The 96th Academy Award Nominations Announced

Here we are, now it’s time to officially begin the countdown to the 96th Annual Academy Awards. The nominations have been announced, which means it is the time for me to be humbled about how many of these I have not seen yet.

I do think that I have kept up to date better this year compared to last, and I would like to think I have more of a pulse as to what’s going to be nominated. But this is always a learning experience, so let’s get educated.

This year I have been keeping a personal Academy Awards list, planning my own award ceremony if you will. I release a new version every Sunday, and my task of keeping that list up to date is going to become far more time consuming seeing now that I have official homework.

But I digress.

Nearer to the actual award ceremony on March 10th, I will be publishing a blog of what my predictions are. Surely, I won’t be embarrassed at all.

For now, let’s just take a look at the candidates who will be vying for the most prestigious award in the cinema industry.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Bradley Cooper – “Maestro”
Colman Domingo – “Rustin”
Paul Giamatti – “The Holdovers”
Cillian Murphy – “Oppenheimer”
Jeffery Wright – “American Fiction”

I have not heard much about Rustin, let alone seen it. Will have to check that out out ASAP. Cillian Murphy is still tough to beat in my mind playing a broken man better than I have seen in a long time.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Sterling K. Brown – “American Fiction”
Robert De Niro – “Killers Of The Flower Moon”
Robert Downey Jr. – “Oppenheimer”
Ryan Gosling – “Barbie”
Mark Ruffalo – “Poor Things”

I am really going to need to seek out American Fiction. I expected Jeffery Wright and possible screenplay, but Sterling K. Brown got me. Rest seem run of the mill, and based of the vibes, seems like its meant to be Downey Jr.’s to lose.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening – “Nyad”
Lily Gladstone – “Killers Of The Flower Moon”
Sandra Hüller – “Anatomy of a Fall”
Carey Mulligan – “Maestro”
Emma Stone – “Poor Things”

No Greta Lee and no Margot Robbie are big time surprises. No Margot but America in supporting makes it doubly confounding, but Greta Lee deserves some shine as a snub as well. I was really shocked that Anette Benning made it for Nyad.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Emily Blunt – “Oppenheimer”
Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple”
America Ferrera – “Barbie”
Jodie Foster – “Nyad”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “The Holdovers”

How in the fuck did America Ferrara get nominated here? One of these things do no belong, and it is obviously her. Sorry, but her “Oscar” moment was that speech in Barbie that I didn’t like as part of the film, so naturally I am going to be upset she got nominated. Da’Vine Joy Rnadolph seems to have the upper hand, but I am very excited to see Jodie Foster among the honorees.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

“The Boy And The Heron”
“Elemental”
“Nimona”
“Robot Dreams”
“Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse”

Somehow, Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse managed an outstanding story that didn’t make me tired or ornery for multiverse storytelling. Genuinely, Across The Spider-Verse is one of the best super-hero movies I have ever seen, animated or not.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

“El Conde” – Edward Lachman
“Killers Of The Flower Moon” – Rodrigo Prieto
“Maestro” – Matthew Libatique
“Oppenheimer” – Hoyte Van Hoytema
“Poor Things” – Robbie Ryan

Still the most impressive single visual moment in cinema this year is the introduction of Bradley Cooper as youthful Maestro. I can not overstate how stunning that framing is. El Conde has been on Netflix for a long time, and i have been bad because it’s been on my watchlist for a long time.

COSTUME DESIGN

“Barbie” – Jacqueline Durran
“Killers Of The Flower Moon” – Jacqueline West
“Napoleon” – David Crossman, Janty Yates
“Oppenheimer” – Ellen Mirojnick
“Poor Things” – Holly Waddington

Barbie is a no-brainer nomination for this category. Slightly surprised that Oppenheimer got in here; just figured that the Academy may want to spread the wealth a little. Haven’t seen Killers Of The Flower Moon or Poor Things yet, but the weirdness of Poor Things makes sense. Still think Barbie may take this for its attention to the inspiration.

BEST DIRECTOR

Justine Triet – “Anatomy of a Fall”
Martin Scorsese – “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Christopher Nolan – “Oppenheimer”
Yorgos Lanthimos – “Poor Things”
Jonathan Glazer – “The Zone Of Interest”

The Zone Of Interest is not available to watch anywhere. I have Anatomy Of A Fall downloaded and Killers Of The Flower Moon is streaming. I just need to find time to carve out six-plus hours to watch it all.

BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

“Bobi Wine: The People’s President”
“The Eternal Memory”
“Four Daughters”
“To Kill A Tiger”
“20 Days In Mariupol”

I thought that American Symphony would have been on this list with the way Netflix shoved it on their homepage. With things being said, I love the Best Documentary films because I am going to learn things about subjects I never would have thought to think about.

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

“The ABCs of Book Banning”
“The Barber Of Little Rock”
“Island In Between”
“The Last Repair Shop”
“Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó”

No surprise I have not seen any of these, but I will before the Oscars ceremony takes place. Hope to learn something too.

