The 91st Academy Awards were already off to a *rough* start when the Kevin Hart scenario kicked off. Tweets that aged like milk denied him the opportunity to host the Oscars and continuously left the Academy without a host. So for the first time in 30 years, there will be no host. But with all that said, yesterday the nominations were announced for this year's ceremony.
"Roma"; A year in the life of a maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s, and "The Favourite," a period comedy/drama lead the pack at 10 nominations each. Shocks like "Green Book" only getting 5 nominations and "Marry Poppins Returns" astoundingly getting 4 rounds out the majority of the big timers.
Just kidding, we've only just begun...
"Bohemian Rhapsody" the "Queen"/Freddie Mercury biopic and "Black Panther," the superhero box office billionaire had the Academy and audiences alike lose their minds.
To round out the monsters on top, "A Star Is Born," about a female singer on the rise, received eight nominations-which is fewer than expected, while "Vice," the dark yet funny biopic about Dick Cheney, also received eight nominations. "BlacKkKlansman," Spike Lee's shining star of a wild true story, gets six nominations.
"Roma"
Black and White is Cuarón's running theme throughout "Roma"
Starting off with "Best Picture," "Roma" looks to be the best and safe bet here. It was not only nominated for "Best Picture" but for "Cinematography," "Original Screenplay" and "Best Director" thanks to the wonder hands Alfonso Cuarón
"Black Panther"
Chadwick Boseman as T'challa
"Black Panther," as mentioned before, was a box office boom-stick for being a superb film about race, while also being a superhero movie. A first of its kind in that regard, and the first superhero movie to ever be nominated for "Best Picture." Another first… "Black Panther" was able to achieve this in part due to Hannah Beachler. In Production Design she just became the first African-American to break into that category.
"A Star Is Born"
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are both nominated in "A Star Is Born"
Many people were surprised at the fact that "A Star Is Born" didn't get as much love from the Academy as it should've. Not giving a "Best Director" nod to Bradley Cooper is just another nail in the coffin. In contrast, Sam Elliot getting his first ever Oscar nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" in his 50-year career somewhat takes the pain away.
"BlacKkKlansman"
Adam Driver and John David Washington in "BlacKkKlansman"
"BlacKkKlansman" has made noise through its bold storytelling with its telling of a true story for a black police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. Spike Lee finally after his 40-year career revived a "Best Director" nom while Adam Driver is leading the charge in his supporting role.
"Green Book"
Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali for "Green Book"
"Green Book," focusing on a feel-good true story that depicts interracial friendship could steal the show at the end of the night. Viggo Mortensen delivers a knockout performance that gave him a "Best Actor" nom while some say Peter Farrelly got subbed from a director nomination.
"Vice"
Christian Bale becomes Dick Cheney in "Vice"
Adam McKay has been here before, but this time instead of making a movie about the 2008 housing crisis, he's made one about former vice president Dick Cheney. With the help of Christian Bale, who at his point is a chameleon TRANSFORMS into the power-mongering Cheney. His powerful performance makes him a front runner for "Best Actor" while McKay is nominated for "Best Director" in his second movie in a row.
"The Favourite"
Rachel Weisz
Ten nominations are just the beginning for this bold period comedy piece. Not only getting two nominations in supporting actress for Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone alike but also "Best Actress" to Olivia Colman and "Best Cinematography." This film will bring a lot of Oscars home in February.
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury
Already being the talk of the Academy thanks to its underdog win for "Best Motion Drama" at the Golden Globes. The movie covering the rise of the influential band "Queen" was able to beat out already mentioned films like "A Star Is Born" and "BlacKkKlansman" in early January. It's doubtful that that'll be the case at the Oscars however. Top heavy nominations for the big awards caplet "Bohemian Rhapsody" slide down a bit. Rami Malek's performance of Freddie Mercury is anything but forgettable which could make him slide in for "Best Actor" at the last second. The movie about music got nominated for "Best Sound Editing" and "Best Sound Mixing" so don't be surprised if they take those home on the big night.
The Academy had its fair share of home runs and strikeouts.
Some notable snubs include "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Suspiria" not even getting a nomination hurts everyone's stomach who's seen either movie. Toni Collette not getting a mention for her POWERFUL performance in the years best horror thriller "Hereditary" is baffling. First Reformed to only get one nomination is puzzling, to say the least. Especially when you have Ethan Hawke as your lead actor putting on a show the whole time. "Won't You Be My Neighbor" the feel-good documentary about Mister Rodger's neighborhood left the audience in their feels as it ended but couldn't even get a nomination from the Academy.
The Oscars are on the 24th of February but more updates will be coming out until then.
