Hugh and Kate in Blue

Song Sung Blue, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, comes out on Christmas Day, hoping to hit the “feel-good movie” spot for those heading to the multiplex during the holidays. It’s also targeting the adult/boomer crowd who don’t give a sh-t about Avatar. Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme is also aiming for a similar audience plus the people who grew up on the internet and are obsessed with Timothée Chalamet. 

One of the conversations happening about Song Sung Blue, though, is whether or not it’s actually an award season contender. Right now, ostensibly, its best shot at a nomination is in the best actress category for Kate Hudson. And there’s a corner of the internet that’s been skeptical for weeks now about why we’re even talking about her. Because seemingly out of the blue, like just after Venice, Telluride, and TIFF, Kate’s showed up on a couple of Oscar prediction lists. I agree that it felt kinda sus but, at the same time, that’s the work of a good Oscar campaign strategist – to call in favours from the pundits and build momentum. A couple of weeks ago the Gothams announced that they’ve created a brand new award, the Musical Tribute honour, and the inaugural recipients will be Hugh and Kate. This, in part, is why the Oscar nerds on the message boards have been talking about Kate like she’s the industry plant of this award season.

Next week is American Thanksgiving. Right after the Thanksgiving slowdown, we get into an intense end-of-year push. Many if not most of the film critic associations and review boards will be announcing their film winners, which do factor into awards race. In addition to the Gothams, Critics Choice announces their nominations on December 5 and then it’s the Golden Globe nominations on December 8. At this point, given the speculation I just mentioned, if there’s one film that sets up, ahem, for a Globe nomination, it’s Song Sung Blue – and that’s definitely what the movie’s campaign strategy wants. Because then they can update the marketing to reflect the nomination in the promotions leading up to Christmas. But also, it turns something that might have been over-hyped, or even faux-hyped, into something true. Hollywood alchemy!

By the way, just to be clear, none of this is offensive to me because it’s pretty standard award season operating procedure. And so far whoever’s been running the Song Sung Blue and Kate Hudson campaign is doing what they’ve been hired to do. Will be interesting to see if they can take it all the way. 

Here are Hugh and Kate, in blue, at the premiere in Berlin.