Signaling possible weakness for David Fincher’s “Mank,” Oscar newbie Amanda Seyfried did not land a SAG spot for her role as Marion Davies opposite Charles Dance as partner William Randolph Hearst in David Fincher’s “Mank” (Netflix), but she could win here. Long overdue Glenn Close (eight nominations) could finally score as Mawmaw, an Appalachian living in Ohio in Ron Howard’s controversial “Hillbilly Elegy.” Close will vie against past rival, Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”) as a daughter tangling with octogenarian Anthony Hopkins in Sundance drama “The Father” (Sony Pictures Classics), who landed Globes, Critics Choice, and SAG nominations.
Also in the running is the critics’ fave and CCA winner, Bulgarian discovery Maria Bakalova of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” for among other things, landing a hotel room interview with Rudy Giuliani under the guise of a 15-year-old journalist. Not only the movie’s hilarity but its dead-serious political aims will give it some weight with voters. Bakalova also scored Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nods. She’s up against mighty Korean star Youn Yuh-jung, who broke out at Sundance in surging SAG-Ensemble-nominated family farm drama “Minari” (A24), landing CCA and Indie Spirit nods, and winning the SAG and BAFTA awards, which gives her a big boost heading into Oscar voting (April 15-20). This could be the one win for popular Best Picture contender “Minari,” with six nominations. Potential Oscar contenders are listed in the order of their likelihood to win. Frontrunner: Youn Yuh-jung (“Minari”) Contenders: Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”) Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) Olivia Colman (“The Father”) Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
