Surprising Triumph of 'A Different Man' at the Gotham Awards

NEW YORK | In a shocking turn of events, the dark comedy film "A Different Man," which explores themes of doppelgängers, deformity, and the nature of authenticity in acting, won the award for best feature film at the 34th Gotham Awards on Monday night. This award ceremony marks one of the first major events in Hollywood's awards season.

The Gotham Awards can often present unexpected results due to their unique voting process, which employs small juries made up of industry insiders to select nominees and winners. As the cast of "A Different Man," featuring actors like Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson, took to the stage, the film's writer-director, Aaron Schimberg, appeared visibly astonished.

“I don’t think I’m the only person in this room who’s totally stunned,” Schimberg remarked. “Considering the other nominees, I thought it would be hubris to prepare a speech.”

This year’s Gotham Awards was a star-studded affair, with celebrities such as Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Angelina Jolie in attendance. Many had anticipated that Sean Baker’s film "Anora," a comedy centered on a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, would take home the top prize. "Anora" was a leading nominee, having already received acclaim as a Cannes Palme d’Or winner and an expected candidate at the Oscars; however, it left the evening without any awards.

Instead, the spotlight shone on "A Different Man," an A24 release featuring Stan as a man with facial deformities that he overcomes, only to be overshadowed by Pearson's character, who lives with neurofibromatosis, a condition characterized by benign skin tumors on the face.

While the Gothams do not always predict the Oscar winners, many recent victors, including last year’s winner "Past Lives" and previous champions such as "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Nomadland," have achieved best picture nominations at the Academy Awards, with some taking home Oscars.

It remains to be seen whether the films recognized at this year's ceremony, including "Sing Sing" and "Nickel Boys," will gain momentum as additional awards season events unfold. The Gotham Awards are largely seen as a precursor to the upcoming series of award shows, held in a formal setting at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan.

Although this year’s Oscars may be influenced by the political climate and the recent election of President-elect Donald Trump, there were no direct mentions of him during the ceremony. Instead, several winners subtly acknowledged the changing political landscape. Colman Domingo, who won best lead performance, expressed the importance of continuing impactful work in this time of uncertainty: “Let’s keep doing the work that really matters and makes a difference. That can be the light in the darkness.”

Domingo was recognized for his role in "Sing Sing," an independent drama based on a real-life prison program that utilizes theater to support incarcerated individuals. Clarence Maclin, a former inmate starring in the film, took home the award for best supporting performance, a recognition given to ten nominees rather than the typical five due to the Gotham Awards' gender-neutral categories.

“If someone was going to tell me ten years ago, I was going to be here, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Maclin stated.

Among the winners, "Sing Sing" was celebrated as the emotional highlight of the evening. The film's cast also received a tribute award. Sean Dino Johnson, a founding member of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, delivered one of the night's most moving speeches, praising the transformative impact of art: “Standing here tonight, we are proof that movies like ‘Sing Sing’ don’t just entertain; they change lives.”

RaMell Ross's "Nickel Boys," a poignant adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel, won two significant awards: best director for Ross and breakthrough performer for Brandon Wilson. The film presents the story of two Black teenagers enduring harsh treatment at a reform school during the Jim Crow era, filmed from the perspectives of its central characters.

The Gotham Awards also provide a platform for nominees to enhance their visibility leading into the awards season through impactful speeches. This year’s honorees included stars like Zendaya, Angelina Jolie, and Timothée Chalamet, who received tribute awards for their respective performances. While accepting her award, Jolie emphasized the necessity of art education in schools, stating, “It’s so important that art be taught in our schools, and so concerning that it is being reduced.”

Zendaya, while receiving her award for "Challengers," took a moment to express gratitude toward her mother, who was in attendance: “Shout out mom.” Chalamet, on the other hand, shared his experience of transforming into Bob Dylan for the upcoming film "A Complete Unknown," describing it as an incredible learning opportunity.

The best documentary award was given to "No Other Land," created by a collaborative effort of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, documenting the Israeli occupation of a Palestinian village over years. Although highly acclaimed, the film currently lacks an American distributor. The award for best international film was awarded to Payal Kapadia’s "All We Imagine as Light," which explores the lives of three women in contemporary Mumbai.

Vera Drew won the breakthrough director award for her film "The People’s Joker," a parody that addresses themes of gender identity. In her acceptance speech, Drew humorously thanked Warner Bros. for not pursuing legal action against her and acknowledged Nicole Kidman, crediting the film "Batman Forever" as a pivotal moment in her realization of her transgender identity.

film, awards, surprise, comedy