The 94th Academy Award nominations were announced earlier this week and as always, they offered quite a few unexpected snubs and surprises. Let’s take a look at this year’s nominees:
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jessie Buckley – The Lost Daughter
Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
Judi Dench – Belfast
Kirstin Dunst – The Power of the Dog
Aujanue Ellis – King Richard
Ellis, Dunst and DeBose all deliver fantastic performances and have been locked in since the very beginning of the season, so it was no surprise to hear those names in the lineup. All three are first-time nominees and have officially been welcomed into the Oscars club. Kirstin Dunst has been around for a very long time and has delivered a wide variety of great performances from Blockbuster fare (Spider-Man), to arthouse gems (Melancholia), to beloved TV series’ (Fargo), so it is very exciting to finally be able to refer to her as an Academy Award nominee. Jessie Buckley is also a first-time nominee and her inclusion in the lineup comes as a very welcomed surprise. The Lost Daughter has had a last-minute surge, so even though she was ignored by the precursors, it helped her gain the attention of the only awards body that truly matters – The Academy. Jessie Buckley has transformed into one of the most exciting and in-demand new talents in recent years, so her inclusion here is very well deserved. Judy Dench, on the other hand, has absolutely no place being in this lineup. Her Belfast co-star Caitriona Balfe, has been represented at basically every single precursor so far and delivers much better performance in every sense, so the fact that Dench leap-frogged her and ended up earning a nomination, is really upsetting. The Academy was so close to making history and having a lineup with all first-time nominees. That would have been far more exciting, but outside of Dench’s nomination, this is a very solid lineup.
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Ann Dowd (Mass) and Caitriona Balfe (Belfast)
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Judi Dench (Belfast)
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Cruella
Cyrano
Dune
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story
The only real surprise here is the exclusion of House of Gucci. If that film deserved any recognition, it was in Best Costume Design, as the film is very fashion-focused and features a number of very extravagant costumes. That being said, this is a very strong lineup and I have no complaints. Cyrano is probably the biggest surprise, but that was always on the bubble and has detailed Victorian-era costumes, so its nomination makes sense.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: House of Gucci
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST SOUND
Belfast
Dune
No Time to Die
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
Sound is a standout element in Dune, No Time to Die and West Side Story, so those three were shoe-ins from the get-go and absolutely deserve to be in the lineup. Belfast and The Power of the Dog, on the other hand, seem to have rode their hype in other categories to a Best Sound nomination. In Belfast in particular, it is difficult to hear the dialogue in certain scenes, and the sounds of the explosions during the battle scenes are poorly mixed. I would have personally loved to see Last Night in Soho earn a nomination here, as it has spectacular sound design, just like most Edgar Wright films do.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Last Night in Soho
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Belfast and The Power of the Dog
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Don’t Look Up
Dune
Encanto
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog
The lineup for Best Original Score is very strong, but there are some snubs that, if included, would have made this lineup even stronger. I absolutely love the inclusion of Parallel Mothers. The sharp-heavy, string-driven score is very anxiety-inducing and helps to heighten the atmosphere considerably. Nicholas Britell’s work on Don’t Look Up is certainly not his best, but it’s a lot of fun to listen to and proves that Britell is an even more versatile composer than I initially thought. Jonny Greenwood’s score for The Power of the Dog is great, even if it isn’t anything new for Greenwood, but his work in Spencer is far more impressive. The microtonal jazz that