'Green Book' is now a front-runner to win Best Picture at the Oscars this year.
That's not a hot-take, and that's not a dig against 'A Star Is Born'. It's a statement of fact. Why?
'Green Book' won the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Picture at last night's Producers Guild Awards, defeating 'A Star Is Born', 'The Favourite' and 'A Quiet Place' in the process.
Out of the past 29 winners of the Producers Guild Award, 21 have gone on to win Best Picture at their respective Oscars. Why is that? Well, for one thing, most of the people who vote at the Producers Guild Award also vote at the Oscars. Not only that, the mere fact that they won could change people's minds about their vote.
'Green Book' has been at the centre of a number of controversies since its awards campaign begun. For one, the family of Don Shirley - played by Mahershala Ali in the movie - have said that the movie is utterly fictitious, and that Shirley and his driver, Tony 'Lip' Vallelonga, were never friends. Viggo Mortensen, who played the driver, also came under fire for using a racial epithet during a Q&A session promoting the movie.
Granted, the context of using it was pointing out how awful it was, but still - it didn't help matters. Throw in the fact as well that Tony 'Lip' Vallelonga's son, Nick Vallelonga, was / is an ardent Trump supporter and you can just feel the controversy brewing if 'Green Book' picks up at this year's Oscars.
'Green Book' arrives in Irish cinemas on January 30th. Here's the full list of winners from last night's Producers Guild Awards.
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Picture
'Green Book'
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama
'The Americans'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures
'Won’t You Be My Neighbor?'
The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy
'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television
'RuPaul’s Drag Race'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures
'Fahrenheit 451'
The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television:
'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story'
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television
'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'
The Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program
'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee'
The Award for Outstanding Sports Program
'Being Serena'
The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program
'Sesame Street'