2020 Academy Award Nominations


I can't believe I set my alarm and got up early on my day off for this. This is the most frustrating year of following the Oscars for me, and that's saying something after the mediocrity that was Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody won a bunch of Oscars last year. We now live in world where Joker has the most nominations and the Oscars are still so white and so male. There are a few bright spots that I'm excited about, like Jojo Rabbit getting way more Oscars that I expected, but I'm just disappointed with so much. Here are a list of the nominations plus my thoughts. 


Best Picture
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Would it kill these people to just use 10 slots? You're telling me there was no room for Knives Out or Dolemite is my Name here? 

Best Director
Martin Scorsese - The Irishman
Todd Phillips - Joker
Sam Mendes - 1917
Quentin Tarantino - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho - Parasite
I can't imagine thinking Todd Phillips is a better director than Marielle Heller, Greta Gerwig, Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson, Lulu Wang, or literally any other woman that directed something this year. And he's not the only issue. Scorsese and Tarantino are getting nominated by name only for their mediocre work. This category could've been so much better without those three. I know, how dare I speak against Scorcese and Tarantino like that. Well, I like their movies and these two where nowhere near their best. 

Best Actor
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
I over estimated how much the Academy would love The Two Popes, but I probably should've seen it coming. I'm happy for Adam Driver being here, but it's a shame Eddie Murphy isn't. Or even Taran Edgerton who DIDN'T lip sync like last year's winner Rami Malek did. Or Roman Griffin-Davis who out acted Phoenix at every turn. Or George MacKay who carried 1917. Or Adam Sandler who gave his best performance to date. Or even Willem DaFoe spilling his beans in his weird ass movie. 

Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo - Harriet
Scarlett Johansson - Marriage Story
Saorise Ronan - Little Women
Charlize Theron - Bombshell

Renee Zellweger - Judy
Lupita Nyong'o being snubbed so the most egregious thing. We didn't need Theron in here over here. I'm happy for Erivo (who honestly gives the best performance of these 5) and Ronan but I will never get over the Lupita snub. Even Awkwafina would've been a good choice here.

Supporting Actor
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
Older legends only, apparently. Sorry Dolemite is my Name, Parasite, and Last Black Man in San Francisco, what with your amazing supporting performances but lack of big names. Sorry Shia LaBeouf who poured his heart and soul into Honey Boy, you're not famous enough.

Supporting Actress
Kathy Bates - Richard Jewel
Laura Dern - Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson  - Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh - Little Women
Margot Robbie - Bombshell
When Hustlers came out, I said I didn't see what was so Oscar worthy about Jennifer Lopez's performance. It eventually grew on me so seeing her snubbed here was a shock. Shuzhen Zhao should've been here too. Did Scarlett need two nominations? I liked her in Jojo but she already has one for Marriage Story and who actually saw Richard Jewel? Would it kill voters to amplify women of color here? They're already giving the best performances. I will say I'm over the moon about Pugh though, but I'm going to pretend this is for Midsommar.

Adapted Screenplay
Taika Waititi - Jojo Rabbit
Steve Zaillian - The Irishman
Anthony McCarten - The Two Popes
Greta Gerwig - Little Women
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver - Joker
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood would've been a better inclusion than Joker. Actually, nearly every other adapted Screenplay would've been. I'm happy for Waititi and Gerwig. The rest I don't care about. 

Best Original Screenplay
Rian Johnson - Knives Out
Noah Baumbach - Marriage Story
Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns - 1917
Quentin Tarantino - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won - Parasite
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE RIAN JOHNSON! This is one of my favorite nominations of the morning. I wish we could've subbed out Tarantino for Lulu Wang though. I'm sorry but OUATIH's screenplay wasn't good. 

Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
HTTYD! I want this to win so badly but it likely won't. I really liked I Lost My Body and Klaus so happy to see them here. 

International Feature Film
Corpus Christi
Honeyland
Les Miserables
Pain and Glory
Parasite
I'm here for Parasite. I've only seen this and Pain and Glory, I need to catch up on the other three.

Best Documentary
American Factory
The Cave
Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
No One Child Nation, gtfo.

Best Cinematography
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I can't imagine what it must be like to think Joker had cinematography good enough to be included on a list with Roger Deakins' name on it. 

