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.
Image: 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.”
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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.
Image: 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’
“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.
Image: Nickel Boys stars Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson (L-R). Pic: Orion Pictures
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.
Image: 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.
Dune Two, which also stars Zendaya and Florence Pugh, is available to rent or own on demand, including on Sky Store.
Image: 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.
Image: 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.
Image: 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.
Image: 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.
Image: 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.
The Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s fourth book has been delayed by her publisher.
It comes amid claims that the author lied about her story in her hit first book. Winn previously described the claims as “highly misleading” and called suggestions that her husband had Moth made up his illness “utterly vile”.
In a statement, Penguin Michael Joseph, said it had delayed the publication of Winn’s latest book On Winter Hill – which had been set for release 23 October.
The publisher said the decision had been made in light of “recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health”, which it said had caused “considerable distress” to the author and her family.
“It is our priority to support the author at this time,” the publisher said.
“With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, has made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October.”
A new release date will be announced in due course, the publisher added.
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Winn’s first book, released in 2018, detailed the journey she and husband took along the South West Coast Path – familiarly known as The Salt Path – after they lost their family farm and Moth received a terminal health diagnosis of Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).
But a report in The Observer disputed key aspects of the 2018 “true” story – which was recently turned into a film starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson.
Image: Raynor and husband Moth (centre) with actors Jason Isaacs (L) and Gillian Anderson (R). Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
Experts ‘sceptical of health claims’
As part of the article, published last weekend, The Observer claimed to have spoken to experts who were “sceptical” about elements of Moth’s terminal diagnosis, such as a “lack of acute symptoms and his apparent ability to reverse them”.
In the ensuing controversy, PSPA, a charity that supports people with CBD, cut ties with the couple.
The Observer article also claimed the portrayal of a failed investment in a friend’s business wasn’t true, but said the couple – whose names are Sally and Tim Walker – lost their home after Raynor Winn embezzled money from her employer and had to borrow to pay it back and avoid police action.
Image: Anderson played Winn in a movie about the couple’s journey. Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
It also said that, rather than being homeless, the couple had owned a house in France since 2007.
Winn’s statement said the dispute with her employer wasn’t the reason the couple lost their home – but admitted she may have made “mistakes” while in the job.
“For me it was a pressured time,” she wrote. “It was also a time when mistakes were being made in the business. Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry.”
She admitted being questioned by police but said she wasn’t charged.
The author also said accusations that Moth lied about having CBD/CBS were false and had “emotionally devastated” him.
“I have charted Moth’s condition with such a level of honesty, that this is the most unbearable of the allegations,” Winn wrote on her website.
Heaton Park, just north of Manchester City centre, is tonight hosting 80,000 fans who’ve come to see the Gallaghers’ homecoming.
“I would honestly say it’s a real cultural moment of the 21st century,” says Sam, who’s from Manchester and has come here with a group of friends – including one who has travelled from Australia for the gig.
Image: Oasis fans wear band T-shirts with the almost obligatory bucket hats. Pic: Reuters
This will be the fourth time Sam has seen Oasis play, although obviously not for many years, and he says he can’t wait for the moment the band comes on to the stage.
“The reaction from the fans, that’s going to be really special,” he says. “This band means so much to the North West.”
Like many people attending tonight’s concert, Sam is wearing a bucket hat.
Liam Gallagher’s iconic headgear has become a part of the band’s cultural legacy and they are certainly on display here, with street vendors popping up all around the park’s perimeter.
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Another fan, Dean, tells me he feels incredibly lucky to have got a ticket at all.
“I had seven devices out when the tickets were released and I didn’t get one,” he says. “And then about three days ago, a friend of mine messaged to say she couldn’t make it.
“So I made it. £120 with coach travel there and back – perfect.”
Image: Dom has flown from half a world away to be in Manchester tonight
Dom is another fan who has come from Australia for the gig.
“We’re frothing to be here, like so stoked,” he says, “The atmosphere is going to be electric.”
R&B singer Chris Brown has denied further charges following an alleged bottle attack in a London nightclub.
The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) to music producer Abraham Diaw, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
Brown also denied one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place.
Image: Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Pic: PA
The Grammy-winning US musician last month pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Mr Diaw.
The attack allegedly happened at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on 19 February 2023.
The plea hearing is part of preparations for his five to seven-day trial, which is due to take place from 26 October 2026.
Brown’s co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm.
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Akinlolu, a rapper who goes by the name Hoody Baby, has previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Image: Brown’s co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu arrives at court. Pic: Reuters
The defendants sat side-by-side in the dock, looking straight ahead during the hearing in London.
Around 20 fans sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday’s hearing, with several gasping as Brown walked into the courtroom.
The Go Crazy singer was able to continue with his scheduled international tour after he was freed on conditional bail in May.
He had to pay a £5m security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and then pursued to a separate area of the venue where he was punched and kicked repeatedly, Manchester Magistrates’ Court previously heard.
Brown was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on 15 May by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
Brown was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 21 May.
The singer, who rose to stardom as a teenager in 2005, won his first Grammy award for best R&B album in 2011 for F.A.M.E..
He earned his second in the same category for 11:11 (Deluxe) earlier this year.