Paul Thomas Anderson's latest cinematic offering, the comedy thriller One Battle After Another, has swiftly positioned itself as a formidable frontrunner for the upcoming Academy Awards. The film's awards season momentum ignited this week with two significant victories, signalling its potential to dominate the race for Best Picture.
Dual Triumphs Kick Off Awards Campaign
The film's journey to Oscar contention began in earnest at Monday's Gotham Awards ceremony, where it was crowned Best Feature. Anderson, a filmmaker with eleven prior Oscar nominations but no wins, expressed genuine surprise at the accolade. "I didn't expect this, actually," he admitted on stage. "I started to think I didn't know what was going on."
This victory was swiftly followed by another major endorsement on Tuesday, when the New York Film Critics Circle also named One Battle After Another its Best Film of the year. The Critics Circle further honoured Benicio Del Toro, awarding him Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.
A High-Stakes Adaptation Makes Its Mark
Adapted from the work of renowned author Thomas Pynchon, the Warner Bros. production features Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary embroiled in a frantic search for his missing daughter. With an estimated budget of $130 million and a global box office haul of $202 million, the film represents a major studio investment that has paid off both commercially and critically.
The Gotham Awards, traditionally a bastion for independent cinema, recently abolished its $35 million budget cap. This rule change allowed big-budget studio films like One Battle After Another, Barbie, and Poor Things to compete, reflecting the evolving landscape of prestige filmmaking.
Other Notable Winners and a Director in Peril
The week's ceremonies celebrated a wide array of talent. At the Gothams, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù won Outstanding Lead Performance for My Father’s Shadow, while Wunmi Mosaku took Outstanding Supporting Performance for Sinners. Ryan Coogler's vampire epic is also tipped as a major Oscar contender.
Both organisations bestowed directing honours upon Jafar Panahi for his thriller It Was Just an Accident. This recognition arrives under a dark cloud, as Panahi was sentenced in absentia to one year in prison by Iranian authorities for "propaganda activities" in the same week. His film previously won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Accepting his award, Panahi dedicated it "to all film-makers who have been deprived of the right to see and to be seen, but continue to create and to exist."
The awards season calendar now moves swiftly forward. The Golden Globe nominations are announced next week, ahead of their ceremony on 11 January. All eyes will then turn to the announcement of the Oscar nominations on 22 January, where One Battle After Another is expected to feature prominently.
