Anora to Wicked: Award-tipped films you need to know about and where to watch them
Awards season is underway – and in a year with few clear-cut front runners, and lots of the movies out late in the day in the UK, the race is looking pretty unpredictable.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour of some of the movies you’ll be hearing lots more about and where to watch them.
Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon in Emilia Perrez. Pic: Netflix
It’s 22 years since a musical took best picture at the Oscars but now, like buses, two come along at once.
First there’s Emilia Perez – a mostly Spanish musical from a French director about a Mexican drug lord who changes gender, played by trans actress Karla Sofia Gascon.
The most nominated foreign-language film in Oscar history with a whopping 13 nods – just one short of the all-time record – Gascon’s personal bid for Oscar glory has nose-dived after problematic tweets she sent resurfaced.
The movie also stars Zoe Saldana, who as a darling of blockbusters including Guardians Of The Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War and the Avatar franchise, is taking a punt on a more unusual film this time around.
She told Sky News: “We understood the assignment. We felt like, OK, it’s the niche of the niche of the niche film.”
Selena Gomez, who also stars, told Sky News that acting in Spanish was a joyful challenge: “Doing this movie has given me a little bit of a pat on the back and I felt encouraged,” she said.
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Selena Gomez has ‘no regrets’ over new movie
While the movie won four Golden Globes earlier this year, including best motion picture in the musical and comedy category, it’s proved divisive for some Mexican viewers who say it reduces them to crude stereotypes.
Large parts of the trans community have also said its treatment of transitioning feels regressive.
Plus, its reported use of AI to tweak some of Gascon’s high notes has not gone without comment.
Emilia Perez is available to view on Netflix.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked. Pic: Universal Pictures
Then there’s Wicked – the Wizard Of Oz prequel starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, whose press interviews were frequently emotional.
It’s been a box office hit, becoming the highest-grossing musical adaptation. But will it have the same magic touch at forthcoming awards?
It took one Golden Globe, in the shiny new category of cinematic and box office achievement, joining last year’s inaugural winner Barbie.
Wicked is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
Adrian Brody in The Brutalist. Pic: A24
Chunky male-led dramas are awards season staples – and this year is no exception.
The Brutalist stars Adrien Brody as Hungarian architect Laszlo Toth, attempting to rebuild his life in the US after the Second World War.
You need staying power to sit through this one – it’s over three and a half hours long and even has its own interval.
Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones co-star, with Pearce crediting Brody’s achievement in the role, noting he is “almost intimidating he’s so good”.
Brody already has one best actor Oscar win under his belt – this might secure him a second.
The movie took best motion picture in the drama category at the Globes, as well as wins for Brody and its director Brady Corbet.
Meanwhile, a few eyebrows have been raised over the use of AI to “refine” the lead actors’ Hungarian accents.
The Brutalist is in cinemas now.
Ralph Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence in Conclave. Pic: Focus Features 2024
Conclave is all about choosing a new Pope – a papal X Factor if you will.
In the film, more than 100 high-ranking clergymen, each with their own chequered past, elect the next Catholic figurehead while sealed off from the public in the secretive voting process.
The most nominated film at this year’s BAFTAs, with plenty of star power and Ralph Fiennes at the helm, it’s a study of the Catholic Church – warts and all.
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‘It’s not a facile takedown of the Catholic Church’
But as Fiennes told Sky News: “It’s not a facile takedown of the Catholic Church. I think it approaches it with curiosity…
“There’s obviously corruption. There are all kinds of transgressions we know about that have taken place, but it exists because the Catholic Church also offers, I think, a sort of support to communities. It’s a foundational place to go where the community has a structure, so I think it’s a big thing to sort of open up and discuss.”
Conclave, which also stars Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
Nickel Boys stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson (L-R). Pic: Orion Pictures
Nickel Boys, about abuse at a US reform school in the 1960s, is the film with perhaps the most unique visual style, shot almost entirely from the two lead characters’ point of view.
It’s a disorientating drama that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
The film’s director, RaMell Ross, told Sky News it was a “multiple fold” movie, exploring the conventional representation of black people as victims in cinema as well as an expression of trauma.
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Depicting trauma in The Nickel Boys
Ethan Herisse who plays Elwood, one of the film’s two leads, told Sky News: “While we were making it, it felt like we were doing something special and there was so much love from all the people that were working on that set. So, I was just hoping that it was able to come across when it was all said and done.”
Nickel Boys is in cinemas now.
Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune: Part Two. Pic: Warner Bros. Pictures/Niko Tavernise
We’ll call this the Timothée Chalamet section – flying the flag for two very different films.
Firstly, saving the universe in sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Chalamet steps back into the role of Paul Atreides, who, following the first movie, is now seeking revenge against those who decimated his family.
The third film is due out next year.
Villeneuve previously told Sky News he couldn’t have made the franchise without Chalamet’s talent.
