David Cronenbergof”future crime“Opening to general audiences this weekend, the box office didn’t quite light up, which no one expected.
Cronenberg’s film work has always enjoyed pure respect from fans, but never had the populist appeal to break through huge commercial translations or gain traction. While it’s never too late to be an Oscar darling (i.e. Christopher Plummer gets his three Oscar nominations after turning 80 and wins after turning 80), unless The King of Body Horror is in style And making a major shift in genre, it would be a crime if he wasn’t recognized by the industry as a prolific director. An honorary Oscar is the perfect vehicle for that honor.
Despite telling an ambitious set of fables about art, autism, global warming, awards season, relationships, and perhaps a dozen other fables that could be picked out on multiple viewings, “Crimes of the Future” has a lot to do with mainstream awards. It’s too brainy to pay attention.
When the prelude season kicks off later this year, it’s no surprise that groups like the Toronto Film Critics have nominated or won their cast, especially Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux. Even an original script or Kristen Stewart could show up. Speaking of guilds, two artisan categories may be nominated – production design, makeup and hair styling, depending on how loud the fall tour is.
Cronenberg, 79, has never been nominated for an Oscar, but his contribution to the film medium is undeniable. His story didn’t get any less nuanced as he got more experienced, and he insisted on continuing to push the film as far as it could go.
With film credits including The Flies (1986), Dead Bells (1988) and eXistenZ (1999), you’ll find many of today’s up-and-coming stars within the range of his previous classics The Filmmaker’s Blueprint. An honorary Oscar for such an impact.
Violence and terror have always been pillars of his gravitas, saying it was too easy for the Academy not to tap the genre. Some styles are simply ahead of their time. While the members are moving towards a range of different films and styles (i.e. “Going Out” for an Original Screenplay Award), Cronenberg’s 22 feature films have never been like any big Oscar film in history.
His closest moment to Oscar honors was his “History of Violence” (2005), a film about a small-town restaurateur who confronts his past after becoming a local hero.
Releases that same year included Ang Lee’s cowboy romance “Brokeback Mountain” and Steven Spielberg’s dark guts “Munich,” and “History of Violence” has aged like fine wine and is my personal career favorite. .
The Academy reaches out to nominate the film for two Oscar prize – Adapted screenplay (Josh Olsen) and supporting cast (for the recently departed William Hurt). However, Viggo Mortensen’s reservations about Tom Stoll and Maria Bello’s career-best turn as Tom’s cheerleading wife Edie were overlooked.
Four years later, the Oscars were expanded to 10 best picture nominees, and the film was nearly impossible to break out of a lineup of five allotted that also included a tormented writer (“Capote”) and a news organization with politicians (“Good night and good luck”).
It’s been a combative year as reporters and viewers demanded the Academy go beyond the traditional choices they would normally make, leading to Jack Nicholson’s envelope opening in shock and reading “Crash.” Cronenberg’s unbridled drama is overwhelmed by too much bloodshed to break through. Since then, we thought Oscar’s foray into the world of Cronenberg would lead to more opportunities for the figurine, but it didn’t work out.
Mortensen received his first Oscar nomination for the duo’s follow-up film, The Promise of the East (2007), the film’s only nomination. After that, his next three films – “The Dangerous Method” (2011), “Metropolis” (2012) and “Map of the Stars” (2014) – all debuted at prestigious film festivals such as Cannes and Venice Appearance. .
In December 2020, I am for Jamie Lee Curtis, Loretta Devine, Brad Dourif, Danny Glover Honorary Oscar winners such as Danny Glover and Harrison Ford offer advice. Last April, the weekend of the 94th Academy Awards, Glover was honored with others like Elaine May and Samuel L. Jackson. While the neon film may not be his best work, Cronenberg’s signature beats and striking visuals still show what he’s capable of as a director as one of our greatest.
As consumers and industry professionals continue to advocate for more representation for the horror genre, one of its children, David Cronenberg, would be an excellent candidate for the honor.
“Future Sin” is now in select theaters.
