie studio.”

Apple could ruin the party

Could Apple's "CODA" take the spotlight from Netflix this weekend? Apple TV+

Still, “The Power of the Dog” isn’t a shoo-in. And unfortunately for Netflix, another streaming rival could steal the spotlight this weekend: Apple (AAPL).

The Apple TV+ film “CODA,” about a girl taking care of her deaf parents, won the big prizes at the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America awards.

At the Oscars, “Dog” received 12 nominations overall, compared to just three for “CODA.” But Gold Derby, a website that sets Oscars odds, currently has the two films in a dead heat.

A best picture win would be a nice marketing story for Netflix, but it’s not a must-have. The company has already changed the industry, and while some of the old Hollywood types may never fully embrace a streaming service, it’s certainly no longer an outsider.

“Their films have won Oscars, which is big progress,” Tim Gray, a senior VP and awards editor at Variety, told CNN Business. “Netflix is so gigantic… It’s not like they need a best picture.”

Oscar nominations 2022: Full list of nominees | CNN

CNN —

The nominations for the 94th Academy Awards were announced Tuesday and included films in a wide range of genres.

“The Power of the Dog” led among nominated films with 12 nods. The drama’s director, Jane Campion, made history by becoming the first woman to be nominated more than once for best director. (Her previous nod was for “The Piano.”)

Fellow directing nominee Steven Spielberg also set a new record. As producer of “West Side Story,” which earned a total of seven nominations, Spielberg has now produced 11 films nominated for best picture, a new record for the Oscars.

Denzel Washington extended the record he already holds as the most nominated Black actor, earning his tenth Oscar nomination for his performance in “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” (One of his nominations was for producing.)

The Academy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, March 27. See below for a full list of nominees.

BEST PICTURE

“Belfast”

“CODA”

“Don’t Look Up”

“Drive My Car”

“Dune”

“King Richard”

“Licorice Pizza”

“Nightmare Alley”

“The Power of the Dog”

“West Side Story”

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”

Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”

Judi Dench, “Belfast”

Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”

Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast”

Troy Kotsur, “CODA”

Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”

J.K. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”

Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“Drive My Car”

“Flee”

“The Hand of God”

“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”

“The Worst Person in the World”

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

“Audible”

“Lead Me Home”

“The Queen of Basketball”

“Three Songs for Benazir”

“When We Were Bullies”

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Ascension”

“Attica”

“Flee”

“Summer of Soul”

Writing with Fire”

ORIGINAL SONG

“King Richard”

“Encanto”

“Belfast”

“No Time to Die”

“Four Good Days”

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“Encanto”

“Flee”

“Luca”

“The Mitchells vs. The Machine”

“Raya and the Last Dragon”

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“CODA”

“Drive My Car”

“Dune”

“The Lost Daughter”

“The Power of the Dog”

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Belfast”

“Don’t Look Up”

“King Richard”

“Licorice Pizza”

“The Worst Person in the World”

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”

Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”

Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick… Boom!”

Will Smith, “King Richard”

Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”

Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”

Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”

Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”

Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”

DIRECTOR

Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”

Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”

Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”

Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”

PRODUCTION DESIGN

“Dune”

“Nightmare Alley”

“The Power of the Dog”

“The Tragedy of Macbeth”

“West Side Story”

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Dune”

“Nightmare Alley”

“The Power of the Dog”

“The Tragedy of Macbeth”

“West Side Story”

COSTUME DESIGN

“Cruella”

“Cyrano”

“Dune”

“Nightmare Alley”

“Westside Story”

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

“Belfast”

“Dune”

“No Time to Die”

“The Power of the Dog”

“Westside Story”

ANIMATED SHORT FILE

“Affairs of the Art”

“Bestia”

“Boxballet”

“Robin Robin”

“The Windshield Wiper”

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

“Ala Kachuu — Take and Run”

“The Dress”

“The Long Goodbye”

“On My Mind”

“Please Hold”

ORIGINAL SCORE

“Don’t Look Up”

“Dune”

“Encanto”

“Parallel Mothers”

“The Power of the Dog”

VISUAL EFFECTS

“Dune”

“Free Guy”

“No Time to Die”

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”

“Spider-Man: No Way Home”

FILM EDITING

“Don’t Look Up”

“Dune”

“King Richard”

“The Power of the Dog”

“Tick, Tick… Boom!”

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

“Coming 2 America”

“Cruella”

“Dune”

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”

“House of Gucci”