MeanwhileConclavefalls further into the rearview.
After all, underdogs have done it before.
And its the last one that is of special interest to me.
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Three years ago marked the first awards season after quarantine restrictions were lifted.
The critical and media narrative was that it had to win.
Campion was the clear frontrunner for Best Director, and what could beat it for Picture?
It was also a film nominated for only two other awards, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Cut back to 2025.
The mood is also once more mournful in much of the country, especially California.
Furthermore, according toVariety, a not-insignificant number of Academy members are refusing to watch the 3.5-hour epic.
And this one comes witha lot of online controversy and baggage.
Admittedly, online backlash didnt thwartGreen Books chances in early 2019.
However, its biggest competitor was, guess what, another Netflix film in Alfonso Cuarons lyricalRoma.
In fact, the AARP nominatedConclavemore than any other filmin its annual Movies for Grownups Awards.
In this vein, well point to one other relatively recent Oscar year.
In January 2016, there was once again no clear frontrunner.
It also was a franchise blockbuster and a sequel.
And it likely got there with a lot of number two and three votes.
It could happen again.