Dune Two, which also stars Zendaya and Florence Pugh, is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
Chalamet is Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Pic: Searchlight Pictures
Chalamet’s second punt in the awards offerings sees him pick up the guitar and give it some mumbling Bob Dylan energy in A Complete Unknown, playing the Nobel prize-winning folk hero regarded by many as a lyrical genius.
Chalamet at the Complete Unknown UK premiere. Pic: AP
Chalamet spent five years working on his singing, harmonica and guitar skills. Will the awards reward him for his efforts? Or will he be on his bike?
A Complete Unknown is in cinemas now.
And then there’s the female-led movies – from gritty, to horror, to devastating real life.
Mikey Madison in Anora. Pic: Neon/Augusta Quirk
Anora stars newcomer Mikey Madison as a sex worker from Brooklyn who marries into money.
Think Pretty Woman but without the sugar coating.
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Mikey Madison on preparing to play a sex worker
Madison told Sky News she was “grateful” to have had the experience, adding that the “sex work community is amazing and I’ve made so many incredible friends”.
Anora is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
I’m Still Here sees a mother of five fighting Brazil’s authoritarian military regime in the 1970s after her husband is forcibly “disappeared”, leaving her to search for the truth and rebuild her life.
Based on a true story, this Portuguese-language film is creating an unexpected buzz, with three Oscar nods and one Golden Globe win for its star, Fernanda Torres.
The Brazilian drama’s chances in the international category at the Oscars is better than fair.
I’m Still Here is due to go on limited release in cinemas on Friday 21 February.
Demi Moore re-evaluates her worth as an older woman in The Substance. Pic: Mubi
Lastly, body horror movie The Substance has given its star Demi Moore a career reboot like no other.
The timely narrative about an older actress refusing to fade into obscurity, with horrifying consequences, is one voters are likely to lap up.
It saw Moore take best actress in a musical or comedy at the Golden Globes, and her acceptance speech in which she spoke about being written off as a “popcorn actress” early on in her career laid the ground for further wins including a Critics’ Choice gong.
Which movies will win awards at this year’s BAFTA and Oscar ceremonies, and which will leave empty-handed?
Will Moore win best actress at the BAFTAs and Oscars? If the buzz is to be believed, she may well nab them.
The Substance, which also stars Margaret Qualley, is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
The competition’s wide open – may the best movies win!
The BAFTA ceremony will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday, 16 February.
The Academy Awards ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, 2 March.
Laura Whitmore has shared the last text messages between her and Caroline Flack on the five-year anniversary of her death.
Flack, who was best known for presenting ITV’s Love Island, took her own life on 15 February 2020, aged 40.
The Irish TV presenter shared a photo of the pair together, along with a series of screenshots of their WhatsApp conversation, in which she told Flack she had been offered the Love Island presenting role.
In the messages, Flack said it was “perfect” that Whitmore would be doing the show alongside her husband Iain Stirling, who narrates the series, and followed up the message with a series of love hearts.
Flack hosted the reality dating show between 2015 and 2019. Whitmore took over in 2020. Maya Jama stepped into the role in 2023.
In her Instagram post, Whitmore, 39, said: “I got a new phone this month and as I was trying to download WhatsApp messages from my cloud loads of old messages came up.
“Ones I thought I lost a few years ago and no longer had. It really hit me hard.
“Looking at messages I’ve never publicly shared as they were private messages. Media outlets wrote a lot far from the actual truth.
“I think they show a side to Caroline which is nice to remember. Hence I’m sharing now.”
Pic: PA
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Whitmore said she had met Flack when she took over hosting duties for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! NOW!.
“She was as supportive of me doing that role back then as she was when she supported me doing Love Island in 2020,” she said.
“Both were great shows with hundreds of people working on them and relying on the show going ahead.
“I will always be so thankful of the last messages between me and Caroline.”
She continued: “Every time I’ve been asked to speak about the situation or be part of a documentary I decline.
“I’ve already said all I can say on the tragedy and don’t want words to be misconstrued and need to look after my own mental health.
“This was the last correspondence I ever had with her.”
“The last message from her to me were love hearts,” she said.
“I’d like to think wherever she is now, she’s at peace and somewhere lovely like I hoped.
“I’m sad when I see the press and social media be so divisive and that we still haven’t learned from Caroline’s treatment before her death when it comes to women in the spotlight.
“Today I choose to remember these messages and thank the cloud for giving them back to me.”
Caroline Flack pictured on Valentine’s Day 2020. Pic: @molliegroz
Flack’s family previously released an unpublished Instagram post she had written describing the stress of her arrest for common assault, while her former boyfriend Danny Cipriani also shared their final messages.
A friend also shared her “final photo” taken just hours before her death.
After Flack’s death a coroner ruled she took her own life after learning prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge over an incident involving her boyfriend, Lewis Burton.
