Reactions to the ridiculous 92nd Academy Award nominations
The full list of the 92nd Academy Award nominees were revealed this morning and (shocker!) it was full of surprises with questionable selections and ridiculous snubs. It’s crazy to think of the huge strides made to made the academy more inclusive and yet once again the nominees still lack much diversity. Here’s my thoughts on the list.
Best Picture
Ford V Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Reaction: None of these choices are surprising for better or worse. It’s disappointing that The Farewell didn’t make the cut over something like Jojo Rabbit. Dolemite is My Name was slighted throughout so that’s not a shock.
Directing
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Todd Phillips (Joker)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once upon a Time in Hollywood)
Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)
Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo (Harriet)
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)
Saoirse Ronan (Little Women)
Charlize Theron (Bombshell)
Renee Zellweger (Judy)
Reaction: Awkafina’s snub for her performance in The Farewell is ridiculous. Johansson has steadily lost momentum on the awards circuit and seems like a decent choice to swap out and if it came down to the two, I would have gone with Awkwafina over Ronan or Theron. Erivo was good, but I think her nomination was a CYA move to avoid an OscarsSoWhite controversy as the lone black nominee in the acting categories. And did anyone actually see Us and not think Lupita Nyong’o didn’t deserve a Best Actress?
Actor in a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once upon a Time in Hollywood)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)
Reaction: Banderas seemed to come from out of nowhere. Eddie Murphy should have at least gotten a nom for his performance in Dolemite Is My Name. Daniel Craig seemed overlooked for his role in Knives Out as well.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell)
Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit)
Florence Pugh (Little Women)
Margot Robbie (Bombshell)
Reaction: Sigh. This is maybe the most problematic category of the bunch. The Farewell’s Shuzhen Zaho should be among the nominees. Ditto for Yeo-jeong Jo (Parasite). Da’Vine Joy Randolph could have been in the mix here for Dolemite is My Name. Easily the most egregious omission here is Jennifer Lopez for her career best role in Hustlers. Johansson is a rare double nominee. Pugh was very good in a large ensemble. I’d easily take out Robbie and Bates here for Zaho and Lopez.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)
Al Pacino (The Irishman)
Joe Pesci (The Irishman)
Brad Pitt (Once upon a Time in Hollywood)
Reaction: Sterling K. Brown (Waves) or Jamie Foxx (Just Mercy) were overlooked, but this category was the one easy prediction and there were no Oscar upsets here.
Adapted Screenplay
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
The Two Popes
Reaction: I remain amazed Joker is in the adapted category as it barely counts as a comic book movie.
Original Screenplay
Knives Out
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Reaction: Parasite really needs to win, but I think we’re in for another rambling Quentin Tarantino speech.
Cinematography
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Reaction: Waves should definitely be in the mix for this one.
Original Song
Toy Story 4
Rocketman
Breakthrough
Frozen 2
Harriet
Reaction: No Lion King nod for Beyonce’s original song although I fully expect Rocketman to get this one.
Original Score
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Reaction: Thinking 1917 or Joker in this one.
Animated Feature Film
How To Train Your Dragon
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Reaction: My vote here is for Klaus, but no argument with these nominees.
Animated Short Film
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister
Reaction: Hopefully Hair Love gets the win here to show some representation.
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Film Editing
Ford V Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
Reaction: Maybe this is where Ford V Ferrari gets some hardware? I don’t see why Joker is in this mix here either.
International Feature
Corpus Christi
Honeyland
Les Miserables
Pain And Glory
Parasite
Reaction: Parasite will win this one as a consolation prize for not getting Best Picture
Production Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon A time In Hollywood
Parasite
Costume Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Reaction: I’m going to guess that no one bothered to watch Dolemite Is My Name to exclude Ruth E. Carter this year. I know the Academy LOVES Joker, but that would be my easy swap out in this one.
Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Reaction: Oh, there was another comic book movie in 2019! Look for 1917 to win this because Academy members refuse to appreciate comic book movies that don’t feature Joker.
Makeup and Hairstyling
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Reaction: Bombshell should win this for the remarkable transformation of Theron to Megyn Kelly.
Sound Mixing
Ad Astra
Ford V Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Reaction: Ad Astra didn’t get much love. It would be a nice time for an upset over Joker, 1917 and Once Upon a Time…
Sound Editing
Ford V Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Reaction: 1917 should get this one.