Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” landed 10 Oscar nominations each and “A Star Is Born” received eight nominations, as did “Vice.”
I predicted all 8 Best Picture nominees yesterday on Facebook, so kudos to me for that. I don’t see the fate given to “First Man” today as any kind of snub, I knew it wouldn’t connect with the voting body. Ditto “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
Will Christian Bale actually win Best Actor for “Vice”? Rami Malek still has a shot for “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I’m predicting he’ll squeeze into the winner’s seat, but most pundits are predicting Bale, whose Cheney was absolutely mesmerizing.
“Black Panther” became the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture — congrats to Marvel, this should be enough of a reward for them, nothing more nothing less. A symbolic nomination that will likely shatter industry conventions and bring in more inclusivity to the game. After all, after making close to $1.3 Billion worldwide, ‘Panther’ is now a legitimate Oscar nominee.
Snub: Bradley Cooper in Best Director
Cooper’s snub in the Best Director category needs to start us off. Coming off the fall festival circuit, Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” was destined to take the Best Picture prize, but today’s news that Cooper has not been nominated flattens the film’s shot at glory. Cooper’s been Affleck-ed, but then again, Affleck’s movie that year, “Argo,” won the best picture prize. I just don’t think ‘Star’ can do that.
Snub: Peter Farrelly in Best Director
Speaking of the Best Director category, Peter Farrelly almost certainly lost a nod due to the smear campaign which alleged that he, jokingly, flashed Cameron Diaz back in 1997. His “Green Book” is the still the frontrunner to win, but goddammit if its chances have now been slightly lowered because of the Farrelly snub.
Surprise: Pawel Pawlikowski in Best Director
A positive from these two snubs is that far more deserving filmmakers got nominated in their place: “Cold War” maestro Pawel Pawlikowski and Yorgios Lanthimos for “The Favourite.”
Snub: Ethan Hawke in Actor Category
The Academy clearly didn’t take a liking for Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed.” Its lead actor Ethan Hawke, despite winning practically every critics award, was snubbed in the Best Actor category.Surprise: Willem Dafoe – Actor In A Leading Role
Then again, Willem Dafoe getting a nomination for his searing portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in “Eternity’s Gate” is fabulous! One of the great actors of the last 30 years compensated with the fourth Oscar nomination of his career.
Surprise: Marina De Tavira – Actress In A Supporting Role:
A total shock is Roma‘s Marina de Tavira landing a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Well-deserved.
Snub: “First Man” snubbed in Best Original Score
I will eventually be giving Damien Chazelle’s “First Man” another shot, I think it deserves it since I loved Chazelle’s previous films, but Justin Hurwitz not being nominated for Best Score, the movie’s highlight as far as I’m concerned, is an abomination.Snub: Won’t You Be My Neighbor” in Best Documentary
No Best Doc nom for “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”? A massive shock since the film has grossed $22 million, making it one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time. My personal pick for best doc of the year, Tim Wardle’s “Three Identical Strangers” was also snubbed.
Surprise: “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” in Documentary Category
Taking ‘Neighbor’ and ‘Strangers’ spots were surprise nominees “Of Fathers and Sons,” from Talal Derki and Director RaMell Ross’ “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
Snub: Emily Blunt and Timothee Chalamet
No noms for Emily Blunt rumored to be nominated for “Mary Poppins Returns” and “A Quiet Place” or Beautiful Boy‘s Timothee Chalamet.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.