The Oscars are sure to be knocking on Pedro Almodóvar's door this awards season.
Pedro Almodóvar’s wide-ranging filmography has shaped world cinema for more than four decades. With his first English-language film, The Room Next Door, just winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the Spanish director and distributor Sony Pictures Classics has his sights set on Almodóvar’s first Best Picture nomination.
Adapted from Sigrid Nunez's novel What's Going On, the film follows two women – war correspondent Martha (Tilda Swinton) and author Ingrid (Julianne Moore) – who meet after years of separation under difficult circumstances.
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Almodóvar's work has received widespread acclaim within the Academy. All About My Mother (1999) won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, while Talk to Her (2002) received nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, winning the latter. Additionally, his black comedy Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) earned Spain a nomination in the International Feature Film category.
It would be a gross oversight on the part of critics to dismiss the global legend as a strong contender for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. Produced by Esther García and Agustín Almodóvar, the film has a strong chance of being nominated for Best Picture. However, longtime Almodóvar fans may react to the film’s melodramatic rhythms and distinctive style, which may seem unfamiliar to new viewers. Still, there’s plenty for everyone to digest.
What you can always expect from an Almodóvar film is the strength of its cast. Tilda Swinton, who won an Oscar for her role in Michael Clayton (2007), gave what may be her best performance since Orlando (1992) and We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011). Swinton is likely to be in contention for Best Supporting Actress, and it’s hard to imagine a shortlist that doesn’t include her. She has a real shot at a second Oscar, especially with “The Surprise” really elevating her craft.
Julianne Moore, who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Sony Pictures Classics’ “Still Alice” (2015), may be looking to make a comeback after being snubbed last year for her role in “May December.” With Swinton’s strong performance, the film could benefit from the cast’s choice of both stars in the voting. Moore, however, will face stiff competition in the Best Actress race, with Angelina Jolie (“Maria”) on the horizon and her chances very slim.
Veteran actor John Turturro, who was snubbed for an Oscar nomination despite his stellar performances in films like “Quiz Show” (1994), may finally find himself in contention for best supporting actor. Turturro plays Damien, a climate change advocate and ex-lover of both women, and delivers a climactic scene near the end that could secure his place in the conversation.
Almodóvar remains a beloved figure in the film community, with potential support from several branches of the Academy. His signature bold colors are on full display in “The Room Next Door,” which puts cinematography director Edward Grau on a long-overdue list of recognition after he failed to score nominations for “A Single Man” (2009) and “Passerby” (2022). It’s almost criminal that an Almodóvar film has never received a cinematography nod. That changes this year.
Composer Alberto Iglesias, Almodóvar's longtime collaborator and four-time Oscar nominee (“The Constant Gardener,” “The Kite Runner,” “The Tailor Soldier Spy,” “Parallel Mothers”), has delivered some of his best musical work ever. This could be the year Iglesias wins the Golden Globe.
SPC has a lot to play for this season, with Saoirse Ronan's “The Outrun” and Walter Salles' beautiful and skillful “I'm Still Here,” likely to represent Brazil in the International Film Award.
With “The Room Next Door,” Almodóvar breaks the language barrier but may also break his own Oscar ceiling. The film is expected to be a major player this awards season.
