John H. Foote
Oscar nominations were announced yesterday. Most of the nominations were as expected, but there were also some glaring omissions. Here we take a category by category look at the snubs and surprises that happened at the Oscar nominations.
BEST PICTURE
I have already been vocal about Carol missing the cut — and The Hateful 8 which would have taken the number to ten — but oddly neither was nominated, and once again leaving out a film exploring the gay-lesbian world. The category was expanded to include blockbusters which they have done, but they also left out the years biggest blockbuster, the critically acclaimed Star Wars – The Force Awakens.
BEST DIRECTOR
Ridley Scott, Todd Haynes, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino…pretty big names to leave out. Of those that were left out that I find most appalling, Carey Fukanaga for Beasts of No Nation.
BEST ACTOR
Will Smith for Concussion would have put at least one non-white face in the race, again those ugly racism comments are flying back and forth about the Academy, and Johnny Depp should have been there. Eddie Redmayne? Not so much.
BEST ACTRESS
Tough category all around, because there were so many great performances from women this year. Rooney Mara should be in this category, not supporting, and Alicia Vikander should also be here for The Danish Girl, that way paving the way for her to win for Ex Machina.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Paul Dano for Love and Mercy. Michael Keaton for Spotlight. Just not buying the love for Bale in The Big Short. And if Ruffalo is here for Spotlight, Keaton should be too. Please do not get me started on Idris Elba being snubbed — simply an astounding performance that should have been nominated no question.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Vikander should have been here for Ex Machina, not The Danish Girl, which is a lead. Not sure about the love for Winslet, but the Academy has always loved her, though they gave her Best Actress for the wrong film in 2008 — Revolutionary Road being her finest work. And where oh where is Jane Fonda for her seething eight minute performance in Youth ?
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pretty strong category all around. Perhaps Son of Saul deserved a nod.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Steve Jobs? One of the most beloved screenplays of the year from Aaron Sorkin and not a nomination ?
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Martian should have been here, but what gets taken away? Sicario ? Carol ? Beasts of No Nation and Everest should have been here too.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Ron Howard’s flop In the Heart of the Sea had a great look to it, taking us back to the days of whaling. Cannot say enough about the claustrophobic offices of Spotlight.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
All deserving but where is Jurassic World ? How can a film that gave us bigger and better dinosaurs NOT be nominated for visual effects? Just saying.
BEST SOUND MIXING
Again no Jurassic World. And no The Hateful Ei8ht.
BEST SOUND EDITING
Jurassic World again.
BEST FILM EDITING
Bridge of Spies was superbly edited and should have been a nominee. As should have been Room.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Great selections but The Revenant should have been a nominee.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Where’s the global chartbuster “See You Again” from Furious 7. Surely, snubbed.
BEST MAKE UP
Johnny Depp’s transformation to Whitey Bulger was astounding but Black Mass was snubbed.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
A superb doc about the greatest film actor of all time, spoken in his words, words and images long hidden away in storage shed, Listen to Me Marlon was the best doc I saw last year, and snubbed….incredibly.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Tough category but I think the splendid costunmes from Star Wars and The Force Awakens deserved a nod.
