‘Empire Of Light’ is Old School Oscar Contender With a Career Best Performance from Olivia Colman

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages are Davis’ assessment of the current standings of the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any film or performance. Like any organization or body that votes, each individual category is fluid and subject to change. Predictions are updated every Thursday. LAST UPDATED: Sept. 22, 2022 CATEGORY COMMENTARY: Composer John Williams is a legend in every facet of the music world. Aside from winning 25 Grammys and five Oscars, he is undoubtedly the most important musical artist living today. Tapped for Steven Spielberg’s personal semi-autobiographical film “The Fabelmans,” he adds another great composition to his already impressive resume. If nominated, at 90 years old he would surpass costume designer Ann Roth and documentarian Agnes Varda as the oldest nominee, of any competitive Oscar category, in history.

Clayton Davis Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light,” a love story and ode to cinema houses, is dividing critics after playing at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals earlier this month. However, Searchlight Pictures remains confident in its awards prospects. “Empire” is among this season’s divisive films, including “Bardo” from Alejandro G. Iñárritu and “The Son” from Florian Zeller. However, one of the agreed-upon highlights of the film is the quality of the actors’ performances — notably Oscar winner Olivia Colman, breakout star Micheal Ward and veteran actor Toby Jones. As categories become upended with the news of Michelle Williams campaigning for lead actress, instead of supporting, Ward’s campaign is cementing its strategy early by seeking supporting actor consideration for this awards season, Variety has confirmed. Playing Stephen, a young ticket-taker that begins a love affair with Hilary (Colman), a middle-aged woman coming out of a mental health episode, Ward holds his own against the three-time nominee and Oscar winner for “The Favourite” (2018).

Wilson Chapman editorAlejandro González Iñárritu has released the first trailer for his Netflix Oscar contender “Bardo” — and the entire movie is now 22 minutes shorter.The Mexican filmmaker and two-time best director winner’s eighth film, “Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths),” premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival. After screening at Venice and Telluride, Iñárritu went back into the edit room and cut down 22 minutes from the film, bringing its runtime to two hours and 32 minutes, without credits.“The first time I saw my film was with 2,000 people in Venice,” Iñárritu told IndieWire. “That was a nice opportunity to see it and learn about things that could benefit from being tied up a bit, add one scene that never arrived on time, and move the order of one or two things. Little by little, I tightened it, and I am very excited about it.”

recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II and commemorated her 70-year-long reign.Both Foy, 38, and Colman, 48, portrayed the British monarch at different ages in the popular Netflix royal drama.“I think that she was an incredible monarch,” Foy told the BBC on Wednesday. “She united people and she was a massive symbol of continuity and dignity and grace.”“My main feeling is just thinking about her as a mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother, really,” the “First Man” actress continued.

Claire Foy said she was “honoured” to have got the chance to play the Queen in “The Crown” after the late monarch’s death at age 96 on Thursday.

Olivia Coleman looked positively regal as she stepped onto the red carpet for the premiere of her new film Empire of light at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday. The Crown star’s appearance comes after she made an emotional tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death aged 96 on Thursday September 8. Olivia, 48, played the Queen for two seasons of The Crown, which debuted on Netflix in 2016, and described the late monarch as having “such dignity” in an interview over the weekend.

Olivia Colman sandwiches herself in between Michael Ward and Tanya Moodie at the premiere of their new film, Empire of Light, during the 2022 Toronto Film Festival at Princess of Wales on Monday (September 12) in Toronto, Ontario.

The Crown star Olivia Colman has paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The British monarch passed away on Thursday at the age of 96, ending a reign of more than 70 years and plunging the nation into mourning. While attending a Variety Studio event as part of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Olivia - who portrayed the royal on two seasons of drama series The Crown - offered her own tribute.

