Ridley Scott, the renowned director, faced a setback on Thursday as his "Gladiator II" was overlooked by the American Film Institute. This significant omission from the top 10 films of 2024 list, an early indicator of Oscar prospects, came as a shock. The film, starring Paul Mescal, had shown promise but was left out. One day prior, there was a glimmer of hope when it sneaked onto the National Board of Review's year-end roster, yet it seems that won't translate into a Best Picture nomination.

Oscars and the Future of "Gladiator II"

It's clear that the Oscars aren't likely to nominate "Gladiator II" when compared to other highly regarded films like "Dune: Part Two." At 87 years old, Ridley Scott's chances of securing a Best Director slot are also slim. Since 2010, only one director of a non-nominated film has received a nod, and that was Bennett Miller of "Foxcatcher." The best hopes for "Gladiator II" now lie in potential Supporting Actor mentions for Denzel Washington and some technical awards.Many other films also saw their hopes dashed by the AFI. Titles such as "Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown," "Conclave," "Dune: Part Two," "Emilia Pérez," "Nickel Boys," "A Real Pain," "Sing Sing," and "Wicked" were recognized instead. It's expected that the Academy Awards will follow a similar lineup.The acclaimed body-horror film "The Substance," starring Demi Moore, also faced disappointment. Despite its release in September, it was nowhere to be seen on the awards lists. Demi Moore, however, remains active, having recently indulged in spicy chicken wings on "Hot Ones." Her chances for a Best Actress nod are still alive.Neither of Luca Guadagnino's films, "Challengers" with Zendaya or "Queer" with Daniel Craig, were called out by the AFI. "Challengers" got no mention from the National Board of Review either. Additionally, films like "Babygirl" starring Nicole Kidman, Clint Eastwood's "Juror #2," and "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" were honored by the National Board of Review but not by the AFI. It's hard to envision any of these making it to the Best Picture category.This has been a bizarre and unpredictable year in the awards scene. A musical featuring a talking goat and a makeover song is currently among the Oscar front-runners. Perhaps Monday's Golden Globes nomination announcement will bring some surprises and shake things up further.