NEW YORK. In the wake of a challenging year for the film industry marked by strikes and work stoppages, the Academy Awards announced their nominations on Tuesday, with Christopher Nolan’s biopic “Oppenheimer” leading the pack with 13 nominations.
Nolan’s three-hour epic, widely considered a frontrunner for Best Picture, received nods not only for the top honor but also for Nolan’s direction. Additionally, key cast members Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt earned acting nominations, while the film garnered recognition for its overall craftsmanship in depicting the J. Robert Oppenheimer drama.
Despite being recognized as a prominent filmmaker of his generation, Nolan has yet to win an Academy Award, and none of his previous films have secured the Best Picture accolade. Reflecting on the success of “Oppenheimer,” which combined a lengthy narrative with historical depth and grossed nearly $1 billion, Nolan expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment from the academy, stating, “It certainly confirms our faith in what studio filmmaking can be.”
Greta Gerwig’s feminist comedy “Barbie,” the highest-grossing film of the year, received eight nominations, including Best Picture, and acting nods for Ryan Gosling. However, Gerwig was notably absent from the Best Director category, a departure from her 2018 nomination for “Lady Bird.” The Best Director field has seen increased recognition for women in recent years, with Chloé Zhao and Jane Campion winning the award.
Other well-received films included Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” both receiving 11 and 10 nominations, respectively. Lily Gladstone, the star of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” made history as the first Native American nominated for Best Actress.
The Best Picture nominees comprised a diverse selection, with three films directed by women: “Past Lives” by Celine Song, “Anatomy of a Fall” by Justine Triet, and Gerwig’s “Barbie.”
In a surprising turn, the Best Actor category included Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, Bradley Cooper, and Colman Domingo, who became the second openly gay man nominated for playing a gay character. The Best Actress category featured nominees Lily Gladstone, Emma Stone, Carey Mulligan, Annette Bening, and Sandra Hüller, leaving out Margot Robbie and Fantasia Barrino.
Supporting actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph continued her strong awards season presence for “The Holdovers,” alongside other nominees including Emily Blunt, Danielle Brooks, Jodie Foster, and America Ferrera.
Notably, The Associated Press received its first Oscar nomination in its 178-year history for “20 Days in Mariupol,” a documentary chronicling the besieged Ukrainian city.
The Best Picture lineup reflected a balance between theatrical releases and streaming platforms, with Netflix leading with 18 nominations. The nominations indicated a return to the significance of theatrical releases, with Apple and Amazon prioritizing cinematic releases after acquiring MGM.
While the Oscars have historically favored smaller films, the nomination of “Oppenheimer” signals a potential shift, as the blockbuster grossed $326.8 million domestically and nearly $1 billion globally. The upcoming ceremony on March 10, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is expected to benefit from the presence of popular films like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.”
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
