Experts slugfest: ‘The Piano Lesson,’ Danielle Deadwyler, and the Best Supporting Actress contenders

Is “The Piano Lesson” being underestimated? Will “Juror #2’s” last-second Oscar campaign go anywhere? Gold Derby editors and experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng are here to discuss the latest August Wilson adaptation and more.

“The Piano Lesson,” the third film adaptation of a Wilson play produced by Denzel Washington, opens in limited release this weekend before hitting Netflix on Nov. 22. The first two, “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” are Oscar-winning films that received four and five nominations, respectively. At the moment, “The Piano Lesson,” directed by Washington’s son Malcolm Washington and starring his other son John David Washington, is only predicted to nab one, for Danielle Deadwyler in Best Supporting Actress. It has decent reviews and will have the visibility of Netflix. In a year when it’s a struggle to predict the lower half of the Best Picture lineup, does “The Piano Lesson” have a path in? But if Deadwyler is its best and only shot, could she miss again as a potential lone nominee?

SEE Experts slugfest: Gotham Awards nominations reactions, ‘A Real Pain,’ and ‘Juror #2’

Meanwhile, bullying works? After releasing “Juror #2” in fewer than 50 theaters, Warner Bros. has launched an awards campaign for the Clint Eastwood legal thriller, which has garnered good reviews and word-of-mouth. But will it amount to anything or is it literally too little too late?

Elsewhere, we discuss the fifth spot in the Best Actor race and more.

Email your questions to slugfests@goldderby.com.

Timestamps:
Intro and “Juror #2’s” FYC campaign (0:00)
“The Piano Lesson” (18:25)
Danielle Deadwyler (30:32)
SAG Awards prediction changes (51:00)
“Here” tears (55:00)