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

The 96^th Academy Award Nominations were announced this morning, honoring the best of the year that was 2023. Here’s how it all landed in The Good, The Bad, and The Glorious: 

 

 

 

THE GOOD

 

-A good presentation goes a long way. The nominees were presented by actress Zazie Beetz (JOKER), and Jack Quaid (son of Dennis). Both were pro’s and did well in a tight and breezy event. 

 

-As expected, the two films that have dominated the talk of cinema, OPPENHEIMER and BARBIE (or BARBENHEIMER), earned a boat-load of nominations. More on that in a bit, but as two of the highest grossing films of the year, it is refreshing to see two pop-culture hits earn some prestigious Academy love; an Academy that has been leaning towards stuffy drama for over 20 years. 

 

-Also earning multiple nominations were Martin Scorsese’s KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON with 10, Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO with seven, and POOR THINGS with 11. BARBIE earned eight, including Best Picture. 

 

-Well-earned acting nominations include Robert Downey Jr. (OPPENHEIMER), Robert DeNiro (KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON), Emily Blunt (OPPENHEIMER), America Ferrera (BARBIE), and Carey Mulligan (MAESTRO). 

 

-Wes Anderson sneaks into the ballot for Best Live-Action Short Film: THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR. 

 

 

THE BAD

 

-The most watched category this year was Best Director. In a minor shock, Greta Gerwig did not get nominated for BARBIE…despite being a box office champion and multiple nominations across the board. 

-Along the same lines as Gerwig, other notable directors who didn't make the cut despite having their films nominated for Best Picture: Bradley Cooper (MAESTRO), and Alexander Payne (THE HOLDOVERS). 

 

-The magnificent GODZILLA MINUS ONE missing out on Best International Film. 

 

-Some oddball misses: No screenplay nomination for KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, and no Best Visual Effects for OPPENHEIMER. 

 

 

THE GLORIOUS

 

-Despite Gerwig missing out on Best Director, she is now the first woman to have directed three Best Picture nominees: BARBIE, LITTLE WOMEN (2019), and LADY BIRD (2017). Also: this year women directors have three Best Picture nominees (BARBIE, ANATOMY OF A FALL, and PAST LIVES)…which is a record. 

 

-Lily Gladstone’s nomination for Best Supporting Actress in KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON makes her the first indigenous American to be nominated for acting. 

 

-John Williams, the greatest film composer of all time, earned his 54^th career nomination for INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. 

 

-As expected, Christopher Nolan’s towering OPPENHEIMER lead the way with 13 nominations: taking a spot in every vital category from acting, directing, writing, editing, and most of the technical categories. The film has been in the conversation for Best Picture since day one, and the stage is set for it to end with a bang. 

 

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The 96^th Academy Awards are March 10^th. See all of the nominees HERE