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The nominees for the 90th Academy Awards were announced, but what do the nominations mean and who are front-runners? Here are some things to know heading into the March 4 ceremony.
Get Out receives the recognition it deserves
After the debacle at the Golden Globes where Jordan Peele’s jarring horror satire Get Out was nominated as a comedy, the film finally gets the honor it deserves. Peele’s ingenious look at how black people are portrayed in America received four nominations, including Best Picture. Peele picked up nods for Best Directing and Original Screenplay, and Daniel Kaluuya is among the great actors up for Best Actor. It’s always great to see films that came out almost a year represented at the Academy Awards.
James Franco doesn’t receive an Oscar nomination
Just three weeks after James Franco took home a Golden Globe for his performance in The Disaster Artist, the actor didn’t receive an Oscar nomination. There’s no telling why the actor didn’t pick up a nod, but allegations of sexual misconduct emerged just days after the Globes ceremony.
First woman nominated for Best Cinematography
Rachel Morrison became the first woman in the Academy’s 90 years to be nominated for Best Cinematography. Let that sink in. Morrison was in charge of the camera work for Netflix’s original movie Mudbound starring Mary J. Blige, who also picked up two nominations.
Kobe Bryant will be at the ceremony — as a nominee
Who would’ve thought that after retirement Kobe Bryant would turn to movies. The basketball star received a nomination for his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” which is based on a poem he wrote. Only time will tell if he can score a statue.
Greta Gerwig is only the fifth woman to be nominated for Best Director
Many people were upset when Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig wasn’t nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes. But Gerwig became the fifth woman in history to be nominated and the first woman to be nominated for a directorial debut. Gerwig also received a nod for Original Screenplay.
The Florida Project was snubbed for Best Cinematography
The Best Cinematography category lacked some substance, especially because The Florida Project wasn’t nominated. Cinematography was the whole focus of Sean Baker’s masterful look into poverty in Florida. The shots were beautifully framed and captured the quirkiness of the buildings in Orlando. It’s a shame it wasn’t recognized.
Wonder Woman didn’t receive any nominations
It was pretty unlikely that Wonder Woman was going to receive a Best Picture nomination, but it’s surprising the film didn’t pick up anything at all. It was the summer blockbuster and received a lot of early buzz. It should have at least picked up a nomination for Best Costume Design or Set Production.
The LEGO Batman Movie didn’t receive a Best Animated Feature nod
The LEGO Movie franchise has been well-represented in past years, but the latest addition did not receive a nod. It left a lot of people sending the bat signal to find it.
Phantom Thread is on the Oscar surge
Phantom Thread did not pick up many nominations at the Golden Globes, but Daniel Day-Lewis’ final film earned a total of six nominations, including Best Picture. Day-Lewis’ retirement is surely helping this film along, but it could even push it to win in a couple categories.
Three Billboards is the front-runner for Best Picture
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama and Best Ensemble cast at the SAG awards. It’s obvious that it is the front-runner for the night’s biggest award. There’s no telling if the film will fizzle out, but if the past award shows are any indication of how the night will go, Three Billboards will be a big winner March 4.
