Calay News
The 96th Academy Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, placing Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” at the forefront with an impressive 13 chances to secure an Oscar.
The cinematic landscape witnessed a robust and prolific year in 2023, with a surge in commercial offerings and critically acclaimed successes, marking a strong competition. The unstoppable triumph of “Oppenheimer,” Nolan’s drama about the father of the atomic bomb, becomes even more impressive against this backdrop.
The three-hour production garnered favorable reviews upon its July release, claiming the third spot at the box office with $950 million, trailing only behind “Barbie” and “Super Mario Bros.: The Movie.” With 13 nominations, “Oppenheimer” leads the Oscar race, only one nomination shy of the record held by “Gone with the Wind,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land.”
“Barbie” painted social media pink, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, led by Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig. However, the surprise came when America Ferrera, of Honduran descent, received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Barbie.” This marks Ferrera’s first Oscar nomination.
While Greta Gerwig, overlooked in the past for her adaptation of “Little Women,” missed out again, “Barbie” secured a Best Picture nomination. This places it among the three films directed by women competing simultaneously, a milestone for the Academy. Justine Triet, with “Anatomy of a Fall,” not only positioned the film for the top award but also became the eighth woman nominated for Best Director.
Veterans Martin Scorsese and John Williams expanded their nomination records. Scorsese, at 81, became the oldest director nominated with “Moon Killers,” earning his tenth career nomination. Meanwhile, composer John Williams secured his 49th nomination for the soundtrack of “Indiana Jones and the Fate Dial,” making him the oldest competitive nominee at 91.
In a much-debated topic in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio did not secure a nomination despite his nearly two hours of screen time in “Moon Killers.” The veteran Colman Domingo claimed the spot for “Rustin.”
The documentary category delivered unexpected nominations. Predicted contenders like “Still: A Film About Michael J. Fox” and “American Symphony” were overlooked. Instead, the nominations went to “The Infinite Memory” (Chile), “The Four Daughters” (rights of women), “To Kill a Tiger” (political narrative), “Bobi Wine: The People’s President,” and “20 Days in Mariupol” (war in Ukraine).
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 10, concluding what has been an exceptional year in cinema.
