For film lovers, the excitement of Oscar nominations announcement day can feel like Christmas. Just like Christmas, however, you might end up with a handful of unexpected (or unwanted) choices.
This year’s Oscar nominees were no exception, with some feeling well-deserved and others being a little puzzling.
Up for Best Picture this year are “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance,” and “Wicked.”
“Emilia Pérez” leads the pack for total nominations with 13, a rare feat for a Netflix title. It’s not without controversy though; the film’s initial release created very little buzz and didn’t attract many viewers. Those who did see the film have expressed confusion at the high praise it received from the Academy.
Following close behind, “Wicked” and “The Brutalist” received 10 nominations each. The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” and “Conclave” also tied, with 8 nominations each. Even horror, a genre that rarely receives any Oscars love, got some recognition in the form of “The Substance” (5 nominations) and “Nosferatu” (4 nominations).
Elsewhere, the nominees for Best Animated Film are “Flow” (also nominated for international film), “Inside Out 2,” “Memoir of a Snail,” “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” and “The Wild Robot” (also nominated for original score and sound).
The acting categories are also quite competitive this year. Up for best actor are Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan for his portrayal of a young President Trump in “The Apprentice.”
Both Cynthia Erivo (Best Actress) and Ariana Grande (Best Supporting Actress) are nominated for their performances in “Wicked.” Joining Cynthia in the race for Best Actress are Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here) and Karla Sofía Gascón, the first transgender nominee in Oscar history, for her performance in “Emilia Pérez”. For Best Supporting Actress, Ariana is joined by Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), and Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez).
Up for Best Supporting Actor are Yura Borisov (Anora), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice), and current frontrunner Kieran Culkin, for his performance in “A Real Pain.”
This year’s nominations had some noteworthy snubs who received no recognition from the Academy, including “Challengers” for Best Original Score, “Sing Sing” for Best Picture, and Denis Villeneuve for his direction of “Dune: Part Two.”
How this year’s ceremony goes down is anyone’s guess, but viewers can expect one significant change for certain. Oscar’s tradition has been for the artists behind the Best Original Song nominees to perform the songs, live. This year, the Academy plans to use that time to spotlight the songwriters, instead. The move has been met with backlash from viewers and industry professionals alike, drawing criticism on social media. A week after the statement’s release, the Society of Composers & Lyricists asked the Academy to reconsider their decision. As for now, they are sticking to their choice, but only time will tell if the move pays off.
In addition to honoring songwriters, the Academy plans to highlight the city of dreams itself. Los Angeles will be honored, reflecting on the devastating wildfires and illuminating the spirit of optimism that defines the industry today. Despite the impact of the L.A. wildfires on Hollywood this year, the show must go on.
The Oscars can be watched live Sunday March 2 at 7pm ET on ABC and Hulu. The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.