Deadline’s studio at the 2022 edition of the Toronto Film Festival continued with Day 3 by hosting fest-goers such as Tilda Swinton from The Eternal Daughter; Daniel Craig from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery; Jennifer Lawrence from Causeway; Olivia Coleman from Empire Of Light and Margaret Qualley from Sanctuary. Click on the photo above to launch the gallery.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter On the stage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Harry Styles is a bonafide rock star, brimming with swagger and self confidence. But Styles, the actor, was more soft spoken while accepting an acting award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Styles was a man of few words as he, along with the cast of “My Policeman,” received the ensemble award at the festival’s Tribute Awards on Sunday.  “Thank you so much to everyone here on behalf of all of us for this wonderful, wonderful award,” said Styles, who stars in the romance drama as a closeted police officer. “We all loved working on this film so much. And we hope you enjoy it.”

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Olivia Colman, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II for two seasons of Netflix’s royal sensation “The Crown,” is still processing the loss and legacy of the British monarch. The queen’s death was announced on Thursday, the same day as the start of the Toronto International Film Festival. “I wouldn’t know where to begin with that,” she told Variety at the Variety Studio presented by King’s Hawaiian at the Toronto International Film Festival. “She made a promise as a young woman and she absolutely kept it with such dignity. We’re all incredibly impressed by what she did.” Colman, who touched down in Canada to promote “Empire of Light,” a romantic drama from director Sam Mendes, also praised King Charles III’s first address to the nation. In his speech, he paid tribute to his mother and vowed to serve with “loyalty, respect and love.”

the movies that she chooses don’t challenge her too deeply (cough cough Noelle) or ask her to show that much range. Sometimes, as in say the Pitch Perfect movies, she’s playing a variation of the personality we often see from Kendrick on late-night talk shows or red carpet interviews. Snarky.

her death on Thursday.But Emmy-winning Netflix hit “The Crown” has given us some insight into the monarch who has been portrayed in the series by Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and now Imelda Staunton. Still, the show has employed a fair amount of creative license in taking us behind the walls of Buckingham Palace and across the history of the late queen’s reign.In fact, series creator Peter Morgan has admitted that he has “made up” scenes, while one Palace source has accused the show of “trolling on a Hollywood budget.”Still, “The Crown” — which will return in November with its fifth season — had enough respect for the Queen to have a plan in place in the event of her death: The series shut down production for at least a week while filming Season 6, due out in 2023.Until the royal family is back in all of its streaming splendor on “The Crown,” we break down how much was fact versus fiction in reference to Queen Elizabeth II’s most memorable moments.In the third season of “The Crown,” Lord Mountbatten — the Queen’s second cousin once removed, who was also Prince Philip’s maternal uncle affectionately known as “Uncle Dickie” — was approached by a group plotting to depose Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Portraying a legend. Some of the biggest stars in the U.K. have had the honor of portraying the late Queen Elizabeth II in both film and television alike.

Her Majesty’s death was announced. “I’m mourning along with the rest of my country, the passing of a great Queen.

Netflix series The Crown will likely pause production of its sixth season following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.The Queen of the United Kingdom, who succeeded to the throne in 1952 aged 25, passed away today (Thursday, September 8, 2022). “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” The Royal Family said in a statement.Earlier today, a source close to series creator Peter Morgan confirmed to Variety that production will stop on The Crown, which is based on the events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96. The royal, who was the world’s second longest-serving monarch after ruling for 70 years, will be replaced by her son Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.

TELLURIDE – Venice may be enraptured in gossip-y drama over a film no one will be talking about two months from now (and, clearly, a very frustrating ticketing system), but the 49th edition of the Telluride Film Festival was where the 2023 Oscar season truly kicked off. The annual Colorado set festival certainly has its fair share of world premieres and curated Venice and Cannes titles, but that’s only one reason it has solidified its reputation as an awards season staple.

Clayton Davis There’s no denying Olivia Wilde can direct the hell out of a movie. And with her latest behind-the-camera effort, “Don’t Worry Darling,” the actress turned filmmaker constructs a sexy and suspenseful thriller. It’s a film that should resonate with moviegoers, who may show up to check out an easy-on-the-eyes ensemble that includes Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Chris Pine. At the very least, it’s a film that will continue to generate plenty of chatter (there’s already a ton of pre-release headlines being made, some of them even about the movie itself). However, like most popcorn thrillers, the chances of the Academy checking the film off on their ballots is as farfetched as the movie’s attempt to make Harry Styles look unattractive in one critical scene. Nice try but I don’t buy it.