‘Mank’ and diversity are the big winners in the Oscar nominations
No doubt many eyebrows are being raised across Hollywood today as the nominations for the 93rd annual Academy Awards were announced Monday morning with several surprise inclusions and omissions.
Netflix’s “Mank,” David Fincher’s black-and-white reminiscence about old Hollywood and the making of Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane,” dominated with 10 nominations, including nods for picture, director and actor for star Gary Oldman. Following right behind are: Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari,” Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal” and Florian Zeller’s “The Father,” all with six.
There are only eight nominees in the best picture field this year, though Oscar rules state that voters can choose as many as 10. The nominees are: “The Father,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” Left out of the pack are such favorites as Pete Docter and Kemp Powers’ “Soul,” Regina King’s “One Night in Miami,” Paul Greengrass’ “News of the World,” Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” and George C. Wolfe’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
The nominations were announced from London by Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas.
According to the Academy, seven women received a total of 76 nominations, a record for a year. Two women — Zhao and Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) — are going against each other in the director’s category
But the big surprise in the director’s category is Paul Vinterburg’s comparatively little-seen, Danish-language “Another Round,” the drama about the very dangerous drinking game of four men that stars Mads Mikkelsen. Vinterburg is competing alongside Fincher and Chung, in addition to Zhao and Fennell. “Another Round” is also competing for the foreign-language international feature award.
The acting categories are especially diverse this year. Up for best actor are Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”), Gary Oldman (“Mank”) and Steven Yeun (“Minari”). While in the actress category, there’s Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”), Vanessa Kirby (“Pieces of a Woman”), Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”) and Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”).
This is especially sweet for Ahmed and Yeun — as well as supporting actress nominee Yuon Yuh-jung from “Minari” — whose nominations represent a breakthrough for actors of Asian descent. Yeun is the first Asian American to be nominated in his category. Ahmed is British.
(Though it’s a little bit funny that, in a year when there is so much ethnic, racial, linguistic and gender diversity on display, the film with the most nominations, “Mank,” is a throwback to a time when Hollywood was run nearly totally by white men.)
Speaking of Ahmed, it was a good day too for “Sound of Metal,” the drama about a noise-rock drummer who must confront the fact that he’s going deaf. Paul Raci, playing his counselor, is up for supporting actor. It’s also up for original screenplay, film editing, and, no surprise, sound. Its immersive way of plunging the viewer into the drummer’s world has been hailed by critics.
Sacha Baron Cohen has more than one reason to celebrate. He’s nominated in the supporting actor category for “The Trial of the Chicago 7” along with Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), LaKeith Stanfield (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) and Paul Raci. Cohen’s own film, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” is up for supporting actress (Maria Bakalova) and adapted screenplay.
“Hillbilly Elegy,” though generally despised by critics, came away with nominations for Glenn Close for supporting actress and makeup/hairstyling. And it’s good to see Ramin Bahrani’s India-set film “The White Tiger” be remembered in the adapted screenplay category along with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “The Father,” “Nomadland” and “One Night in Miami.”
But it would have been nice to see recognition for “The Mauritanian,” which was shut out completely. Jodie Foster won a Golden Globe for her performance and Tahar Rahim was nominated.
The impressive Hong Kong/ China film “Better Days” is a surprise, though welcome, inclusion in the international feature category (formerly known as the foreign-language film category). It’s going up against “Another Round,” “Collective,” “The Man Who Sold His Skin” and “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Unfortunately, the brilliant Taiwanese film “A Sun” is not included.
The 93rd annual Academy Awards takes place at 7 p.m. April 25 and will air on KTRK-TV/ Channel 13.
Here’s the list of nominees in the major categories. For the full list, go to oscars.org:
Picture: “The Father”; “Judas and the Black Messiah”; “Mank”; “Minari”; “Nomadland”; “Promising Young Woman”; “Sound of Metal”; “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Director: Paul Vinterburg, “Another Round”; David Fincher, “Mank”; Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”; Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland”; Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”)
Actor: Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”; Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”; Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”; Gary Oldman, “Mank”; Steven Yeun, “Minari”
Actress: Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”; Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”; Vanessa Kirby, “Pieces of a Woman”; Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”; Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
Supporting actor: Sacha Baron Cohen, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”; Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”; Leslie Odom Jr., “One Night in Miami”; Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”; LaKeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Supporting actress: Maria Bakalava, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”; Glenn Close, “Hillbilly Elegy”; Olivia Colman, “The Father”; Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”; Yuon Yuh-jung, “Minari”
Original screenplay: “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Minari,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Adapted screenplay: “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “The Father,” “Nomadland,” “One Night in Miami,” “The White Tiger”
Animated film: “Onward,” “Over the Moon,” “A Shaun: The Sheep Movie,” “Soul,” “Wolfwalkers”
Documentary feature: “Collective,” “Crip Camp,” “Mole Agent,” “The Octopus Teacher,” “Time”
International feature: “Another Round,” “Better Days,” “Collective,” “The Man Who Sold His Skin,” “Quo Vadis, Aida?”