Oppenheimer and Barbie (unsurprisingly) dominated, but there were still a few surprises.
Oscar nominations for the 96th Academy Awards have arrived. Christopher Nolan’s historical epic Oppenheimer scored 13 selections, with Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone’s Poor Things not far behind at 11. Elsewhere, heavy hitters Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon combined for 18, highlighted by Lily Gladstone’s achievement as the first Native American to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Here are several takeaways.
As expected, Best Actor is a contested race
Cillian Murphy has long been the favorite here, with the Golden Globe for his turn in Oppenheimer already in hand. I believe he will win, but it could get interesting. You can make a legitimate argument for all five nominees, though I’d rank Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein towards the bottom. His physical transformation and disappearance into the role are undeniable, but Maestro ultimately feels empty by the end. It’s refreshing to see Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) among this bunch. They’re two actors who A) have been around for a while and B) are always memorable. Giamatti, fresh off a Best Actor win at the Critics Choice Awards, is a real contender to upset Murphy. Colman Domingo’s (Rustin) nomination is well-deserved, too. He’s on an incredible stretch with Rustin, The Color Purple and later this year, Sing Sing. Yes, Murphy may be the favorite, but this group makes it a fascinating race.
Some think Leonardo DiCaprio’s omission is a mistake, but I don’t know who I would have booted from this group to fit him. Perhaps Cooper, but considering his months-long campaign for Maestro's Oscar chances, he was essentially a nomination lock. Leo’s understated performance is terrific in Killers of the Flower Moon, but given its 10 total nominations, it's far from being snubbed.
RDJ looms over a superb Supporting Actor group
Sterling K. Brown is arguably the best part of American Fiction. Kudos to the Academy for recognizing his performance and the freedom he was given to highlight his range as Cliff Ellison. As the downright evil and manipulative William Hale in KOTFM, Robert De Niro reminded us what he’s still capable of when he brings his best. Mark Ruffalo's nomination for Poor Things is something I hoped for, so it was satisfying to see it happen. What a refreshing role that was for him. Ryan Gosling’s (Barbie) nomination as Ken was widely expected.
They’re all in line behind Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer) for his depiction of Lewis Strauss. Like his co-star Cillian Murphy for Best Actor, he’s had a tight grip on Best Supporting Actor honors for quite some time. RDJ has already won the Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe for the same honor when he was picked out of groups that included his current Oscar competition: Brown, De Niro, Mark Ruffalo and Gosling. Many felt Charles Melton (May December) was a glaring miss here.
Society of the Snow makes its presence felt
J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow is one of last year’s best films. It's an incredibly moving, terrifying and inspiring examination of the 1972 Andes plane crash. The production team delivers an authentic experience from start to finish, one that pays great respect to real-life victims and survivors. It functions more as a documentary than a feature film. You feel their desperation. You struggle to believe something unbelievable. In addition to competing for Best International Feature, it scored a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. It would be a major statement to take home both of these honors. Society of the Snow’s extremely realistic, vivid depiction of the physical transformation this group went through as a result of malnourishment, sub-zero temperatures and general unbearable conditions is impossible to forget. We feel like a part of this doomed rugby team throughout the film. I hope it wins big.
Poor Things impresses
Fueled by visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos, a career-best turn from Emma Stone and a wonderful cast in a dream-like world, Poor Things is easily one of last year’s most memorable and important films. Its 11 nominations are a testament to the achievement it represents. I’m glad the Academy didn’t shy away from its inherent weirdness. Stone would probably earn her second Best Actress Oscar this year, but Lily Gladstone is the clear and rightful favorite.
All eyes on Lily Gladstone
Lily Gladstone’s (Killers of the Flower Moon) Mollie Burkhart is one of the best overall characters from any movie from last year. She’s the first Native American to ever be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. It would be fairly stunning if she didn’t win it. Despite her brilliance in Maestro, Carey Mulligan is a distant third behind Gladstone and Stone. Annette Bening (Nyad) over Margot Robbie (Barbie) is the biggest surprise here. I didn’t see Nyad, but I understand why some are upset about Robbie’s omission.
Oppenheimer stands tall
Oppenheimer feels destined to earn Best Picture and Best Director honors, having already earned these accolades at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards. No real surprises here. Christopher Nolan’s triumphant effort has long been considered a heavy favorite for multiple award categories, and its 13 nominations prove it. There’s a real chance Oppenheimer could take home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
America shakes up the Supporting Actress race
No one saw America Ferrera’s nomination for Barbie coming. That’s partially what makes Margot Robbie’s omission from Best Actress consideration so baffling. This is a competitive three-horse race between Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers). I hope Da’Vine wins, though Blunt and Brooks are equally deserving.
TMNT left out of Best Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is likely the winner here, but The Boy and the Heron makes a compelling case. The real miss, though, is leaving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem out of the mix. Between its distinct visual style, return-to-basics approach and terrific performances across the board, it felt like it at least deserved a nomination. It brought the ninja turtles onto the screen for a new generation while respecting TMNT's origins.
Godzilla: Minus One lands an important nomination
It’s thrilling to see Godzilla: Minus One earn a nomination for Best Visual Effects. This was one of last year’s major surprises and standouts. On a $15 million budget, Minus One not only rivals major Hollywood blockbusters' visual effects, it outright surpasses them. Beating out Marvel (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), the Mission: Impossible franchise (Dead Reckoning Part One) and Ridley Scott (Napoleon) would be quite the statement. Napoleon would be my pick if not for Minus One. The video below should make anyone smile.
Best Costume Design is loaded with worthy contenders
Here are the nominations: Jacqueline Durran (Barbie), Jacqueline West (Killers of the Flower Moon), Janty Yates and Dave Crossman (Napoleon), Ellen Mirojnick (Oppenheimer) and Holly Waddington (Poor Things). Whew. Barbie probably wins, but I don’t know. This is a very strong group.
The Iron Claw gets shut out
It's a shame The Iron Claw didn't receive a single nomination. Sean Durkin's film is among my favorites from 2023 and contains performances from Zac Efron and Holt McCallany that are worthy of Best Actor and Supporting Actor nominations. Given that it came out so late in the year, it likely didn't land on enough voters' radars in time. It also doesn't help that both of the aforementioned races are so tight this year.
Keep your eyes on Best Cinematography and Best Production Design
Sure, Oppenheimer feels likely here, but both categories are filled with heavyweights, including Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro and Poor Things. They are genuinely fascinating races because of the contenders in both groups. KOTFM in particular captures Osage landscapes and searing heartbreak in such a sweeping fashion that it deserves real consideration.
Best Adapted Screenplay could get interesting
My pick here is Cord Jefferson for his brilliant writing in American Fiction, a script that highlights his comedic chops while delivering real heart and weight to the topics the film confronts. But it has fierce competition. Oppenheimer, Barbie and Poor Things are the big three. Nolan could also win here, but I don't think Oppenheimer should be the overwhelming favorite. Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest is a critical nomination, too. Put that on your to-watch list.