Hollywood ending as film world embraces diversity
After last year’s threats of a boycott, a surprise plot twist as inclusive Oscar nominations are revealed
IF THERE’S one thing Hollywood knows how to pull off, it’s a surprise ending – and after last year’s criticism for failing to cast any non-white actors at the Oscars, yesterday’s list of nominees represented a significant volte-face.
In naming seven people of colour in the four main performing categories, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was not only striking a blow for the liberal left but also thumbing its nose at the new occupant of the White House, whose election has done much to unnerve the film community.
The inclusion of Meryl Streep for a record-breaking 20th time will also not have gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill: she famously called President Trump out at the Golden Globes two weeks ago and he replied in unstatesmanlike terms, calling her “overrated”.
After last year’s demand for a boycott by the likes of Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, the academy had been at pains to expand its voting body to include more diverse voices.
Yet there was irony in its acclamation of La La Land, the story of an aspiring actress and a musician who sing and dance their way around Los Angeles. Though adored by many, the film has been criticised in some quarters for its own lack of diversity, with Ryan Gosling – a nominee for Best Actor – cast as a white man who tries to save jazz.
The film is the most nominated musical ever, beating the 13 racked up in 1965 by Mary Poppins and the 12 the same year by My Fair Lady. Only the nonmusicals Titanic and All About Eve have ever matched its 14 nods.
Gosling’s co-star, Emma Stone, will compete with Miss Streep for the best actress statuette, along with Isabelle Huppert for Elle, Ruth Negga for Loving, and Natalie Portman for Jackie.
Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield, Naomie Harris and Dev Patel led the British charge, with nominations for their work in Hacksaw Ridge, Moonlight and Lion respectively.
But there was no recognition for Ken Loach’s northern benefits drama I, Daniel Blake, and Hugh Grant, Miss Streep’s co-star in Florence Foster Jenkins, was also disappointed.
Garfield, born in Los Angeles but raised in Surrey, was nominated for his performance in Mel Gibson’s drama as a pacifist US Army medic who refuses to carry weapons. Gibson himself was nominated as best director.
Garfield’s previous roles include one as a reporter at The Yorkshire Post in the TV adaptation of David Peace’s Red Riding novels.
Denzel Washington and Viggo Mortensen make up the Best Actor nominees.
Patel, the star of Slumdog Millionaire, plays a young man separated from his family in Lion. He is nominated with Mahershala Ali for Moonlight, Jeff Bridges for Hell Or High Water, Lucas Hedges for Manchester By The Sea and Michael Shannon for Nocturnal Animals.
Harris, whose first Oscar nomination is for her supporting role as a drug addict in Moonlight, is named with Viola Davis for Fences, Michelle Williams for Manchester By The Sea, Nicole Kidman for Lion and Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures.
Mel Gibson will take on directors Damien Chazelle for La La Land, Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester By The Sea, Barry Jenkins for Moonlight and Denis Villeneuve for Arrival.
The academy had been at pains to expand its voting body to include more diverse voices.