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The release of the Oscar nomination list has sparked discussions about films that strike a balance between serious and lighthearted, contrasting elements. These include “Barbenheimer,” a popular hashtag from last summer that gained attention for its mix of themes, as well as “Poorthingsheimer” and “Killersoftheflowermoonheimer.” Overall, the prevailing conversation seems to be centered around “Oppenheimer.”
Christopher Nolan’s film, which follows the life of J Robert Oppenheimer and his role in creating the A-bomb, has received 13 nominations, making it the front-runner. Yorgos Lanthimos’s dark and humorous steampunk film Poor Things comes in second with 11 nominations, followed by Martin Scorsese’s impactful Killers of the Flower Moon with 10. Surprisingly, even Barbie has earned eight nominations, though the Academy seems to be favoring more serious and historical films. Unfortunately, Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig was overlooked in the director category and Margot Robbie was snubbed for her role as best actress. The consensus among award predictions is that Oppenheimer is the top contender and it is highly likely that Christopher Nolan will finally win his first Oscar for best director.
However, the top film may not be as predictable as some may think. With strong contenders such as Oppenheimer, Poor Things, Barbie, The Holdovers, and others, the votes could be split, allowing for a surprise win by a foreign language film, similar to Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. Perhaps Celine Song’s Past Lives, a powerful tale of revisiting childhood love in adulthood, could cause an upset. Other potential contenders include Justine Triet’s courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall and Jonathan Glazer’s poignant Holocaust film, The Zone of Interest, which is based on Martin Amis’ novel. Not only is it nominated for Best Picture, but it also holds the title of being the first UK film in 25 years to receive a nomination for Best International Film.
Emma Stone’s performance in Poor Things, although impressive, may not secure her the best actress award. Lily Gladstone’s portrayal of a Native American woman at the center of a racist plot in Killers of the Flower Moon has captivated many Academy voters and could potentially make her the first Native American to win in this category (she is already the first nominee). Additionally, Annette Bening’s last-minute nomination for her role as endurance swimmer Diane Nyad in Nyad has gained popularity for its uplifting and inspiring message about overcoming ageism and sexism.
Paul Giamatti is currently the top contender for best actor, surpassing even Cillian Murphy. Audiences have been drawn to the warmth, subtlety, and vulnerability displayed in his performance as a boarding-school teacher in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers. He takes care of the “holdovers”, the students who must remain at school during the Christmas break. Leonardo DiCaprio, from Killers of the Flower Moon, was not included in this category, for better or worse. Instead, we have the exceptional Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction. He plays a gloomy, highbrow literary academic who publishes an outrageous hoax novel under a pseudonym to satirize the marginalization of black culture by white gatekeepers. His character meets a fate similar to Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom in The Producers. Bradley Cooper is also nominated for his expert portrayal of Leonard Bernstein, which may end up winning. Colman Domingo is recognized for his portrayal of 60s gay black activist Bayard Rustin. Among the notable omissions, I must mention Joaquin Phoenix’s outstanding performance as Napoleon: boisterous, arrogant, comical, and charismatic.
Regarding the supporting roles, Da’Vine Joy Randolph should definitely be recognized for her exceptional portrayal of Miss Lamb in The Holdovers. Interestingly, Robert Downey Jr is expected to win for his mediocre performance as Lewis Strauss, Oppenheimer’s rival. However, I believe his contribution is overrated and the least compelling among the nominees, which also include Ryan Gosling’s hilarious Ken, Robert De Niro’s sinister farm owner in Killers of the Flower Moon, Sterling K Brown’s heartbreakingly tragic brother figure in American Fiction, and Mark Ruffalo’s delightful and mustachioed scoundrel in Poor Things – the most comical movie cad since Terry-Thomas.
Source: theguardian.com
