"The Big Short" takes PGA
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 3:00PM Adam McKay's The Big Short got a big boost in the Oscar race last night by winning big at the PGA. This is an important win for the film considering that this Best Picture race is more slippery than we've seen in the past few years. You have to go back almost a decade to Little Miss Sunshine to find a PGA winner that didn't align with Oscar (though Oscar winner 12 Years a Slave shared a tie with Gravity).
This win also poses another setback for Spotlight, which is really going to need to win that SAG Ensemble prize this coming Saturday to stay in the game. The Revenant, while it may still be rocking the box office, also missed an opportunity here to claim its post as frontrunner after its hefty nomination tally and Globes success. Any chances Mad Maxy: Fury Road had are probably now cooked, but George Miller is still viable as a Best Director winner, especially if he takes the DGA prize.
Inside Out and Amy gained more distance from their respective competition. Both won PGA's Animated and Documentary prizes and are unlikely to be deafeated on Oscar night. The big television winners were Transparent, Game of Thrones, and Fargo.
Reader Comments (11)
Wow, I did not see that one coming! Of the top 3 (The Revenant, Spotlight and The Big Short) I probably ranked TBS the least likely to win in a preferential voting system. I imagined Spotlight would take it, as everybody's either favorite or second or third favorite, taking advantage from it's being so tight, quick-paced and not controversial or divisive).
I can't imagine Adam McKay winning DGA, so we might have a shockeroo there too. George Miller would be great fun! Maybe Iñarittú back to back?
I really do hope Spotlight grabs SAG Ensemble. We already have guaranteed a different choice for Supporting Actor and possibly one of the leading ladies will overtake Kate Winslet. If Saorsie Ronan pulls off an upset, it would send the acting races in a total scramble.
This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races in so many years, if the guilds keep splitting up their awards, Oscar night will be a nail biter!
Carmen: Honestly, I'm seeing people saying this makes The Big Short a front-runner, even though, of the seven times the PGA winner didn't win the Best Picture Oscar, 3 of those 7 (Apollo 13, Moulin Rouge! and The Aviator) were some form of wealth admiration. The Big Short, then, fits with the typical profile of a PGA split.
Carmen - In the possible Spotlight-SAG / Miller-DGA scenario, that means the guilds all pick differently with no overlap with the Globes.
However, it does seem a little unlikely given that we've never seen that kind of disparity to my recollection. If it does come to be, hold onto your boots everyone.
Volvagia, I've hearing the same about The Big Short having been officially crowned the front-runner, but we should consider that The Revenant had that mantle post 12 Oscar noms and GG sweep just last week. This race is the most volatile in forever.
Chris - I hear you, man! I am getting Bette Davis/Margo Channing vibes, one bumpy Oscar night!
I have a strong feeling that SAG is going with either The Big Short or Straight Outta Compton. (Then again, I'm probably voting for one of those two, and I rarely pick the winner.)
I just don't get all the love for The Big Short. The film is OK, but... Best Picture? If I were voting, these would be my choices:
1. The Revenant
2. Brooklyn
3. Spotlight
4. Mad Max.
Mad Max's chances are not cooked if it wins DGA since that guild is a better harbinger of Best Picture than even Best Director at the Oscars.
I hope George Miller wins the DGA
Hoping Spotlight takes SAG and Miller DGA. Then it would certainly be up in the air for Best Picture. If The Big Short starts sweeping the season, well, it would be the worst Best Picture winner since Crash. (Speaking of which--the post-Crash Best Picture winners are actually all really good. I think we're on quite a run of quality movies, give or take Slumdog Millionaire which some people really hate.)
I was absolutely delighted with "The Big Short" winning the PGA, it's been my favourite for a month to win BP at the Oscars. Kudos to Sacha Stone at Awards Daily for being the only blogger to call TBS for Oscar BP and PGA win.
It's a great film on fraud in American life.
I was so relieved yet another film on the importance of vengeance "The Revenant" did not win.
This years Oscar race is wide open - except for Best Actor.
I prefer it like this - unlike last year where Patricia Arquette and JK Simmons were winning every precursor award and Best Picture was between Birdman and Boyhood.
I'm definitely looking forward to the telecast this year.