A Reel Opinion: Oscar Nominations - The Good, The Bad, & The Glorious

Nominations for the 92^nd Academy Awards were announced today, with the results ranging from Good, Bad, and Glorious. Here’s how it all landed…

THE GOOD

-The announcements were made at the newly constructed and beautiful David Geffen Theatre at the not-yet-opened Academy Museum. Backed by a classic looking setting, the nominees were read very well by actor John Cho and producer Issa Rae. Both hosts were excellent, and their script showed a bit of voting transparency as it explained the various branches of the Academy and how it all works. 

-The leader of the pack is JOKER with 11 total nominations, becoming only the second comic-book adaptation nominated for Best Picture. JOKER is followed by THE IRISHMAN, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, and 1917 with 10 nominations. 

-Sign of the times: With 24 total nominations, Netflix earned more than any other studio; surpassing Sony (20), Disney (16), and Warner Bros. (12). 

-No Snubs for Old Men: Tom Hanks, for his performance in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NIEGHBORHOOD, was nominated for Best Actor, which is his first nomination in nearly two decades and he does it at age 63. Also nominated in this category are Al Pacino at 79 and Joe Pesci at 76 for THE IRISHMAN, Anthony Hopkins at 82 for THE TWO POPES, and Brad Pitt at 56 for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.

THE BAD

-Diversity in Hollywood once again an issue, with only one person of color, Cynthia Erivo for HARRIET, nominated for acting. This isn’t an Academy issue as much as it is an industry-wide problem; the choices just weren’t there. 

-One choice that was there was Lupita Nyong’o for her outstanding performance in US. Horror movies never get their due. 

-No directing nomination for Greta Gerwig and her newest version of LITTLE WOMEN. Her competition was tough as she went up against guys like Scorsese, Tarantino, and Mendes…but the truth is it is not easy for a remake to get recognized. If A STAR IS BORN (2018) can get snubbed…anything can. The Academy should know that a great movie can be found anywhere. Remakes and horror films are often overlooked. 

-No editing nomination for ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD or 1917, and no nomination for composer Alan Silvestri for AVENGERS: ENDGAME. 

-Acting snubs: Dean-Charles Chapman and/or George MacKay for 1917, and Robert DeNiro for THE IRISHMAN. 

THE GLORIOUS

-Bong Joon Ho and his most-excellent PARASITE became the first South Korean film to be nominated in the newly named category of Best International Feature (formerly Best Foreign Language Film). PARASITE also earned nods for Director and Best Picture. 

-Rian Johnson properly getting nominated for his screenplay for KNIVES OUT. 

-No nominations for UNCUT GEMS and its lead actor Adam Sandler. Sorry, but that film was about nothing but an asshole doing asshole things with no context. Proper snub. 

-John Williams earning his 52^nd career Oscar nomination for STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.

-Acting nominations for Scarlett Johannsson and Adam Driver for their performances in MARRIAGE STORY. Well-deserved. Scarlett’s nod is her first…and she got a second one too for JOJO RABBIT. 

-Roger Deakins earned his 15^th career nomination for Best Cinematography, for his work in 1917.  

-The Best Picture category is stacked, with the favorites coming from celebrated directors Martin Scorsese (THE IRISHMAN), Quentin Tarantino (ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD), Sam Mendes (1917), and relative newcomer Todd Phillips (JOKER). The nominations are spread out nicely and any one of these films could take home the big prize. The right films are in the hunt, and that’s what matters the most. 

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The 92^nd Oscars will be held on February 9^th.