Best Costume Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
No Dolemite is my Name and Rocketman is ridiculous. I'm happy for Jojo, Little Women, and even though I was lukewarm on OUATIH, those costumes were great.

Film Editing
Ford vs. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
Parasite being here is huge.

Makeup and Hairstyling
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
How does Joker have better clown makeup than It: Chapter 2? Serious question.

Original Score
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars is only here because it's John Williams' last go of it. It's a shame because there are better choices out there. And this is the only place I won't bitch about Joker. I think it actually deserves this one.

Original Song
"I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” Toy Story 4
"I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” Rocketman
"I’m Standing With You,” Breakthrough
"Into the Unknown,” Frozen 2
"Stand Up,” “Harriet
"Glasgow" from Wild Rose not getting nominated is offensive. 

Production Design
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Parasite! I think Knives Out should've been here too though.

Sound Editing
Ford v Ferrari
Joker”
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Sound Mixing
Ad Astra
Ford vs. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Oh hi, Ad Astra. Glad someone remembered you.

Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
All I want is for Avengers to win this.

Documentary Short Subject
In the Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone If You’re a Girl
Life Overtakes Me
St. Louis Superman
Walk Run Cha-Cha

Animated Short Film 
Daughter
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister

Live Action Short Film 
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbor’s Window
Saria

A Sister

Comments

  1. I'm sure I just heard on the radio that the average age of the Supporting Male nominees is 71. Crickey.
    Having just watched Jojo Rabbit last night I'm super happy to see it crop up a lot, and YES for Rian Johnson!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Jojo Rabbit, I wish Roman would've gotten in on the Best Actor race. I'm happy for Rian too but I think Knives Out deserved a bigger showing here. One nomination is not enough. Could've easily gotten in Picture, Costumes, and Production Design, IMO.

      Delete
  2. I can't with them. I just can't. I thought Us was poorly written but Lupita was amazing and this is sure an amazing look for the Academy - you win when you play a slave, play two women who aren't? lol lol bye.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That looks so bad on them. It's like saying "Nope, we only like you as a slave. Not when you play two wildly different characters in the same movie even if that movie was a hit and made over 100 million dollars at the box office"

      waaaaaaaaaaaat

      Delete
  3. Oh gosh...don't you know having minorities and women represented is old news. Now that they showcased them last year, it done with. This is the old white man's way of thinking. I am dumbfounded Eddie Murphy is not here and why is Tom Hanks in Best supporting? I have not seen the film but it looked like he is a main character in the film. One documentary that was overlooked was "They Shall Not Grow Old." This was an amazing feat done by Peter Jackson. I saw it in the theatre and everyone gasped when the old images converted to how it would look restored, coloured and the timing adjusted. Here is a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrabKK9Bhds

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hanks isn't in that film as much as the trailers make him out to be so that makes sense. Pitt on the other hand is a co-lead and should not be in Supporting. Murphy not getting nominated for Dolemite is criminal.

      Thanks for the link! I'll check that out.

      Delete
  4. I admit to not being a fan of J-Lo but I kind of was hoping she would be nominated. To see this morning on my phone (well, my dad's phone) that she wasn't nominated made me go "what?"

    Lupita, Eddie, and Awkwafina being snubbed is awful but Greta Gerwig snubbed for Best Director in favor of Todd Phillips? FACKING BULLSHIT!!!!

    I'm happy that Scarlett (FINALLY) got nominated yet 2 nominations? BRING IN SOME SCAR-JO WEISERS! SCAR-JO 2-OSCARS SOUNDS FUCKING NICE!!!!

    I love Joaquin Phoenix but I want Adam Driver to win.

    I'm more upset over the lack of love for Avengers: Endgame as I was really hoping it would get nominated for Best Picture.

    While I did like Joker, it doesn't deserve that much love. Oscars are getting lamer nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Endgame would've been amazing as a Best Picture nominee but you know Scorcese was out there begging people not to vote for it lol.

      I really liked both of Scarlett's performances but I don't think she needed the Jojo nom. That could've went somewhere else. But Jojo is one of my favorites so I'm always here for more of that. I think it's ridiculous Knives Out has ONE nomination.

      I don't get the Joker love. At all. I'm baffled. What is going on? lol

      Delete

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