With this morning’s announcement, we now know what five films will be contending for the Best Picture prize this year. They are the five that overlapped in Picture and Director: “West Side Story,” “Belfast,” “Licorice Pizza,” “The Power of the Dog” and “Drive My Car.”
Of these 5 nominees, “The Power of the Dog” has four acting nominations. That would put it in the lead. “Licorice Pizza” has no acting noms. “Belfast” has 2 nominees. “West Side Story” has 1.
A few quick notes on the surprises from this morning’s Oscar nominations ..
Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”) Snubbed.
I guess “Dune” just directed itself? Hey, you know I’m not a diehard fan of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic, but it’s quite odd that he was snubbed in the Best Director category. The film was a justifiable directorial machine and the fact that its helmer wasn’t nominated is very odd.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”) Nominated for Best Director
At least it was at the expense of having Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”), with what is an absolute shocker of a nomination, getting in. You couldn’t help but smile when you heard his name announced this morning. Who says Cannes doesn’t deliver Oscar contenders …
”Drive My Car” Nominated For Best Picture
Clearly Cannes does. Yes, Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” got a Best Picture nomination as well this morning. An earth-shattering moment for Cannes and foreign cinema. Bravo. Of course, it won’t pull off a win like the more accessible “Parasite” did back in 2020, but what a sorry this is.
“Nightmare Alley” is a Best Picture Nominee. Being the Ricardos,” and “Tick, Tick .. Boom!” Snubbed.
Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” was the other Best Picture surprise, although I did predict it yesterday. The obvious snubs here are “Being the Ricardos,” and “Tick, Tick .. Boom!” — two movies that had absolutely no place in this category anyways. Never ever doubt Del Toro when it comes to the consistent industry love he gets.
Lady Gaga Snubbed in the Best Actress Category.
I won’t go further than to say that, despite my reservations about her performance, I am absolutely shocked that Lady Gaga did not get into the Best Actress five. In a way, the online abuse I received for disliking her performance has come full circle and I honestly feel no sympathy whatsoever that her toxic fans will not be seeing her on Oscar night. Thank the heavens this “Gaga Saga” is over.
Penelope Cruz and Kristen Stewart Nominated.
All hail, Penelope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”) for taking Gaga’s spot. I am also glad for Kristen Stewart, who may have gotten in due to pity votes, but who cares. People felt bad that she was snubbed by SAG etc. By all accounts, she’s not really the frontrunner in this category, but just getting in must be such a sigh of relief for her.
Judi Dench?
Here was one of the stranger nominees this morning: Judi Dench (“Belfast”) for Best Supporting Actress. As someone who prefered Dench to Caitriona Balfe, this is music to my ears, but Balfe was supposed to be a lock in this category. Ditto Ruth Negga (“Passing”), snubbed in favor of Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), who ends up getting her first ever Oscar nomination. Now, with Balfe out, the Supporting Actress trophy is Kirsten Dunst’s to lose.
The man doesn't stop. James Gunn has confirmed he's already hard at work writing his next film, even as ‘Man of Tomorrow’ makes its way toward theaters next summer.