Briefly rejoice before the crowd becomes enraged, because there are many reasons to be thrilled, in addition to all the startling omissions.
With an astounding 16 nominations and appearances in every category where it even had a remote chance, “Sinners” not only broke the record for most nominations, but it broke it by two. With “F1” earning an unexpected Best Picture nomination, it was also a fantastic morning for those who still think the Oscars can throw a terrific bombshell.
SURPRISE: “F1” (Picture)
In the film industry, there is a group of men in their later years who are affectionately referred to as “steak-eaters.” They enjoy a good Dad movie that features older males who are undoubtedly the most knowledgeable. Perhaps this is why F1 snagged the victory over.
SNUB: “Wicked: For Good” (Picture)
Last year, the first “Wicked” received ten nominations and won two Oscars. The sequel would undoubtedly be well-liked as well. However, the box revenue was down (more than $200 million worldwide), the reviews were largely unimpressive, and the Academy took notice.
SNUB: “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (Picture)
Although it is still behind 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” by roughly $1 billion, the third “Avatar” film has earned $1.3 billion worldwide. However, “Fire and Ash” was unable to even secure a nod from the Producers Guild, an organization that believes that the greater is stronger. The series has a sense of exhaustion.
SNUB: “It Was Just an Accident” (Picture)
There were red flags. On the Oscar and BAFTA early lists, Jafar Panahi’s biting (and frequently humorous) social indictment of totalitarianism did not mesh well. However, it would have made the finest image cut given the current political situation and concerning the problematic occurrences in Panahi’s home country of Iran.
SURPRISE: Joachim Trier,”Sentimental Value.” (Director)
Voters undoubtedly valued Trier’s film’s caustic portrayal of Hollywood as well as the way “Sentimental Value” deftly moved between the past and present, optimism and hurt, even if he appeared to be sinking in the ranks of contenders. Additionally, Trier was nominated for an original screenplay.
SNUB: Guillermo del Toro,“Frankenstein” (Director)
Jason Reitman, George Lucas, David Fincher, and Scorsese all campaigned for him. In a Q&A with Del Toro, Scorsese remarked, “It’s a remarkable work. It stays with you. I dreamed of it.” Del Toro has gained tons of admirers both inside and outside the business. He has also won Oscars for producing and directing “Pinocchio” and “The Shape of Water,” the 2017 best picture winner.
SNUB: Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident” (Director)
Panahi had a very tumultuous year. In May, he received the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and in December, he was sentenced to a year in jail for “propaganda activities” connected to his work. Both attest to the potency of “It Was Just an Accident,” a biting indictment of the brutality and deceit of an autocratic government.
SURPRISE: Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue” (Lead Actress)
Hudson’s heartwarming portrayal of a husband-wife Neil Diamond homage act earned her her first nomination since her debut in “Almost Famous” 25 years ago. “Song Sung Blue” had a distinct domain in this contest, appealing to voters who were looking for the genuine adult dramas that studios used to produce.
SNUB: Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another” (Lead Actress)
Infiniti’s position in the titular category, which cleared the way for co-star Teyana Taylor, raised some concerns. She only appears in the film for around 30 minutes, and while her character propels the plot forward and finishes it spectacularly, it was insufficient in a category brimming with heavier work.
SNUB: Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked: For Good” (Lead Actress)
The second half of “Wicked” no longer focuses on Erivo’s Elphaba. When she isn’t wearing the sexually explicit sweater, she’s fantastic on screen, expertly capturing Elphaba’s sensitivity and grief. But in the highly competitive leading lady category, Erivo simply did not have enough screen time to persuade voters to grant her a final candidacy.
SURPRISE: Delroy Lindo, “Sinners” (Supporting Actor)
Riding the tide of “Sinners'” record earnings, Lindo eventually received his first Oscar nod. His performance of the jaded Mississippi bluesman Delta Slim, which featured a stirring monologue detailing the grisly murder of a fellow musician, was crucial to the film’s examination of life in the Jim Crow South.
