Gothams Generate Oscars Momentum for Adam Sandler, Michelle Williams and Gina Prince-Bythewood

It’s easy to write off the Gotham Awards as an early bird ceremony that is decided by a jury of five industry people. It’s too small, too niche, too idiosyncratic to signal much of anything, right? Well, yes and no. Like any awards show, the Gothams are an opportunity for the performers and filmmakers who are gaming out a seemingly endless awards season to have a splashy opening.

To that end, the campaigns of many of the tribute awards recipients – actors Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”) and Adam Sandler (“Hustle”), and director Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) — all got high-profile boosts. Each artist used their moment on stage to share important parts of their talent and personal stories with the audience of industry heavyweights. They were alternately hilarious and reflective, passionate and self-deprecating. Gripping stories spun by master storytellers.

Williams talked about her journey from teen soap opera actress to indie movie queen while offering a heartfelt speech to her “Dawson’s Creek” co-star Mary Beth Peil, who played her grandmother on the classic teen drama. Plus, her career tribute, showing key moments from such past triumphs as “Manchester by the Sea” and “Blue Valentine” served as an important reminder. This woman is overdue for an Oscar.

Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King,” has been one of the few awards season movies to also resonate at the box office. Introduced by Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win the Oscar for directing for “The Hurt Locker” (2009), she also received a career highlight reel that included moments from her most exuberant features like “Love and Basketball” (2000) and “Beyond the Lights” (2014). It was a powerful reminder, as if one is needed, that she’s one of the best in the game. Her moving speech that had the 53-year-old veteran filmmaker talking about finding her birth mother, was an emotional highpoint. Add the star power of Viola Davis, and the fact that no Black woman has been nominated for best director, you could have a winning formula for success.

Sandler brought down the house when accepting his honor from directing duo Josh and Benny Safdie. We’ve been here before with Sandler when he delivers a performance that garners critical acclaim such as “Punch Drunk Love” (2002) and “Uncut Gems” (2019), but voters have opted for other choices.

Netflix is giving their all to Sandler’s campaign, reminding industry professionals of their respect for a guy who everybody, it seems loves. It’s all amplifying a simple yet 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’re getting invited to the Oscars. About time in many respects.

See the latest film predictions, in all 23 categories in one place on Variety’s Oscars Collective.

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