I wasn’t even going to cover the 2024 Gotham Awards tonight as they aren’t any kind of Oscar precursor, but instead a nice little celebration of film. I wouldn’t take them too seriously. With that said, nobody, and I mean nobody, expected Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man” to win Best Feature, and know what? I’m all here for it.
Most predictions had this year’s voting committee, composed primarily of filmmakers, picking either “Anora” or “Nickel Boys” for the top prize. The fact that they instead opted for “A Different Man” is a rather stunning twist.
The ‘Different Man’ win was such a surprise that Schimberg didn’t even prepare an acceptance speech for the award. Regardless, it’s well deserved and I hope the film can now find some kind of audience on VOD as it mightily struggled to garner one in theaters, and that’s despite receiving strong reviews.
“A Different Man,” an underseen A24 gem, is this pitch-black dark comedy, inventively put together, pitting an aspiring actor (Sebastian Stan) who undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his facial deformities. Adam Pearson is his equal as the man who steals his thunder (and girlfriend).
As for some of the other awards given out at this evening’s Gothams ceremony. “Anora” was completely shut out. RaMell Ross took Best Director for “Nickel Boys.” One of the young stars of the film, Brandon Wilson, took Breakthrough Actor.
Some more good news for A24; Clarence Maclin won Supporting Performance for “Sing Sing.” His co-star, Colman Domingo, took Outstanding Lead Actor. The film itself, and both of these actors, will likely get nominated come Oscar time.
“His Three Daughters” won Original Screenplay. “All We Imagine Is Light” took the International Film prize. “No Other Land” took Documentary Film.