The Monday after Thanksgiving usually brings the Gotham Awards. Much more important that the Spirit Awards, the Gothams kicked off the awards season. They were also the first gathering of the New York film community after a week off, so there was always a little extra buzz down at Cipriani Wall Street, where they’ve been held the last few years.
Alas, the Gothams have been moved to January 11th, if they happen at all in person because really that’s a short time from now to vaccinate the 1,000 people who will turn up for this event. I’m really bereft but since we’re having a hurricane today in New York, I guess it’s just as well.
When and if the Gotham Awards ever do happen, “Nomadland” will win and so will Frances McDormand. I just watched “Nomadland” again on my press link, and it’s essentially the Best Picture. Much will happen between now and April, when the Oscars come, but Chloe Zhao may be the first female Best Director, and Asian to boot. Her work is exceptional.
Chadwick Boseman will win Best Actor at the Gothams posthumously for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” He deserves it, and here he’s not in competition with Anthony Hopkins (whose film, “The Father,” everyone will see shortly). Best Doc will go to “Time,” from Amazon Prime.
Well, I’ll miss standing outside Cipriani tonight, it’s usually very cold. I really miss friends from Frank PR, Lina Plath and Clare Ann Darragh, and their amazing staff, and Mike Zimet, who runs the world and keeps everyone safe. Until a couple of years ago we always had an awkward comedian who tried to make jokes about the movies, so I’ll miss him, too.
The one great tragedy of this awards season is not being able to meet people from the movies. If this were a regular year, I’m sure Searchlight would bring all the real people/actors like Swankie and Linda May from “Nomadland.” It’s our loss that we don’t get to meet them. I salute you, Nomads!
