Bingkai Karya – The 96th Academy Awards nominations are out, and they represent a significant shift for Hollywood’s biggest awards show. Here are the key takeaways:
This year’s nominees showcase a truly global film industry, with three best picture contenders – “Anatomy of a Fall” (French), “Past Lives” (Korean), and “The Zone of Interest” (German) – shot primarily in languages other than English. This marks a first for the Oscars, highlighting the increasing diversity of cinematic storytelling.
After years of overlooking commercially successful films, the Academy has embraced blockbusters like “Oppenheimer” (13 nominations) and “Barbie” (8 nominations). This move aligns with efforts to boost Oscar viewership, which dipped during the pandemic.
Despite “Barbie’s” box office success, Margot Robbie’s absence from the acting nominations and Greta Gerwig’s omission from the best director category are surprising setbacks. This may be due to the Academy’s expansion of the best picture category to 10 nominees, while holding the best director category at five, leading to inevitable snubs.
The Academy recognizes new talent with nominations for Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut “American Fiction” and the Korean romance “Past Lives.” Leonardo DiCaprio’s absence from the “Killers of the Flower Moon” acting nominations also demonstrates that star power doesn’t always guarantee recognition.
Seven of the 20 acting nominations went to people of color, including indigenous actress Lily Gladstone and several nominees in the supporting actress category. This progress reflects the Academy’s commitment to inclusivity.
Veteran filmmakers like Martin Scorsese (10th best director nomination) and John Williams (oldest nominee ever at 91) continue to break records. Jodie Foster also returns to the supporting actress category after a 28-year hiatus.
Despite dominating the box office, superhero movies are largely absent from the visual effects category, with only “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” receiving recognition. This marks a potential turning point for the genre’s awards success.
The Oscar ceremony will air on March 10th, and the competition promises to be fierce. Whether “Oppenheimer” lives up to its frontrunner status, “Barbie” rebounds from its snubs, or a dark horse emerges victorious, the 96th Academy Awards will be a night to remember.
