It’s that time of year again. When everyone who half pays attention to movies, turns their attention to the glitziest and most prestigious (presumably) of awards shows: the Oscars. Yet before we find out who will take home the gold, we’ve got to sift through the nominations. Only then to inevitably sob when a one or two or ten obvious people are snubbed.
One last thing before we get to the big reveal, 2020 is a wild year. Both from a standpoint of crowdpleasers being represented, but also just what an impact those films that did well at the box office or have been discussed as nauseum did on the number of nominations they snatched up. Then there’s the continued debate of “how can a film be recognized as a best picture, if the director isn’t recognized as well?” At this time there’s no answer, but while the Academy has made strides to bring in younger voting members, the same issues of the past, are present today.
Anyways, on to the giant unfurling of nominees. Get your thumbs and index fingers ready, this is a lot to scroll through…
Best Picture
Ford V Ferrari
(Disney)
The Irishman
(Netflix)
Jojo Rabbit
(Fox Searchlight)
Joker
(Warner Bros)
Little Women
(Sony Pictures Releasing)
Marriage Story
(Netflix)
1917
(Universal/Amblin Partners)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
(Sony Pictures Releasing)
Parasite
(Neon)
Directing
The Irishman – Martin Scorsese
Joker – Todd Phillips
1917 – Sam Mendes
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Quentin Tarantino
Parasite – Bong Joon Ho
Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan -Little Women
Charlize Theron – Bombshell
Renée Zellweger – Judy
Actor in a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once upon a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver – Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes
Actress in a Supporting Role
Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell
Laura Dern – Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh – Little Women
Margot Robbie – Bombshell
Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes
Al Pacino – The Irishman
Joe Pesci – The Irishman
Brad Pitt – Once upon a Time in Hollywood
Adapted Screenplay
The Irishman – Screenplay by Steven Zaillian
Jojo Rabbit – Screenplay by Taika Waititi
Joker – Written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver
Little Women – Written for the screen by Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes – Written by Anthony McCarten
Original Screenplay
Knives Out – Written by Rian Johnson
Marriage Story – Written by Noah Baumbach
1917 – Written by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Written by Quentin Tarantino
Parasite – Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won
Cinematography
The Irishman – Rodrigo Prieto
Joker – Lawrence Sher
The Lighthouse – Jarin Blaschke
1917 – Roger Deakins
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Robert Richardson
Original Song
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman
“I’m Standing With You” from Breakthrough
“Into The Unknown” from Frozen 2
“Stand Up” from Harriet
Original Score
Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir
Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
Marriage Story -Randy Newman
1917 – Thomas Newman
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – John Williams
Documentary Feature
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
Documentary Short Subject
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)
Life Overtakes Me
St. Louis Superman
Walk Run Cha-Cha
Live Action Short Film
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors’ Window
Saria
A Sister
Animated Feature Film
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Animated Short Film
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister
Film Editing
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
International Feature
Corpus Christi
Poland
Honeyland
North Macedonia
Les Misérables
France
Pain and Glory
Spain
Parasite
South Korea
Production Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Costume Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Makeup and Hairstyling
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Sound Mixing
Ad Astra
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Sound Editing
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
See, that’s a lot to get through! As always the Academy Awards is a large and sprawling event. While there are noticeable and unfortunate omissions here, there’s a lot of people who are getting a chance to be on the big stage for the first time. Short subject documentary, short subject live action and animated short are but three categories that have a large impact on the future of Hollywood. Just food for thought. At the same time, what are the snubs that will stick in your mind? Are there any nominations that got handed out to overrated performances or films? Sound off in the comment sections. The 92nd Annual Academy Awards will air (without a host, again) on February 9th, at 6:30 EST, on ABC. Get your prediction ballets ready!
