It’s easy to think of the Gotham Awards as an early bird ceremony decided by a jury of five industry players. It’s too small and niche to report anything, isn’t it? Well, yes and no. Like any awards show, the Gothams are an opportunity for artists and filmmakers playing out a seemingly endless awards season to curry favor with Oscar voters.
To that end, the campaigns of several of the Gothams’ tribute award winners – Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”), Adam Sandler (“Hustle”) and director Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) – have all were raised. the profile increases. Each artist used their moment on stage to share important parts of their talent and personal stories with an audience of industry heavyweights. They were by turns hilarious and thoughtful, passionate and self-deprecating, delivering gripping stories told by master storytellers.
Williams opened up about her journey from teenage soap opera actress to indie queen while offering a heartfelt shoutout to her ‘Dawson’s Creek’ co-star Mary Beth Peil, who played her grandmother in the classic teen drama . Plus, his career tribute, showing key moments from past triumphs like “Manchester by the Sea” and “Blue Valentine,” served as an important reminder that this actor is overdue for an Oscar.
Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” was one of the few films of awards season to also resonate at the box office. Hosted by Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win the Directing Oscar for ‘The Hurt Locker’ (2009), Prince-Bythewood also received a career highlights reel that included moments from her most exuberant like “Love and Basketball” (2000) and “Beyond the Lights” (2014). It was a powerful reminder, as if one were needed, that she is one of the best in the game. The veteran filmmaker then delivered a moving speech in which she talked about finding her birth mother, which was a very emotional moment. Add in the star power of Viola Davis and the fact that no black women were nominated for Best Director, and you might have a winning formula for success.
Sandler brought down the house by accepting his honor to lead the duo Josh and Benny Safdie. We’ve been here before with Sandler when he delivered such critically acclaimed performances as “Punch Drunk Love” (2002) and “Uncut Gems” (2019), with voters ultimately opting for other picks. But Netflix is giving it all for Sandler’s campaign, reminding industry professionals of their respect for a guy everyone seems to like. All of this amplifies a simple but effective message: it’s time to nominate Sandler.
All three artists left me convinced that if they keep doing what they did at the Gothams, they’ll be Oscar invitees — and it was about time.
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