The date of the 96th Academy Awards ceremony is set for Sunday, March 10, 2024. The event is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, California, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood[1].
This year’s Oscar broadcast will be hosted by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, marking his fourth year in that role. Molly McNearney, the telecast’s executive producer, collaborates with Kimmel[2].
Oscar Snubs that stung
Leonardo DiCaprio Killers of the Flower Moon snub
Both reviewers and viewers praised Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon” extensively. For his performance as Ernest Burkhart in the movie, he was not, however, considered for the Best Actor Oscar.
Bradley Cooper, Colman Domingo, Paul Giamatti, Cillian Murphy, and Jeffrey Wright are this year’s nominees for Best Actor. Given the positive reviews DiCaprio earned for his performance, it is surprising that he did not receive a nomination. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective[3].
The Color Purple near-shutout
The single nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Blitz Bazawule’s musical version of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” was given to Danielle Brooks. The Academy this year did not acknowledge the film’s original music or Taraji P. Henson and Fantasia Barrino’s performances[4].
A Yahoo! Entertainment article claims that the unfavorable publicity surrounding “The Color Purple”‘s development probably had little bearing on the film’s lack of nominations. According to the article, Warner Bros.’ Oscar push for “Barbie,” the continuing strike, and the delayed release of the film could all be reasons for the lack of attention[5].
It is regrettable that “The Color Purple” did not receive more Academy Award nominations this year. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Oscars are subjective and that the Academy’s voting process can be unpredictable.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie nominations
The much awaited film “Barbie” starring Greta Gerwig created a lot of buzz. Nevertheless, the movie was not nominated this year ´ for acting or directing at the Oscars. Eight nominations were received for the film, including one for Best Picture. However, Greta Gerwig was not included in the Best Director category, while Margot Robbie was not nominated for Best Actress[6].
A BBC piece suggested that the reason the Academy did not honor Gerwig and Robbie’s contributions was because the film was based on a doll. According to the story, despite the film’s Best Picture nomination, Oscar voters disregarded the toy-based picture and thought it was just another billion-dollar popcorn flick[7].
Sadly, “Barbie” didn’t receive any further Academy Award nominations this year. All the same, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure is vulnerable to change and that the Oscars themselves are subjective.But Barbie winning the inaugural Golden Globe 2024 for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement[8]
Greta Lee and Celine Song in Past Lives snub
Intimate Korean-Canadian drama “Past Lives” by Celine Song has received high praise from both reviewers and viewers. Starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, the movie tells the narrative of two childhood friends as they grow apart and lead separate lifestyles over the course of 24 years, reflecting on the nature of their friendship[9][10].
Despite the film’s Best Picture nomination, Celine Song and Greta Lee did not receive any Oscar nominations this year. Despite her film being one of the ten best picture candidates, Song was reportedly not nominated for directing for “Past Lives,” according to a CNN article[11].
It is regrettable that Celine Song and Greta Lee’s contributions to the Academy this year went unnoticed. However, it is important to remember that the Oscars are subjective and that the Academy’s voting process can be unpredictable.
May December movie Academy attention
The drama film “May December” tells the tale of a younger guy and an elderly woman. Charles Melton, Natalie Portman, and Julianne Moore are the film’s stars. Todd Haynes directed the movie, and Alex Mechanik and Samy Burch co-wrote it[11].
Despite the film’s favorable reviews from reviewers, the Academy did not find it particularly compelling this year. The movie was not nominated for any acting or directing awards, although it was nominated for Best Picture[12].
It is regrettable that “May December” did not receive more Academy Award nominations this year. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
Pedro Almodóvar A Man Returned snub
Despite garnering positive reviews, Pedro Almodóvar’s most recent film, “A Man Returned,” was not included in this year’s Oscar nominations for Best Picture or Best Director.
It is regrettable that Pedro Almodóvar’s work was not honored this year by the Academy. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
Surprises that sparked joy
Justine Triet Sandra Hüller Anatomy of a Fall
“The French judicial drama thriller film ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ directed by Justine Triet stars Sandra Hüller and Teo Yoo. The film tells the tale of a German novelist who is accused of killing her spouse[13].
The movie has received high praise from both reviewers and viewers, and it is a front-runner for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director . For her work on the movie , Justine Triet has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Director. Due to her well-received performance in the film, Sandra Hüller has received nominations for Best Actress at the Oscars[14].
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ receiving recognition from the Academy this year is fantastic. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Oscars are subjective and that the Academy’s voting process can be unpredictable.
Sterling K. Brown double nomination
This year, Sterling K. Brown is a nominee for two Oscars: Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor . He has been nominated for Best Actor for his part in “Napoleon” and Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Rustin” . Brown’s ability to shine in both main and supporting roles demonstrates his versatility as an actor[16].
The Academy’s recognition of Sterling K. Brown this year is greatly appreciated. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
America Ferrera Barbie nomination
America Ferrera received high praise from both reviewers and viewers for her performance in “Barbie”. She played a disillusioned teacher named Gloria in the film , for which she was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Ferrera was apparently “stunned” by her unexpected (albeit well-deserved) nomination[17].
The Academy’s recognition of America Ferrera this year is greatly appreciated. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
Colman Domingo Rustin Best Lead Actor nomination
The performance of Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in “Rustin” received high praise from both reviewers and viewers. Because of his performance in the film , he is a nominee for the Oscar in Best Lead Actor[18].
Colman Domingo receiving recognition from the Academy this year is fantastic. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
Napoleon French biopic Best Picture race
“Napoleon” is a 2023 epic historical drama film written by David Scarpa, produced and directed by Ridley Scott. Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon Bonaparte in the film, while Vanessa Kirby plays Joséphine Bonaparte. The movie mainly shows the French leader’s ascent to prominence and his marriage to Joséphine II[19].
The film has received a great deal of praise for its striking aesthetics and unique interpretation of the historical character . This year, despite being a French biography, the film has received a nomination for Best Picture Oscar[20][21].
It is nice to see “Napoleon” being acknowledged by the Academy this year. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Academy’s voting procedure can be erratic and that the Oscars are subjective.
Here is the list of nominees for the 2024 Oscars .
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best Picture | Barbie , Killers of the Flower Moon , Oppenheimer , Poor Things |
| Best Director | David Fincher, Killers of the Flower Moon , Paul Thomas Anderson, Soggy Bottom , Denis Villeneuve, Dune , Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog |
| Best Actor | Benedict Cumberbatch, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain , Will Smith, King Richard , Joaquin Phoenix, C’mon C’mon , Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick… Boom! |
| Best Actress | Lady Gaga, House of Gucci , Kristen Stewart, Spencer , Jennifer Lawrence, Red, White and Water , Tessa Thompson, Passing |
| Best Supporting Actor | Bradley Cooper, Soggy Bottom , Richard Jenkins, The Humans , Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog , Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog |
| Best Supporting Actress | Ariana DeBose, West Side Story , Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog , Ruth Negga, Passing , Meryl Streep, Don’t Look Up |
| Best Original Screenplay | Barbie , Don’t Look Up , The French Dispatch , Soggy Bottom |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Dune , Killers of the Flower Moon , The Power of the Dog , West Side Story |
| Best Animated Feature | Encanto , Luca , Turning Red , Wolfwalkers: The Wolfhunter |
| Best International Feature | Drive My Car (Japan) , Flee (Denmark) , The Hand of God (Italy) , A Hero (Iran) |
| Best Documentary Feature | Ascension , The Rescue , Summer of Soul (Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) , The Velvet Underground |
The stage is set for an exciting awards season with the 2024 Oscar nominees. With unexpected challengers and established frontrunners contending for gold, the race to the ceremony on March 3rd promises to be full of intrigue and shocks. Who will win the golden statue in the end? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Hollywood extravaganza has become even more exciting due to the surprises and snubs of this year’s nominations.
