The New Zealand Herald

OscarsOsc list: snubs and surprises

The Academy Awards nomination­s have been announced with unexpected decisions both good and bad

- Emily Yahr

As usual, the Academy Award nomination­s yesterday morning made some people very happy and dealt a crushing disappoint­ment to others. Here are some of the biggest snubs and surprises:

Snubs James Franco

In The Disaster Artist, Franco stars as oddball filmmaker Tommy Wiseau, famous for creating what some consider the best worst movie ever made ( The Room). When Franco won the best comedy actor prize at the Golden Globes and wore a Time's Up pin, he was called out on social media by two women who accused him of sexually inappropri­ate and exploitati­ve behaviour. Their tweets went viral, and the Los Angeles Times followed up with a story that included more allegation­s of misconduct. Franco called the accusation­s “not accurate” in two uncomforta­ble latenight interviews, and many wondered if the attention would torpedo his Oscar chances. While we'll never know (some voters probably turned in their ballots before the headlines), it couldn't have helped.

Michael Stuhlbarg and more in Call Me By Your Name

This romance between 17-year-old Elio (Timothe´e Chalamet) and 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer), a graduate student living with Elio's family in Italy for the summer, landed four nomination­s: best picture, adapted screenplay, song and lead actor for Chalamet. Not a bad showing. Still, fans were furious with the lack of a nom for Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays Elio's father and delivers a stunning monologue about love and acceptance that makes audience members weep. Plus, despite a strong campaign, Hammer missed out on an acting nod, while director Luca Guadagnino also didn't show up on the best director list.

I, Tonya

Margot Robbie was nominated, as expected, for her starring role in the Tonya Harding biopic. Allison Janney, who plays Harding's abusive mother, will likely take home the best supporting actress prize. But the film for the disgraced figure skater still failed to make the coveted best picture category. While there's room for 10 movies, the academy voters selected only nine: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Post, The Shape of Water, Dunkirk, Lady Bird, Get Out, Call Me By Your Name, Phantom Thread and Darkest Hour.

Wonder Woman

The third highest-grossing movie of 2017, starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins, didn't land a single nomination. While superhero movies are never a lock for Oscar nods, quite a few viewers were disappoint­ed by the complete lack of attention, even in the technical categories.

The Florida Project

Critics adored Sean Baker's film that follows a 6-year-old girl living in a Florida motel, but it was also absent from the best picture category. The movie wasn't completely ignored — Willem Dafoe, who played the motel owner, earned a nomination for best supporting actor. The Washington Post called it his “finest performanc­e in recent memory”.

Steven Spielberg and Martin McDonagh

The Post and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri directors, respective­ly, were left off the list. While the best directing category is quite solid (Christophe­r Nolan, Guillermo del Toro, Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig, Paul Thomas Anderson), multiple prognostic­ators expected the veteran directors to make the cut. McDonagh did get a nomination for his screenplay.

In the Fade

This German drama, centred around a powerful performanc­e from Diane Kruger as a grieving mother whose family is killed in a terrorist attack, won best foreign language film at the Golden Globes but didn't even show up in the academy's list.

The Lego Batman Movie

Maybe not a total shock, given its predecesso­r, The Lego Movie, was also snubbed in 2015 in the animated feature film category. But The Boss Baby did make the list. Seriously.

Surprises Phantom Thread

Never bet against Daniel Day-Lewis in any contest, though the nomination total for this indie drama was still surprising. Day-Lewis, who plays a famous dress designer, was nominated for best actor, and the film also picked up nods for best picture, supporting actress (Lesley Manville), original score and costume design. Paul Thomas Anderson also earned a best director nom.

Get Out

Lots of critics hoped Jordan Peele's chilling satirical horror movie would get some Oscars attention, but steeled themselves for disappoint­ment. So many were happily shocked when it scooped up four high-profile nomination­s: best picture, director, actor (Daniel Kaluuya) and original screenplay.

Christophe­r Plummer nominated for best supporting actor

After Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct with minors, his film All the Money in the World looked like it could be in serious jeopardy last year. That is, until Plummer was recruited to take over the role of billionair­e J. Paul Getty. Extensive reshoots had to take place in about nine days so the film could make its release date. So while perhaps more people have heard about the behindthe-scenes drama than have seen the movie, the academy voters made quite a statement by nominating 88-year-old Plummer, the oldest nominee ever in an acting category.

Greta Gerwig nominated for best director

Another on the "happy surprise" list — the quirky Lady Bird earned a whopping five nomination­s, including best picture and Gerwig for best director. In other words, no one will be able to point out the all male directors list, as Natalie Portman did at the Golden Globes.

Woody Harrelson nominated for best supporting actor

Harrelson, who plays the embattled police chief in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, wasn't necessaril­y expected to show up in this category, as he beat out more likely contenders such as Stuhlbarg and Hammer.

 ?? Picture / AP ?? Greta Gerwig’s nomination for Lady Bird ensures female representa­tion in the best director category.
Picture / AP Greta Gerwig’s nomination for Lady Bird ensures female representa­tion in the best director category.
 ??  ?? Allison Janney in I, Tonya.
Allison Janney in I, Tonya.
 ??  ?? Daniel Kalluya in Get Out.
Daniel Kalluya in Get Out.

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