Netflix has already established themselves a major power in the original filmmaking department. They've been the home for films from directors like Bong Joon-ho, Adam Wingard, Cary Fukunaga, and Joe Swanberg, and they're only going to expand from here. But 2017 represents an important year for Netflix when it comes to the Oscar race, something that has eluded the content distributor and streaming giant in years past. They tried to get Beasts of No Nation into the race back in 2015, but despite that film's effective narrative and visual splendor, the war drama ended up being unjustly snubbed across the board. Many awards voters still have a negative view of the company, as the debate still rages on as to whether or not Netflix is hurting the film industry. This year, the studio will have two chances to get some statues- Angelina Jolie's First They Killed My Father and Dee Rees' Mudbound. The former debuted to surprising raves at the Telluride Film Festival, while the latter was a Sundance sensation, sparking a bidding war that eventually led to Netflix purchasing the film. Critical notices were strong coming out of the fest, and this film is probably the studio's best shot at Oscars yet. Earlier today, Netflix released the first trailer for the film- check it out!
Mudbound has been an enigma to me since its Sundance premiere. My excitement for the film has been somewhat muted, as the early buzz seemed rather divisive and I couldn't get a real grasp on what it was actually about. Now that a trailer has come along, I'm definitely more intrigued. This is a good, rock solid teaser for the film, which looks like a rich, evocative piece of filmmaking. Jason Mitchell is good in just about anything, and while he's inconsistent, Garrett Hedlund excels in this kind of role. Dee Rees is a director I'm unfamiliar with, but it appears that she has crafted a kind of haunting, intense story, one that we haven't necessarily seen in the modern era. The PTSD drama through the lens of the burgeoning Civil Rights movement is a fascinating proposition, and I can't wait to see more. As for Mudbound's Oscar chances, it's certainly limited by its platform. While I've been willing to praise Netflix for their devotion to original projects from daring voices, there's no question that the studio has yet to find a way to make their movies have the same pop culture impact as their television shows. I have no doubt that they'll mount an impressive campaign, but I think its chances really depend on the strength on the rest of films in the race.
Mudbound will debut on Netflix on November 17.
Mudbound has been an enigma to me since its Sundance premiere. My excitement for the film has been somewhat muted, as the early buzz seemed rather divisive and I couldn't get a real grasp on what it was actually about. Now that a trailer has come along, I'm definitely more intrigued. This is a good, rock solid teaser for the film, which looks like a rich, evocative piece of filmmaking. Jason Mitchell is good in just about anything, and while he's inconsistent, Garrett Hedlund excels in this kind of role. Dee Rees is a director I'm unfamiliar with, but it appears that she has crafted a kind of haunting, intense story, one that we haven't necessarily seen in the modern era. The PTSD drama through the lens of the burgeoning Civil Rights movement is a fascinating proposition, and I can't wait to see more. As for Mudbound's Oscar chances, it's certainly limited by its platform. While I've been willing to praise Netflix for their devotion to original projects from daring voices, there's no question that the studio has yet to find a way to make their movies have the same pop culture impact as their television shows. I have no doubt that they'll mount an impressive campaign, but I think its chances really depend on the strength on the rest of films in the race.
Mudbound will debut on Netflix on November 17.
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