FILM EDITING

“Anatomy of a Fall” – Laurent Sénéchal
“The Holdovers” – Kevin Tent
“Killers Of The Flower Moon” – Thelma Schoonmaker
“Oppenheimer” – Jennifer Lame
“Poor Things” – Yorgos Mavropsaridis

I just realized now that there are no nominations for The Killer and that makes me upset. I know that has nothing to do with film editing, but this is my blog.

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

“Io Capitano” (Italy)
“Perfect Days” (Japan)
“Society of the Snow” (Spain)
“The Teacher’s Lounge” (Germany)
“The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom)

How is it that Anatomy Of A Fall is nominated for Best Picture but not for Best International Feature? This is something I don’t understand. Someone who understands the Academy, please help.

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

“Golda”
“Maestro”
“Oppenheimer”
“Poor Things”
“Society of the Snow”

Very surprised that Barbie did not get the nomination here. Thought the hair would have been enough. Society Of The Snow is the newcomer to the scene, so need to keep an eye out for that on Netflix. Perhaps it is Maestro with his immense sweat? Would be hilarious for that to win after all the stupid nose controversy.

ORIGINAL SCORE

Laura Karpman – “American Fiction”
John Williams – “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
Robbie Robertson – “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Ludwig Göransson – “Oppenheimer”
Jerskin Fendrix – “Poor Things”

John Williams is still getting it done! It was a shock, but not totally upset about it!

ORIGINAL SONG

“The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” (Becky G)
“I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie” (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)
“It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony” (Jon Batiste)
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People) from “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Oklahomans)
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” (Billie Eilish)

I did not think to include any songs from American Symphony among my own Oscar nominations, but that will be amended shortly, probably. Two Barbie nominations is not a shock, and the world will be excited for when these two songs are performed back-to-back on the air.

BEST PICTURE

“American Fiction”
“Anatomy Of A Fall”
“Barbie”
“The Holdovers”
“Killers Of The Flower Moon”
“Maestro”
“Oppenheimer”
“Past Lives”
“Poor Things”
“The Zone Of Interest”

I have seen Barbie, The Holdovers, Maestro, Oppenheimer, and Past Lives. Halfway through the list, so still lots of homework. With that being said, I’m going to have to wait for a few of these to go on streaming. Oppenheimer is still the frontrunner in my book, but things can change. Was very happy to see Maestro and Past Lives make the list.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

“Barbie”
“Killers of the Flower Moon”
“Napoleon”
“Oppenheimer”
“Poor Things”

A heavy weight fight here. I don’t think that Napoleon stands a chance among the other titans in this category. Barbie’s production design is the brightest…literally…and most important to the plot. Poor Things is the unique environment while Killers Of The Flower Moon and Oppenheimer are grounded in reality. Just a tough category.

SHORT FILM ANIMATED

“Letter To A Pig”
“Ninety-Five Senses”
“Our Uniform”
“Pachyderme”
“War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko”

You have my attention when it comes to the John Lennon animated short. I will at least like the music.

SHORT FILM LIVE ACTION

“The After”
“Invincible”
“Night Of Fortune”
“Red, White And Blue”
“The Wonderful Life Of Henry Sugar”

I have seen one of these! Even if Henry Sugar is not my favorite of the Wes Anderson shorts, I will still take being ahead of the game in terms of completing this category.

SOUND

“The Creator”
“Maestro”
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One”
“Oppenheimer”
“The Zone of Interest”

I wish I liked Dead Reckoning: Part One more than I did. The Creator getting a pair of technical nominations is a fine achievement, but Maestro not winning this would shock me and make me a little upset. Even if the use of silence in Oppenheimer during the bomb sequence is a resounding explanation point in itself.

VISUAL EFFECTS

“The Creator”
“Godzilla Minus One”
“Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3”
“Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One”
“Napoleon”

The reaction that the Godzilla Minus One crew had to being nominated was genuine and heartfelt. This category also reminds me that I need to find a way to watch Godzilla Minus One.

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

“American Fiction” – Cord Jefferson
“Barbie” – Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig
“Oppenheimer” – Christopher Nolan
“Poor Things” – Tony McNamara
“The Zone Of Interest” – Jonathan Glazer

This is an absolutely STACKED category. All five of these movies are nominated for Best Picture. You have comedies, dramas and blockbusters. It is fucking nuts, all of these movies have a right to claim the top spot. Possibly the most stacked category for this year’s Oscars?

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

“Anatomy Of A Fall” – Arthur Harari, Justine Triet
“The Holdovers” – David Hemingson
“Maestro” – Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
“May December” – Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik
“Past Lives” – Celine Song

Let’s have a first time major film maker win an Oscar on the first go around! I would LOVE IT if Past Lives and Celine Song took home the trophy. It is an uphill climb against The Holdovers (I think), but I can dream.

As we approach March 10th, I will continue to be updating my personal Oscar nominations for the year. They are going to be very different than the Academy’s nominations, but that is okay. Movie preferences are subjective. But having this list of movies to watch is

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