Sundance is kicking off today in Park City, and fires are once again raging in L.A. County, but this morning the twice-delayed Oscar nominations were finally announced.
With a distinctly wide awake Wicked’s Bowen Yang and Bottoms‘ Rachel Sennott unveiling the final contenders in all 23 categories early this morning in a livestream from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, it was a glorious Oscars morning for Emilia Pérez, Conclave, the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and The Brutalist.
“Rachel and I have been through extensive pronunciation training for all the names today,” Yang joked at the top with a swipe at mishaps of past nominations morns.
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On the other hand, for some whose names were not mentioned correctly or incorrectly this morning, they might now almost find themselves agreeing with Stephen King’s call last week for the Oscars to be canceled. Having nothing to do with anyone’s nomination or lack thereof, the very serious context of the bestselling author and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member’s comment about pulling the plug on the Oscars was in reaction to the destruction, losses and pain caused by the ongoing wildfires.
Either way, with promised recognition to both L.A. as “the city of dreams” and first responders, the Conan O’Brien-hosted show is still going on live March 2 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu.
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Until then, as the next round of campaigning begins now, take a look at our list of who was left out and who popped up. Then, drop a line and tell us if there was someone or some film we overlooked.
DENZEL WASHINGTON – One of the greatest actors of all time puts on a literal and figurative battle royale of a performance in Gladiator II, but Washington’s name was unspoken today. The two-time Oscar winner was rightfully given a delayed Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden earlier this month, but there will be no gold at this year’s Oscar for the nine-time nominee. That’s a crime, in or out of the Colosseum.
KNEECAP – The Rich Peppiatt-directed flick about the fierce Irish hip hop band of the same name premiered at Sundance 2024 and has been on a tear ever since. However, today, the music stopped for what was considered a contender in the International Film category. To quote one of Kneecap’s tunes, that’s sick in the head.
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NICOLE KIDMAN – The Babygirl actress and past Best Actress winner was not the object of the Academy’s affection this year.
NOSFERATU – The Robert Eggers-helmed remake of the 1922 horror classic couldn’t seem to draw significant blood out of AMPAS voters today, shut out of the marquee races, though it did get four noms in crafts categories (Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design).
DANIEL CRAIG – The 007 alum’s Queer performance has been blessed with a Holy Trinity of Golden Globes, Critics Choice and SAG Awards nominations but received no love from the Academy. Would you say that to William S. Burroughs’ face?
MARIANNE JEAN-BAPTISTE – The hard truth is the much-praised Hard Truth star was robbed in broad pre-daylight this morning.
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PAMELA ANDERSON and THE LAST SHOWGIRL – Coming off a Golden Globe nomination and more recently a SAG Award nomination, The Last Showgirl star has not only flexed true acting muscles on-screen but portrayed a true Hollywood comeback epic in real life with the Gia Coppola-directed drama. So, what was the problem, AMPAS voters? And why was co-star and past Best Supporting Actress winner Jamie Lee Curtis, and for that matter the movie itself, not invited to the party either?
EDWARD BERGER – Conclave was richly rewarded with nominations this morning including Best Picture, but as happened for the helmers of past Best Picture winners CODA and Argo, no Best Director white smoke rose from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater for Berger.
ANGELINA JOLIE – The Girl, Interrupted Oscar winner’s Maria performance just didn’t hit the right notes with Academy voters.
CHALLENGERS – No match point here, Luca! Not even for the WGA Awards-nominated screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. Where’s John McEnroe when you need him?
JON M. CHU – Just like the Golden Globes nominations late last year, Wicked was all over today’s Oscar nominations. Yet, just like the Golden Globes nominations late last year, its director was AWOL with AMPAS voters. That’s as wicked as it seems, as Keith Richards would say.
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FELICITY JONES – The Brutalist is brutally long, but if you stuck it out through the intermission, you’d have found that the Erzsébet Tóth performance by past Oscar nominee Jones was in many ways the beating heart of the Brady Corbet-directed epic. Clearly, Academy voters are a lot more patient lot that many would have given them credit for. Bravo!
NICKEL BOYS – Perspective is everything in the RaMell Ross-directed adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2019 novel. Taking that POV, the film received an Adapted Screenplay nomination and a Best Picture nomination this morning. Let’s just say, with congrats to previous Oscar nominee Ross and team, Academy voters still recognize a truly original film when they see it.
SEBASTIAN STAN – The Donald Trump origin story The Apprentice attracted a lot of controversy and threats of legal action from the past and now present POTUS, but it seem to be shunned by a cowed Hollywood, some of whom wouldn’t even be in the same room with Stan. Now, with a Best Actor nomination for the man who also plays a certain Winter Soldier, the real-life former Apprentice host might see Tinseltown flex some muscle. Also, co-star Jeremy Strong brought some nomination heat with a nomination of his own for as Roy Cohn.
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