Greenwood composed for Spencer is unlike nothing else and should be up for this award. The obvious and rightful frontrunner is Hans Zimmer for Dune. The Dune score is extremely versatile and massive in scope, as he juggles between his typically electronic-focused work, drum-heavy pieces and even some operatic vocals. I also love how Zimmer infused middle eastern influences into the score. The only nominee I am not enthusiastic about is Encanto. I understand that the film and its soundtrack are a cultural phenomenon at the moment – I myself am a fan, but the score is really nothing special. Lin Manuel Miranda’s songs are what stands out and what deserves to be recognized, not the score. I am also fairly shocked that Alexandre Desplat did not receive a nomination for The French Dispatch, but it is not his best work and the Academy seem to feel the same way about that film as I do (0 nominations is very telling), so I am not at all upset by this exclusion.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Spencer
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Encanto
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
CODA
Drive My Car
Dune
The Lost Daughter
The Power of the Dog
This is the exact lineup I was predicting and hoping for and The Academy actually went with it. I am thrilled to see Drive My Car included in this category, as I strongly believe it has the best Adapted Screenplay of the year. I am also thrilled to see Jane Campion recognized here, as the dialogue was one of the standout elements of that film. The only inclusion I have queries with is Dune, but the only other screenplay that was firmly in the conversation was West Side Story, which I think is very flawed in terms of writing, so as it stands, I have no problems with this lineup.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
The Worst Person in the World
While I am not that enthusiastic about Don’t Look Up and King Richard being included in this lineup over films like Mass, Red Rocket and C’mon C’mon, the inclusion of The Worst Person in the World certainly makes up for it. The Worst Person in the World is far and away the best film of 2021 in my opinion, so seeing it being recognized in a major category outside of International Feature is very exciting. It also came at the exclusion of Being the Ricardos, a film that had a very weak screenplay, so I am thrilled the Academy made the right decision.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Mass, Red Rocket, C’mon C’mon
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: King Richard, Don’t Look Up
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Ciaran Hinds – Belfast
Troy Kotsur – CODA
Jesse Plemmons – The Power of the Dog
JK Simmons – Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Power of the Dog
Hinds, Kotsur and McPhee have done exceedingly well this season in terms of scoring nominations, so they felt like comfortable locks for a while now. Just like in Best Supporting Actress, they are all first-time nominees. The nomination for Hinds, in particular, is very exciting, as he has been around for a very long time and is one of the most criminally underrated character actors in the business. Those last two slots were completely up in the air, but many pundits seemed to believe that they would go to Bradley Cooper in Licorice Pizza and Jared Leto in House of Gucci – two performances that I don’t consider to be Oscar-worthy. Jamie Dornan was another name being thrown around, and he certainly would have been deserving. However, in the end, those last two spots went to Jesse Plemmons and JK Simmons. Similar to Jessie Buckley, Plemmons nomination was a very pleasant surprise. He has established a passionate fanbase and has delivered some incredible performances within the past few years, so it is great to finally see him get his due. JK Simmons is in a similar situation to Judi Dench, in that his nomination prevented this category from being all first-time nominees. Simmons is a terrific actor, but he can sometimes fall into the trap of being typecast, and that’s certainly the case with Being the Ricardos. His performance is very weak compared to the rest of the nominees.
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Jamie Dornan (Belfast) & Jason Isaacs (Mass)
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: JK Simmons (Being the Ricardos)
BEST FILM EDITING
Don’t Look Up
Dune
King Richard
The Power of the Dog
Tick, Tick… Boom!