Born in Enfield, Flack got her first TV break playing Bubbles on comedy sketch show Bo Selecta alongside Leigh Francis, before fronting the International Pepsi Chart Show and moving on to Channel 4’s E4 Music.
She later hosted Big Brother’s Little Brother, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here and X Factor, going on to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
An upcoming Disney+ documentary follows Flack’s mother as she tries to understand events in the final months of her daughter’s life, while also celebrating her career.
Christine Flack unveiled a suicide prevention bench in north London last September in honour of her daughter.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Entertainment
AI criticised in film industry but cloned voices could become as common as stunt doubles, says technology expert
For Hollywood A-listers, having a cloned voice double could become as common as having a stunt double, an AI expert has told Sky News.
While both the BAFTAs and Oscars annually celebrate craftsmanship and creativity, off-screen this award season a battle for votes has played out with some industry voices critical of the seemingly secretive way in which the technology is being deployed.
Brady Corbet, the director of 10-time Oscar nominee The Brutalist, has found himself having to clarify to Deadline how actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones “worked for months” with a dialect coach “to perfect their accents” – but that artificial intelligence was also used in post-production to ensure a cleaner edit of some of their Hungarian vowel sounds.
Emilia Perez, A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two have also been drawn into the debate for using AI in some way.
While on the other side of the debate, Hugh Grant‘s horror Heretic provocatively declared on its end credits: “No generative AI was used in the making of this film.”
Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones star in The Brutalist. Pic: Rex/ Everett/Shutterstock
‘Horrendous’ dubbing may be a thing of the past
Ausrine Skarnulyte, the chief executive of an AI company called Voice-Swap, said the film industry needed to understand “the genie is out of the bottle”.
“We’re seeing increased adoption across the film and TV industry even though at the moment no one’s really talking about it, at least not as loudly as they would like to admit.”
“Voice doubles is essentially where the technology is going,” she insisted.
Not only would allowing their voice to be officially cloned for a project potentially save actors time, but crucially it could save studios money.
Ausrine Skarnulyte, from Voice-Swap, spoke to Sky’s Katie Spencer
Skarnulyte said: “Any sound engineer with access to official AI voice models can then do post-production edits when the actor is not in the studio, without needing them to come back and re-record lines.”
According to Skarnulyte, who is originally from Lithuania, another benefit is how it transforms dubbing a film into a different language.
“I grew up watching Steven Spielberg, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger 80s action movies, and the narration itself… the dubbing was horrendous.
“With this technology, we could build Antonio Banderas’ voice to speak in any language… it serves so that you could mimic someone’s natural voice pretty easily.”
Pic: AP
Sky correspondent’s AI voice experience
How quickly can it be done? In less than a day, using a 45-minute recording of my speech, the team at Voice-Swap were able to create a basic AI version of me.
It is an unsettling experience to hear myself suddenly fluent in Lithuanian. The timbre and tone of what they demo sounds just like me and even has, I’m told, a slight British lilt to keep things authentic.
Mastering even the basics of a language for an actor, like this, would take months – this has required zero learning on my part.
Katie Spencer spoke some words in Lithuanian and then compared her voice to a basic AI version of her speech
While some may assume it instantly puts out of work those who’ve made careers out of redubbing stars for different territories, that actually isn’t the case.
Skarnulyte explained that she used recordings of herself speaking Lithuanian and then voice-to-voice AI conversion, effectively grafting my voice onto hers.
Establishing the boundaries, she said, is most important.
“You need to make sure that it’s used within the professional setting, that there is clear attribution in place, that there is transparent data set.”
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Ultimate guide to film awards season
Opposition to growing AI influence
But not everyone is convinced that the pros outweigh the cons.
Actor John Magaro, who stars in the Munich Olympics thriller September 5, said the creeping influence of AI is “a frightening thing”.
He told Sky News earlier this year: “I wouldn’t encourage anyone to become an actor nowadays. It’s daunting, I don’t know where it’s heading.”
Actor John Magaro. Pic: Reuters
According to industry publication Variety, declaring what AI is in your film will be mandatory at next year’s Oscars.
“There’s talk of putting in a requirement that you have to disclose your use of AI, which is not a bad idea,” deputy awards and features editor Jenelle Riley told Sky News.
She added: “We disclose everything: no animals were harmed on set, we list all of the artists who worked on a movie…as long as everyone is transparent and it’s ok with the actors and everyone involved then AI can be a really useful tool.”
Read more from Sky News:
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For Hollywood A-listers, having a cloned voice double could become as common as having a stunt double, an AI expert has told Sky News.
From visual effects to script analysis, AI is already being used within the industry.
While that might be scary for some, those who are working with AI argue it needs to be seen as a collaborator, not a competitor, in the creative process.
As Skarnulyte explained: “This is where we need to define the relationship between the tech and the creative industries.
“AI is already here and now it’s just a matter of time – we either take it into our hands and we control it, or it will control us.”
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