The Force ofStar Warsis so strong that awards groups are bending toitswill, not the other way around. While most year-end films jockey for the release date/premiere date/film festival date that best positions it for awards consideration, Disney has optednotto screenStar Wars: The Force Awakensearly for critics groupsin favor of keeping its secrets all under wraps. That means it will not make the cut for consideration for the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, or the Screen Actors Guild, and it wassupposedto miss out on the AFI Awards. However, in a funny turn of events, the American Film Institute has pushed its awards announcement over a week, from December 7th to December 16th, so that its voters can seeStar Warsbefore turning in their year-end lists.
PerTHR, the change was made “to ensure the jury has the opportunity to screen the unusual amount of late releases this year.” Indeed, films likeThe RevenantandJoyare coming down to the wire, but are expected to be completed in time for consideration for the major critics groups at the beginning of December.Star Wars, however, won’t screen openly until its Los Angeles premiere on December 14th, meaning the new AFI Awards date gets voters in just under the wire.
What’s funny here is that we don’t even know ifStar Wars: The Force Awakenswill be award-worthy.J.J. Abramshas never been in the race before, and even ifThe Force Awakensis good, awards groups have a bit of a prejudice about overly sci-fi films or giant blockbusters—of whichStar Warsis unabashedly both.
However, AFI has a predilection for choosing an eclectic group of films in its year-end Top 10.The Dark Knight Rises,Bridesmaids, andCoralineall made some of its recent Top 10 lists, so aStar Warsmention isn’t entirely out of the question.
One groupThe Force Awakenswill absolutely be ready for, however, is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Will it follow in the footsteps ofGeorge Lucas’ 1977 original and land a Best Picture nomination? Well we’ll just have to see if it’s good or not first.
For more on the awards race as a whole, catch up onmy Oscar Beat columns here, and for more onStar Wars: The Force Awakens, peruse the links below:
