Academy Awards 2024: A Night of Triumphs and Disappointments

Beneath the Glitz and Glamour, Missed Opportunities and Surprises Unveiled

The Academy Awards, the pinnacle of cinematic recognition, is set to captivate audiences worldwide on March 10, 2024. However, amidst the excitement, several notable names and films find themselves surprisingly absent from the prestigious nominee list.

Notable Omissions: Deserving Talents Overlooked

In the fiercely competitive best actor category, Leonardo DiCaprio’s captivating performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon” failed to secure him a spot among the top contenders. Similarly, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, both past Academy Award winners, were overlooked for their roles in “May December.” The breakout star of the same film, Charles Melton, also failed to garner a nomination.

The best actress category, characterized by its intense competition, features past winner Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), three-time nominee Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), five-time nominee Annette Bening (“Nyad”), and first-time nominees Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”). This formidable lineup left no room for Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Greta Lee (“Past Lives”), Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), Fantasia Barrino (“The Color Purple”), or Michelle Williams (“Showing Up”).

The supporting actress category, while acknowledging Emily Blunt’s performance in “Oppenheimer,” America Ferrera’s in “Barbie,” Danielle Brooks’s in “The Color Purple,” Jodie Foster’s in “Nyad,” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s in “The Holdovers,” neglected to recognize the talents of Rosamund Pike (“Saltburn”), Penelope Cruz (“Ferrari”), Rachel McAdams (“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”), Claire Foy (“All of Us Strangers”), Viola Davis (“Air”), Taraji P. Henson (“The Color Purple”), Juliette Binoche (“The Taste of Things”), and Tilda Swinton (“The Killer”).

Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a passion project that garnered three nominations for best picture, best actor, and best original screenplay, surprisingly missed out on a directing nomination. This marked the second time Cooper faced such an omission, having previously been overlooked for his directorial debut, “A Star Is Born,” in 2018. Joining Cooper in the ranks of snubbed directors were Greta Gerwig (“Barbie”) and Celine Song (“Past Lives”). However, the category was not entirely devoid of female representation, with Justine Triet earning a nomination for her work on “Anatomy of a Fall.” She joined past winner Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), past nominees Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”) and Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”), and first-timer Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”).

Gerwig and Song, while denied recognition in the directing category, found solace in screenplay nominations. “Barbenheimer” (a playful moniker combining “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”) collectively amassed an impressive 21 nominations, yet surprisingly fell short in several technical categories. “Barbie” secured nominations for production design and costumes but was overlooked in makeup/hair and editing. Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer” failed to garner recognition for its practical visual effects, and “Killers of the Flower Moon” was inexplicably omitted from the screenplay category.

Pleasant Surprises: Deserving Recognition at Last

Amidst the disappointments, there were also pleasant surprises. “Poor Things,” with its visually stunning presentation, earned a remarkable 11 nominations. The Academy also acknowledged the exceptional use of sound in “The Zone of Interest,” a film that effectively conveyed the horrors of Auschwitz through its auditory elements. Additionally, “Godzilla Minus One” made history as the first Japanese monster movie to receive an Oscar nomination, specifically for its visual effects.

Black-and-white cinematography experienced a resurgence, with three films earning nominations in this category: “Oppenheimer,” “Maestro” (both utilizing black-and-white sequences), and the vampire film “El Conde.”

In the realm of music, composer John Williams, a legendary figure in the industry, earned his 54th career nomination for his work on the latest installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. This remarkable achievement surpassed all others except Walt Disney. Robbie Robertson, in a posthumous nomination, received recognition for his score in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

The feature documentary category witnessed the omission of “American Symphony,” a film exploring the life and music of Jon Batiste, and “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” a poignant exploration of the actor’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Finally, the list of films that failed to secure a spot among the 10 nominees for best picture included “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Color Purple,” “Air,” “May December,” “Ferrari,” “Napoleon,” “Are You There Gold? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Asteroid City,” “Priscilla,” “Origin,” and “Rustin.”

As the Oscars Approach: Anticipation and Excitement Heighten

As the anticipation for the 96th Academy Awards builds, the nominees eagerly await the grand ceremony, where the cinematic achievements of the year will be celebrated, and the triumphs of filmmakers and performers will be etched into the annals of cinematic history.

Don’t miss the biggest night in film! Tune in to the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, 2024, to witness the celebration of cinematic excellence.