The Film Editing category is often difficult to predict and this year proved no different. While Dune and The Power of the Dog were firmly locked in, the other three spots were wide open. Many pundits, including myself, thought that Belfast and Licorice Pizza were locked in for this category, but apparently, that was not the case. I would have also loved to see West Side Story be represented here, but I cannot complain too much, as this is a very solid group of nominees. The tennis scenes in King Richard are very well-edited, and Tick, Tick… Boom! Is the best-edited film of the year as far as I’m concerned, so I’m thrilled to see it represented in this category. While there are far too many cuts per minute in Don’t Look Up for my liking, it did add to the chaotic and energetic atmosphere of the film.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: West Side Story and Licorice Pizza
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
Coming 2 Amerca
Cruella
Dune
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
House of Gucci
The Best Makeup & Hairstyling category was fairly predictable this year. The only other potential nominee was The Suicide Squad, but seeing as the Academy has already awarded another film in that series, its omission was not too surprising.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Encanto
Flee
Luca
The Mitchell’s vs. The Machines
Raya & The Last Dragon
While I would have personally loved to see Belle, The Summit of the Gods or Sing 2 receive a nomination, I enjoyed every single one of these nominees to some degree. These are the five films that have been predominantly in the conversation all season in one way or another, so it is not surprising that this is the final lineup.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Belle, Summit of the Gods
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Be Alive – King Richard
Dos Origuitas – Encanto
Down to Joy – Belfast
No Time to Die – No Time to Die
Somehow You Do – Four Good Days
Billie Eilish vs Beyonce vs Lin Manuel Miranda. This is easily one of the most exciting and unpredictable races this year. Before the nominations were announced, I would have said that this was Billie’s award to lose, as No Time to Die is easily the best song in this lineup and Billie is the biggest star in the world. However, with Encanto becoming a dominant force on the Billboard charts, and King Richard overperforming, this category is more up in the air than I may have expected. The inclusion of Down to Joy from Belfast is puzzling, as the song is not available to stream or listen to anywhere, including YouTube. Even though Four Good Days is a relatively unknown film that has not gained any traction whatsoever, Diane Warren’s songwriting credit was enough to earn it a nomination. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of some much more deserving songs. I would have been thrilled to see So May We Start from Annette, Beyond the Shore from CODA or Guns Go Bang from The Harder They Fall, but the Academy consists of film enthusiasts, not music experts, so you can’t expect them to always make the right decisions in this category.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Beyond the Shore (CODA), So May We Start (Annette), Guns Go Bang (The Harder They Fall)
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Somehow You Do (Four Good Days), Down to Joy (Belfast)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Ascension
Attica
Flee
Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Writing With Fire
I have unfortunately not been on top of watching documentaries this year, so I have not seen the majority of these. Summer of Soul and Flee are the two I am familiar with, and they both stand a very good chance at winning this award. The one film I was very surprised to not see here is The Rescue. That film is one of the few documentaries this year to catch on with audiences, as it is thrilling and cinematic in nature.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: The Rescue
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Dune
Free Guy
No Time to Die
Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home
While I am disappointed that Godzilla vs Kong did not get any recognition, as that movie has some of the best visual effects of the past few years, I have no complaints with this lineup. Dune deserves a nomination for the sandworms alone, Spider-Man & Shang-Chi have some of the best VFX in the MCU, No Time to Die is more stunt oriented, but has some impressive minimalist VFX, and while I wouldn’t necessarily give Free Guy an Oscar nomination, it has a lot going on visually. I am surprised the Matrix: Resurrections was left out, but I personally feel that its VFX pale in comparison to the original, despite it coming out over 20 years ago.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Godzilla vs. Kong
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Dune
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of MacBeth
West Side Story
This may be the best lineup out of any category this year. As much as I enjoy Belfast, I am thrilled that it was omitted. The Academy usually goes for any top contender with B&W cinematography, even if the compositions are not that impressive. I’m glad they didn’t take the bait, and instead went with five very worthy nominees.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Dune
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story
Another category with an outstanding set of nominees. Dune, Nightmare Alley, The Tragedy of Macbeth and West Side Story frankly have some of the greatest production design I have ever seen. If only The French Dispatch joined them, this could have been a perfect lineup. Unfortunately, in an attempt to show their love for The Power of the Dog, the Academy voted for it in basically every category. This is one of two nominations it received (the other being best sound) that it absolutely did not deserve. The production design in The Power of the Dog is fairly minimal, with most of the scenes taking place outdoors, so this inclusion makes very little sense.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: The French Dispatch
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: The Power of the Dog
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
Drive My Car
Flee
The Hand of God
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom
The Worst Person in the World
I am absolutely thrilled to see Flee, Drive My Car and especially The Worst Person in the World, get some recognition both here and in other major categories. Those are three of the greatest films the year had to offer, so it makes this race all the more exciting. I personally was not a fan of The Hand of God, as I found it to be mean-spirited and lacking in depth. I would have definitely preferred to see Compartment No. 6 sneak into the lineup. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a curious nomination, as very few people have actually gotten the chance to see this film. It did play at major festivals and has not gotten any recognition in critics’ circles or the precursors. This is the very first film from Bhutan to receive an Academy Award nomination.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Compartment No. 6
WHAT SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: The Hand of God
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Javier Bardem – Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield – Tick, Tick… Boom!
