Well, they have arrived.
Early this morning, the Oscar nominations were announced, ending months of speculation and assumption. The list of nominees was varied but one thing is abundantly clear: the Academy loves Joker and couldn’t care less about Uncut Gems. I guess Adam Sandler will just have to win his Oscar for Big Daddy 2: The Biggest Daddy.
There is a lot to discuss: a lot to criticize and even a lot to praise. Let’s take a look at the notable standouts. But first, an abridged list of the nominees. Behold!
BEST PICTURE
"Ford v Ferrari"
"The Irishman"
"Jojo Rabbit"
"Joker"
"Little Women"
"Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood"
"Marriage Story"
"Parasite"
"1917"
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kathy Bates, "Richard Jewell"
Laura Dern, "Marriage Story"
Scarlett Johansson, "Jojo Rabbit"
Florence Pugh, "Little Women"
Margot Robbie, "Bombshell"
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"
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World"
"I Lost My Body"
"Klaus"
"Missing Link"
"Toy Story 4"
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"The Irishman"
"Jojo Rabbit"
"Little Women"
"The Two Popes"
"Joker"
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Marriage Story"
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
"Parasite"
"Knives Out"
"1917"
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"
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cynthia Erivo, "Harriet"
Scarlett Johansson, "Marriage Story"
Saoirse Ronan, "Little Women"
Renée Zellweger, "Judy"
Charlize Theron, "Bombshell"
DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese, "The Irishman"
Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
Bong Joon-ho, "Parasite"
Sam Mendes, "1917"
Todd Phillips, "Joker"
Perhaps the biggest outrage in the entire list is the lack of color. Once again, the Academy has overseen multiple acclaimed performances from minority performers and it’s just as frustrating as it was before. Cynthia Erivo is the only person of color in the female acting categories and the other nominating fields are also quite white.
Some will say that the Academy is to blame for the lack of diversity while others will blame the studios and producers for not offering enough juicy roles to people of color. Regardless, the Academy needs to do better — and can do better. It’s not as if there aren’t MANY great performances from performers of color. Not at all, there is ample work to draw from. There are many actors and actresses who did fantastic, awards-worthy work last year and they are just being straight-up ignored. This is another reminder that the Academy needs to inductee many, many more talented performers of color.
Another valid complaint is the complete lack of female directors nominated. The Academy seems to have an aversion to honoring female filmmakers even as Hollywood wises up and gives many more opportunities to women behind the camera. Again, frustrating. Again, not surprising. The Academy seems to always take one step forward and then two steps back.
Then there are other notable snubs. Adam Sandler, who delivered brilliant work in Uncut Gems, was snubbed — as was the entire film. Jennifer Lopez, who many assumed would earn an nomination for her work in Hustlers, was shut out. Robert De Niro in The Irishman? Nope! Eddie Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name? Absolutely not. No recognition for Just Mercy or Lupito Nyong’o in Us or Greta Gerwig’s direction. Hell, even Frozen 2 was snubbed in the Best Animated Feature category. It’s a wild, wild list.
It’s a bizarre, sometimes confusing and confounding group of nominees but it’ll make for quite the show. I would bet Joaquin Phoenix finally wins an Oscar, making him the fourth man who’s played the Joker to win and the second actor to win for that role specifically. I think Brad Pitt has a good shot at finally nabbing his little golden man and Ms. Zellweger will likely take the stage again for her second Oscar. And you can bet there will be plenty of jokes about the lack of diversity…and little effort to actually enact any change.
The host-less Oscars will be held on February 9.