The Producers Guild Awards are often used as a barometer of future Oscars success. So, it's good news for powerful World War I drama 1917, which has walked away with the prize for Best Theatrical Motion Picture. The movie, directed by Sam Mendes, fended off considerable competition from the likes of Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Jojo Rabbit, and may have further secured its chance at the Oscar for Best Picture.
How so? Well, because there's a direct correlation between winners of the PGA Best Theatrical Motion Picture prize, and the Best Picture Oscar. It happened with 2019's Green Book, and also with 2018's The Shape of Water, 2015's Birdman and 2014's 12 Years a Slave. Add that to 1917's clutch of Golden Globe wins and general critical acclaim, and we could well be looking at the front runner for the most coveted Academy Award of them all.
1917 is inspired by the true story of Mendes' grandfather and recounts a deadly journey across the German front lines to deliver a message to an imperiled British battalion. The movie unfolds in the illusion of one long, unbroken shot, courtesy of master cinematographer Roger Deakins, who has in the past collaborated with Mendes on Jarhead and Skyfall. The film's cast is led by the impressive duo of George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with walk-on roles for A-listers Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden.
Also celebrating: Disney-Pixar, who walked away with Best Animated Theatrical Motion Picture for Toy Story 4. This is perhaps less surprising, given the studio's impressive track record of awards wins for the likes of Up, Inside Out and Coco. We imagine Toy Story 4 is pretty much a lock for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, especially since Disney rival Frozen II hasn't even been nominated; however, surprise Golden Globe winner Missing Link, another Oscar nominee, could give Toy Story a run for its money.
The 92nd Academy Awards get underway on the 9th of February. Are you tipping both of the above movies for Oscar success? If so, let us know @Cineworld.
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