Will Smith – King Richard
Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth
With the exception of Javier Bardem, who is comically miscast as Desi Arnaz, this is a very strong lineup. Will Smith delivered potentially his strongest performance to date as Richard Williams. Andrew Garfield is electric as Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick… Boom! Benedict Cumberbatch channels his best Daniel Plainview, as the slimy and arrogant lead in The Power of the Dog. While The Tragedy of Macbeth is far from Denzel Washington’s best work, he does Shakespeare well and it’s understandable why he would receive a nomination. This is one of the only years where there isn’t a first-time nominee in this category. I would have personally loved to see Simon Rex sneak into that fifth slot instead of Bardem, as his performance was easily one of the most vibrant and energetic of the year.
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Simon Rex (Red Rocket), Joaquin Phoenix (C’mon C’mon), Nicholas Cage (Pig)
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman – The Lost Daughter
Penelope Cruz – Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman – Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart – Spencer
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Despite earning nominations at every single precursor, Lady Gaga did not receive a nomination for her performance in House of Gucci… and this lineup is all the better without her. Lady Gaga is a talented actress, but her borderline campy portrayal of Patrizia Gucci is far from Oscar-worthy. Despite missing the SAG and BAFTA, Kristen Stewart thankfully earned a nomination for her excellent and subversive performance as Princess Diana in Spencer. I am also thrilled to see Penelope Cruz earn a nomination, as I believe her performance in Parallel Mothers is easily one of her best to date. That being said, this lineup is far from perfect. Coleman, Chastain and Kidman are all very talented but do not deserve nominations for these performances, especially over actresses like Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) and Emilia Jones (CODA).
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), Emilia Jones (CODA).
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Olivia Coleman (The Lost Daughter)
BEST DIRECTOR
Kenneth Branagh – Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi – Drive My Car
Paul Thomas Anderson – Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion – The Power of the Dog
Steven Spielberg – West Side Story
There were many surprising snubs this year, but the most shocking was the omission of Denis Villeneuve for Dune. He did receive a nomination for co-writing the script, but it is his direction that makes visual and technical feast. The fact that it has earned so many below-the-line nominations and is the frontrunner to win in many categories, yet didn’t earn a nomination for its director, is downright baffling. However, this is a very strong lineup. Kenneth Branagh put his heart and soul into crafting Belfast, Jane Campion’s methodical and detailed direction of The Power of the Dog is very impressive, Steven Spielberg returned to form to craft his best film in years, Paul Thomas Anderson made his most sensitive and magical film to date, and the inclusion of Rysukuke Hamaguchi is one of the best gifts the Academy gave us this year.
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: Denis Villeneuve (Dune)
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: N/A
BEST PICTURE
Belfast
CODA
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story
This was the first year in over a decade where there were 10 nominees for Best Picture, instead of the sliding scale. The expansion of this category allowed for some interesting films to slip in that may have been snubbed otherwise. Drive My Car has to be one of the most out-of-the-box and arthouse films to ever receive a nomination for Best Picture. It’s a remarkable film that deserves all the attention that it received. Nightmare Alley was also a surprise, as that film was rarely represented at the precursors, and received a lukewarm response from the film community. While I enjoyed the film, I would have preferred to see Tick, Tick… Boom! Or The Worst Person in the World, receives a nomination. That being said, this is a very impressive lineup and an exciting Oscar race in general.
WHO SHOULD BE IN THIS LINEUP: The Worst Person in the World, Tick, Tick… Boom!
WHO SHOULDN’T BE IN THIS LINEUP: Don’t Look Up, King Richard
