A Reel Opinion: The 98th Oscar Nominations - The Good, The Bad, & The Glorious

The nominations for the 98^th Academy Awards were announced this morning at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, delivered by hosts Danielle Brooks (THE COLOR PURPLE), and Lewis Pullman (THUNDERBOLTS), bringing a fair share of surprises and letdowns. 

 

The most nominations went to Ryan Coogler’s one-half musical, one-half horror flick SINNERS, with a record 16 nominations. It earned a nod in every category it was eligible for, including the brand-new Best Casting (which gave it the record). Right behind SINNERS was Paul Thomas Anderson’s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER with 13, followed by MARTY SUPREME, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, and FRANKENSTEIN with nine. Here is how the rest played out in The Good, The Bad, and The Glorious: 

 

THE GOOD

-This year’s Best Picture nominees (10 in total), included four films that have earned over $100 million at the box office, including Joseph Kosinski’s racing flick, F1. A good sign that the Academy is not afraid to nominate popular films. 

 

-James Cameron’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH earned a Best Visual Effects nomination (expected), but surprisingly got a nod for Best Costume Design. And why not? It may be digital, but the costume still has to be designed. And the name of the award is Best Design, not best weaving or sewing. 

 

-The Academy announced that Conan O’Brien would be returning as host. 

 

THE BAD

-Zero nominations for WICKED: FOR GOOD. 

 

-No acting nomination for Jeremy Allen White, for his portrayal of Bruce Springsteen in DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE.

 

-Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN earned nine nominations, but he oddly missed out on Best Director. 

 

THE GLORIOUS

-ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER earned the respect of the Acting Branch of the Academy, pulling in four total acting nominations: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor.

 

-SINNERS Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman of color to be nominated in that category. 

 

-It is a magnificent year for the horror genre, with SINNERS and FRANKENSTEIN pulling in 25 total nominations. A great film can be found anywhere, and the Academy knows it. 

 

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The 98^th Academy Awards are March 15^th.