Can Anything Beat Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’?
The summer blockbuster is shaping up to be the first best picture sweeper since ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
“Oppenheimer” has surged ahead of its competition, potentially becoming one of the most dominant Oscar winners since “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), which garnered eight statuettes. Looking at the state of the race post-nominations, the Universal Pictures blockbuster could make an even bigger impact.
Christopher Nolan’s historical drama about the father of the atomic bomb leads the tally with 13, making it the 11th movie to reach such a gargantuan count. Six of the previous 10 films scored best picture wins, including “Gone With the Wind” (1939), “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “The Shape of
Water” (2017). The four that lost — “Mary Poppins” (1964), “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966), “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) — weren’t heavily favored to triumph in their respective years. That’s probably not the fate of “Oppenheimer,” particularly after its victories at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
And let’s consider the other “Oppen-homies.” Robert Downey Jr. is in the pole position to be named best supporting actor for his portrayal of the slimy bureaucrat Lewis Strauss. After winning the Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe, and with previous Oscar noms for “Chaplin” (1992) and “Tropic Thunder” (2008), he’s the clear favorite.
However, it isn’t entirely sealed for Downey, as Mark Ruffalo’s inclusion for “Poor Things” is intriguing. With four nominations to his name, including for “The Kids Are All Right” (2010), “Foxcatcher” (2014) and “Spotlight” (2015), the beloved veteran could create an Iron Man vs. Hulk acting race. But Ruffalo’s candiirishman” dacy might be hurt after he was overlooked for SAG and BAFTA nominations. Only two people in the modern era have won Oscars without being recognized by those groups: Marcia Gay Harden for “Pollock” (2000) and Regina King for “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018).
On paper, Yorgos Lanthimos’ sci-fi fantasy comedy “Poor Things” is the most formidable challenger to Nolan’s epic. It scored 11 nominations, including two for Emma Stone as a producer and leading actress. She is only the second woman to achieve this feat, after Frances Mcdormand for “Nomadland” (2020) — she won in both categories. A close competition is expected between Stone and “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone, the first Native American nominee in the category.
“Killers” and “Poor Things” could find themselves virtually shut out if they lose the actress prize. And while Martin Scorsese is now the most nominated living filmmaker, he’s had a spotty track record of converting those nods to wins. Two of his films, “The (2019) and “Gangs of New York” (2002), went home empty-handed despite racking up nods. Then there’s “Poor Things.” If it fails to win in any category, it will tie “The Color Purple” (1985) and “The Turning Point” (1977) as the movie with the most Oscar losses.
Bradley Cooper enters the ceremony as a 12-time nominee, but he has yet to nab the trophy. “Maestro” also marks the second time he’s directed himself to an acting nod, having previously accomplished that with “A Star Is Born.” He now joins a select group of individuals who have done so more than once. The others are Laurence Olivier, Warren Beatty and Clint Eastwood — pretty heady company.
Despite Netflix leading with 18 nominations among studios, A24 is the only one to secure two of the 10 best picture slots, notable given the indie nature of both its films (“The Zone of Interest” and “Past Lives”).
While some categories feel cemented, a lot can happen in the seven weeks before the envelope is opened.