Awards Season 2024 Recap, Vol. 3

Russian mobsters, vampires, sexual power struggles, and more

Volume Three of our Awards Season Recap features reviews of Anora, Nosferatu, Babygirl, and The Coffee Table. Be sure to check out Volume One and Volume Two.

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Anora

Notable Honors: Golden Globe Awards, National Board of Review
Rating: R
Where to Watch: Theaters/Rent

My Reaction: In this subversive, modern-day fairy tale, we follow Anora, an exotic dancer (played by a convincing yet overhyped Mikey Madison), whose life takes an unexpected turn when she marries the bratty son of Russian oligarchs.

For a film that aims for hyperrealism, the entire affair feels superficial, if not entirely implausible. We know so little about Anora that it’s difficult to believe, let alone empathize with, her Kafkaesque ordeal. She regularly interacts with clients at the club and loves to party, but her personality remains a cipher.

She never comes across as naive or even desperate, so her yearning for love and commitment from her spoiled, juvenile shotgun husband rings hollow. The pacing also stalls at times—long, mildly humorous sequences with clumsy Russian henchmen add little depth.

I sensed what talented director Sean Baker wanted to accomplish, but too much of his characters' journeys felt unearned for me to care. Color me unimpressed.

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Nosferatu

Notable Honors: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror Films
Rating: R
Where to Watch: Theaters

My Reaction: This remake of the groundbreaking 1922 unauthorized cinematic adaptation of Dracula has all the ingredients to succeed: gorgeous cinematography, a talented cast, impressive visual and makeup effects, and gothic ambiance to spare.

The problem is that it has little reason to exist. The story of Dracula has been told (and parodied) to death (no pun intended). For this version to feel fresh and new, it needed to tackle one of the book’s less-trodden themes. There are some echoes of the conflict between superstition and science, but it all takes a backseat to the atmosphere.

There’s nothing wrong with Nosferatu in terms of form or structure—in fact, I was entertained the entire time—but even if it doesn’t realize it, it lives in the long shadow of Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)—a superior film that not only treads new ground but also pays visual tribute to the 1922 version, blending new and traditional filmmaking techniques.

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Babygirl

Notable Honors: Golden Globe Awards, National Board of Review
Rating: R
Where to Watch: Theaters

My Reaction: Nicole Kidman’s performance as Romy, a sexually frustrated CEO, may be the only reason to watch Babygirl, the arthouse, post-modern cousin of Fifty Shades of Grey (2015). She finds a willing partner in Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a young intern at her company, and their chemistry is undeniably charged.

As I watched Babygirl, I couldn’t help but wonder why it wasn’t connecting with me the way similar films like Secretary (2002), Notes on a Scandal (2006), or Gone Girl (2014) did. The answer became clear: the stakes simply weren’t there. The power dynamic between Romy and Samuel never felt exciting, dangerous, or even erotic.

Then there’s Esme (Sophie Wilde, who does wonders with her paper-thin role), Romy’s assistant. Her character, while potentially more interesting than Romy’s, is ultimately reduced to a mere prop. On a positive note, the film’s soundtrack and cinematography stand out.

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The Coffee Table (La Mesita del Comedor)

Notable Honors: Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
Rating: R
Where to Watch: Tubi/Rent

My Reaction: What a cynical, devastating, and claustrophobic journey into the depths of parenthood hell! First-time parents Jesús and María purchase a coffee table that will change their lives forever.

I won’t spoil much about this Spanish export, which premiered in 2023 but only received a wide release in the United States this year. While it may lack the polish of a big-budget Hollywood production and the ending feels a bit clunky, it more than makes up for it with originality and razor-sharp dark humor.

This is a ballsy film—there’s no other way to put it. It defies horror genre conventions and delivers an experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Note to Hollywood: Do not remake this one.

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