Frontrunners Oscar Nominations 2022
Metadata
- Frontrunners Oscar Nominations 2022
- December 31, 2021
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script Frontrunners Oscar Nominations 2022 HEADLINE: 2022 Oscar Contenders Reflect Turbulence, Needs of the Times TEASER: Front-runners tap into audience members' anxieties as well as their desire for an uplifting story PUBLISHED: 12/31/2021 AT 8:30AM BYLINE: Penelope Poulou DATELINE: Washington PRODUCER: Penelope Poulou SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Jepsen VIDEO SOURCE (S) Zoom; 20th Century Studios; Searchlight Pictures; Netflix; Warner Bros. Pictures; Focus Features PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO __ TRT: 4:01 VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES )) ((INTRO)) [[The new year signals the beginning of the Oscars race. Oscar nominees distinguish themselves in categories such as film direction, cinematography and acting. The message of these films is also significant, especially in relation to the times we live in. VOA’s Penelope Poulou looks at some of these promising contenders.]] ((NAT SOUND)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: West Side Story/20th Century Studios)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: West Side Story/20th Century Studios)) ((NARRATOR)) Steven Spielberg’s remake of "West Side Story" is inspired by the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. Spielberg says the story about two young star-crossed lovers from ethnically different rival gangs in New York City is as relevant today as it was more than 60 years ago. ((Steven Spielberg, 'West Side Story' Director)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: West Side Story/20th Century Studios)) “Divisions between unlike-minded people is as old as time itself. And the divisions between the Sharks and the Jets in 1957, which inspired the musical, were profound but not as divided as we find ourselves today.” ((NAT SOUND)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: West Side Story/20th Century Studios)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: West Side Story/20th Century Studios)) ((b-roll)) ((NARRATOR)) The film is expected to garner Oscar nominations, says Variety’s film awards editor, Clayton Davis. ((Clayton Davis, Variety)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “And will find a lot of love also in the acting races because Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita, is playing the same role that Rita Moreno played 60 years ago. And if she wins, which looks like she has a really good shot of possibly doing, she'll be the second Latina to ever win supporting actress.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: Nightmare Alley/ Searchlight Pictures)) ((NARRATOR)) Psychological thriller “Nightmare Alley,” directed by Guillermo del Toro, blurs the lines between what is real and what is not. Bradley Cooper plays anti-hero Stanton Carlisle, a drifter on the run who joins a traveling carnival. The star-studded cast includes Cate Blanchett. Del Toro co-wrote the script with his wife, Kim Morgan. ((Guillermo del Toro, 'Nightmare Alley' Director)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Nightmare Alley/Searchlight Pictures)) “It reflects the anxiety of these times. At least that’s what we felt writing it and doing it.” ((Kim Morgan, 'Nightmare Alley' Co-writer) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Nightmare Alley/Searchlight Pictures)) ((courtesies on those two should appear at the same time as they share the screen.)) “A lot about the American dream, something that still exists and something that is very hard for people to attain.” ((Guillermo del Toro, 'Nightmare Alley' Director)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Nightmare Alley/Searchlight Pictures)) … “and the flip side is always a nightmare.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: Don’t Look Up/Netflix)) ((NARRATOR)) Director Adam McKay’s dark satire “Don’t Look Up” hits home as a massive comet threatens to destroy Earth. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play two astronomers trying to persuade the world to act before it is too late. ((NAT SOUND)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Don't Look Up/Netflix)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Don’t Look Up/Netflix)) Meryl Streep plays the demagogic American president who plays down the catastrophic threat. Clayton Davis says McKay's satire is all too real. ((Clayton Davis, Variety)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “I laughed for the first like 30, 40 minutes. And then I stop laughing because I said, ‘Oh no, this is too real, because this is tomorrow.’” ((Mandatory Courtesy: King Richard/Warner Bros. Pictures)) ((b-roll)) ((NARRATOR)) Feel-good movies such as “King Richard” are favored by critics and audiences. ((Clayton Davis, Variety)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “Right now, people are looking to not be depressed, especially now what there's a surge in (COVID-19) cases again.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: King Richard/Warner Bros. Pictures)) ((NARRATOR)) The biopic chronicles how tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, two Black girls from the rough Los Angeles neighborhood of Compton, rose to superstardom through the support of their family and the tireless coaching of their father, Richard Williams. Will Smith produced the film and plays the lead role. ((Clayton Davis, Variety)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “I think Will Smith is very really in play to win an Academy Award there.” ((Venus Williams Red Carpet – VOA—No courtesies needed)) ((NARRATOR)) Venus Williams told VOA that the film champions Black girl power. ((Venus Williams, 'King Richard' Executive Producer)) “The film was shot very beautifully — all the action sequences were amazing. Of course our family was very prominent in it, and I am very excited that this film is hopefully going to inspire a lot of people.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: Belfast/Focus Features)) ((b-roll)) ((NARRATOR)) Another critics’ favorite is “Belfast” by Kenneth Branagh. Set in the capital of Northern Ireland, the film, inspired by Branagh’s childhood, chronicles the life of 9-year-old Buddy in 1969. Branagh told VOA that despite the political and sectarian violence surrounding Buddy’s life, the film focuses on family ties and community. ((Kenneth Branagh, 'Belfast' Director)) “I think the film looks for a sense of compassion and respect and recognition and celebration of people's differences, something that is, you know, is a tough subject for everybody right now in a polarized world.” ((Mandatory Courtesy: Belfast/Focus Features)) ((b-roll)) (PENELOPE POULOU VOANEWS, Washington)) ((NAT SOUND)) ((Mandatory Courtesy: Belfast/Focus Features))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Topic Tags Oscars
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date December 31, 2021 15:25 EST
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English