Who would win ‘Best Casting’ at the 2024 Oscars?
Movies are made by a cauldron of different swirling talents, from the screenwriters who initially pen the story to the actors who eventually bring it to life on stage. Yet, time and time again, the talented technical staff behind the scenes of a major production are ignored by Hollywood, with everyone from lighting riggers to graphic designers to casting agents being sidelined for the allure of the headline talent.
But, the Academy Awards are working to give more credit to such individuals, recently announcing an award for ‘Best Casting’ that will be introduced in 2026 for the 98th iteration of the annual awards ceremony. It’s a long time coming, too, with critics having been calling on the Academy to introduce such a category for decades, with only a small selection of actors being recognised for their extraordinary contributions to cinema.
But why wait? Let’s explore who would win the Academy Award for ‘Best Casting’ if the category was introduced this year. Limited not to the popular array of films that can already boast Oscar nominations, this rundown will include movies of different shapes and sizes, celebrating indie movies that found an undiscovered acting gem, as well as arthouse flicks that perfectly cast a household name.
Take a look at the list below, which includes films from the likes of Martin Scorsese and Alexander Payne.
Oscars 2024: ‘Best Casting’ contenders:
All of Us Strangers (Andrew Haigh) – Casting by Kathleen Crawford
Sadly, Andrew Haigh’s fantastic fantasy drama All of Us Strangers couldn’t get a look in at the Oscars despite receiving six nominations at the Baftas. A heart-wrenching love story that tells the story of a screenwriter who revisits his old family home for inspiration but who instead finds spectres of his long-deceased parents. At the same time, he sparks a relationship with the only other man in his desolate London apartment block.
Aside from the gorgeous screenplay, one of the film’s strongest aspects was its casting, with Andrew Scott thriving in the lead role alongside Paul Mescal, who plays his lover, and Claire Foy and Jamie Bell, who appear as the ghosts of his parents.
Earth Mama (Savanah Leaf) – Casting by Geraldine Barón, Abby Harri and Salome Oggenfuss
Overlooked in almost every space of film criticism, Savanah Leaf’s remarkable debut, Earth Mama is a masterpiece of modern indie filmmaking from A24. A coming-of-age tale that follows a pregnant mother who uses her tight-knit community to help raise her family, Earth Mama is triumphant thanks to its proficient screenplay and excellent casting of newcomer Tia Nomore in the lead role.
In supporting roles, Erika Alexander and debutant Keta Price also impress, but it is the spellbinding confidence of Nomore that the film truly reaches impressive heights. For finding Nomore alone, the trio of casting professionals deserve plaudits.
The Holdovers (Alexander Payne) – Casting by Susan Shopmaker
Alexander Payne’s terrific ‘Best Picture’ nominee The Holdovers is ultimately a film about human connection and how the troubles of our past can catch up to us in the present. As a result, the trio of protagonists become the hinge on which the entire film leans, with Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph crafting some of the year’s finest on-screen chemistry.
Giamatti is as incredible as ever and would be massively deserving of taking home his ‘Best Actor’ Oscar, and the same goes for Randolph, but finding Sessa in the giant pool of unproven acting debutants is the casting team’s greatest triumph.
Killers of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorsese) – Casting by Ellen Lewis
An epic that reminds audiences of Martin Scorsese’s 20th-century greatness, Killers of the Flower Moon tells the horrific true story of the murders of the Osage tribe in 1920s Oklahoma. Beautifully adapted from David Grann’s book, which sets its focus more on the FBI investigation, Killers of the Flower Moon shines thanks to the majesty of its script and the poise of the performers who pull it off.
It doesn’t take much for an actor to be attracted to a Scorsese project, but from the top to the bottom, Killers of the Flower Moon is stuffed full of acting talent, including Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons and Cara Jade-Myers, making for a gorgeous ensemble.
May December (Todd Haynes) – Casting by Laura Rosenthal
Todd Haynes’ masterpiece May December is the biggest victim of the 96th Academy Awards, being better than the majority of the films in the ‘Best Picture’ category. A curious film that bubbles with intensity, Haynes’ story follows an actor who visits a married couple whose past was marred by public controversy, only for her arrival to bring much of the emotional torment back to the surface.
Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore rightfully got the majority of the plaudits upon the film’s release, but Laura Rosenthal, who handled the casting, should get a standing ovation for her brainwave to bring the captivating Charles Melton onboard.
