Eclectic Oscar nominations led by ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’
In a year when the push was on for more crowd-pleasing Oscar contenders, art-house-friendly movies “Roma” and “The Favourite” lead the pack in the 91st annual Academy Award nominations, which were announced Tuesday morning.
Both movies received 10 nominations.
That’s not to say the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didn’t also play the hits: “Black Panther,” with seven nominations, joined “Roma” and “The Favourite” as one of the year’s eight best-picture nominees, along with “A Star Is Born” (eight nominations), “Bohemian Rhapsody” (five) and “Green Book” (five).
Among contenders with Wisconsin ties, Appleton native Willem Dafoe was nominated an Oscar for best actor for his performance as Vincent Van Gogh in “At Eternity’s Gate.”
It’s Dafoe’s fourth Oscar nomination, and his first for best actor. He’s been nominated three times before for best supporting actor — for “The Florida Project,” “Shadow of the Vampire” and “Platoon” — but has never won.
He’s a long shot to win this time; in the early oddsmaking, the leaders are Christian Bale, for his channeling of Vice President Dick Cheney in “Vice”; and Rami Malek, for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Another Wisconsin connection at this year’s Oscars will be Phil Johnston; the Neenah native was nominated as co-director of “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” for best animated feature.
Other highlights
“Vice” collected eight Oscar nominations in all, including best picture, director (Adam McKay), supporting actress (Amy Adams) and supporting actor (last year’s winner, Sam Rockwell).
Spike Lee was nominated for best director — his first time ever in the category — for “BlacKkKlansman.” The movie received six nominations in all, with Lee himself a nominee for best picture (as one of the producers) and adapted screenplay.
This year, Alfonso Cuarón has Lee beat — nominations-wise. The Mexican director (who previously won an Oscar for directing “Gravity”) received four nominations for “Roma,” as producer (best picture), director, cinematographer and writer (original screenplay).
Bradley Cooper wasn’t nominated for best director for “A Star Is Born,” but he received three others: for best actor, best adapted screenplay and best picture (as one of the movie’s producers).
Snubs and surprises
Per usual, there were some surprises, including the non-nomination for best original score for Justin Hurwitz for “First Man.” The Nicolet High School grad, who won two Academy Awards for the music for “La La Land” two years ago, won the Golden Globe in the category earlier this month.
“Mary Poppins Returns,” which had been expected to pull in a number of nominations including best picture and possibly best actress for Emily Blunt, only pulled in four nominations in mostly technical categories.
Blunt was also considered a serious contender for best supporting actress for “A Quiet Place,” but the horror movie only collected one nomination, for sound editing.
“Crazy Rich Asians,” one of this summer’s biggest critical and commercial hits, came up empty as well.
The 91st Academy Awards will be doled out on Feb. 24, live on ABC.