One thing the BAFTA nominations proved to us this morning is that absolutely nobody is safe this Oscar season. What an astounding bunch of snubs, surprises and revelations.
These are my takeaways:
Kristen Stewart (Spencer) was again absent from the Best Actress category. After the SAG snub, being ignored by BAFTA as well now means K-Stew is destined to not even get nominated. Just a few months ago, she was the frontrunner to win. In fact, “Spencer” received n0 nominations, anywhere.
No Chastain, Colman, Kidman, or Stewart in the Lead Actress category. Does that mean Gaga is the frontrunner? Alana Haim getting nominated has definitely boosted her Oscar stock. Again, these are a crazy batch of nominations and in this very unusual year anything can happen. Colman making SAG but not BAFTA?
Leonardo DiCaprio (Don’t Look Up) gets into the Lead Actor category. Uh-oh. Now you’re getting a bunch of pundits saying he might nab an Oscar nomination. It definitely feels like a possibility now. But who gets out? My money is on Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos).
“West Side Story” flopped, ignored in the Film, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography and Editing categories. What’s next for Spielberg’s film? We’re not entirely sure, but not sending virtual screeners to voting bodies may have endangered its Oscar chances.
“Licorice Pizza” stunned everyone. The Brits love Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie. It garnered Best Film, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay noms.
Both “Passing” actresses got nominated in their respective categories, Ruth Negga in Supporting Actress and Tess Thompson in Lead Actress.
After a SAG snub, King Richard’s Aunjanue Ellis is back in the race. In fact, it looks now as though it truly is Benedict Cumberbatch vs Will Smith in the Best Actor race.
The Denis Villeneuve snub in the Director category might spell doom for “Dune,” but I wouldn’t focus too much on it as the Brits decides to honor Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car), Julia Ducournau (Titane) and Audrey Diwan (Happening) instead, I just can’t see the Academy going in that direction at all.
No Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) in the Supporting Actress category is disconcerting. She was supposed to be the frontrunner to win the Oscar. She still is. However, the Brits have really cast some doubt on whether Ariana Debose (West Side Story) might have an outside chance of stealing it.
Drive My Car, Hand of God and The Worst Person in the World now look pretty safe for International Feature recognition.
Paul Greengrass’ "The Uprising," starring Andrew Garfield, opened to $3.2M from 2,068 theaters this weekend. Yikes. The budget hasn’t been disclosed, but is said to be in the $20-$30M range.