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« New Oscar Records! | Main | Jane Austen @ the Oscars »
Monday
Mar152021

93rd Oscars - The Nominations are here!

by Nathaniel R

Mank led the honors for the 93rd Oscars with 10 nominations though it missed in two surprising places (Bset Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing). With most of the Bst Picture contenders scoring six nominations each, Nomadland clearly remains the frontrunner and Chloe Zhao made history becoming the first woman ever to score four nominations in one year (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing). The nominations and more commentary are after the jump. The oscar charts are being updated and will be going up throughout the day

BEST PICTURE

 

"The Father"
"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Mank"
"Minari"
"Nomadland"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Sound of Metal"
"The Trial of the Chicago 7″...

 

In a major surprise both Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and One Night in Miami failed to make the cut with The Father, Sound of Metal, and Judas and the Black Messiah all benefitting from late surges.

Thomas Vinterberg, "Another Round"
David Fincher, "Mank"
Lee Isaac Chung, "Minari"
Chloe Zhao, "Nomadland"
Emerald Fennell, "Promising Young Woman"

.

OSCAR CHART UPDATED - YOU CAN VOTE

Several people predicted Vinterberg as a hunch. We did not but good on them! Happy to see him here after a stellar career and mistreatment by the Academy (as he should have taken the Best Foreign Language Feature Oscar for Festen/Celebration way back in 1998 but he wasn't nominated). In  more important news, this is the first time two women have been nominated simultaneously in the category and this is the first time two Asians have competed in the category. 

Viola Davis, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
Andra Day, "The United States vs. Billie Holiday"
Vanessa Kirby, "Pieces of a Woman"
Frances McDormand, "Nomadland"
Carey Mulligan, "Promising Young Woman"

.

OSCAR CHART UPDATED - VOTE DAILY

This is only the second time two black women have been nominated simultaneously in this category (the first was in 1972 with Diana Ross and Cicely Tyson both competing)

Maria Bakalova, "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm"
Glenn Close, "Hillbilly Elegy"
Olivia Colman, "The Father"
Amanda Seyfried, "Mank"
Youn Yuh-jung, "Minari"
.
OSCAR CHART UPDATED - VOTE ON THE READER'S POLL

Despite a volatile precursor season, Oscar went with the somewhat expected lineup here. The most precursor honored player that didn't land here was Helena Zengel in News of the World. And Jodie Foster's Globe win and subsequent miss here is interesting in that that hasn't happend in 44 years. The last such instance was Katharine Ross in Voyage of the Damned (1976)

 

Riz Ahmed, "Sound of Metal"
Chadwick Boseman, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
Anthony Hopkins, "The Father"
Gary Oldman, "Mank"
Steven Yeun, "Minari"

.

OSCAR CHART UPDATED - VOTE DAILY

This is the first time Best Actor has been majority men of color and the first time two Asians have competed in any acting category. This was a tough break for Delroy Lindo from Da 5 Bloods but precursors just didn't push him hard enough. Given Another Round's Best Director nomination, we're guessing Mads Mikkelsen was in sixth place here rather than Delroy Lindo.

Sacha Baron Cohen, "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
Daniel Kaluuya, "Judas and the Black Messiah"
Leslie Odom Jr., "One Night in Miami"
Paul Raci, "Sound of Metal"
Lakeith Stanfield, "Judas and the Black Messiah"

.

OSCAR CHART UPDATED - vote daily

Did you hear? Both Judas and the Black Messiah are supporting characters in the movie called Judas and the Black Messiah. Category Fraud ridiculousness. The film has two male leads and both were nominated for supporting, proving once again that Oscar voters have no respect for character actors, preferring movie stars in the categories designed for non-headliners. 

The surprising omission here, given the precursor support, was Chadwick Boseman for Da 5 Bloods but that film scored only 1 nomination (Best Score) so it clearly wasn't an Oscar favourite. 

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

"Borat Subsequent MovieFilm"
"The Father"
"Nomadland"
"One Night in Miami"
"The White Tiger"

.

Recency helped The White Tiger land here. And also it's very writerly nature given the excessive narration and being based on a best-seller. These nominations were an unlucky break for First Cow and Ma Rainey. We love Ma Rainey but we're glad it didn't score here as there wasn't much adaptation of August Wilson's brilliant play. Not that there should have been. It was fine the way it was. Brilliant already.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

"Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Minari"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Sound of Metal"
"TheTrial of the Chicago 7"

.

Recency helped Judas  and Sound of Metal held on too. Mank proved to be the film without enough support from the writer's branch which is interesting since it's about a writer and about writing movies. 

ORIGINAL SONG

"Fight For You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah"
"Hear My Voice" from "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
"Husavik" from "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga"
"lo Sì (Seen)" from "The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)"
"Speak Now" from "One Night in Miami..."
.
Oscar was REALLY into end credits songs this yar, suggesting they might have changed their "bakeoff" process where they used to watch the song clips in context of the films -- a process which wasn't that favorable to end credits over black screens. 

Very happy for "Husavik" which should clearly win.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

"The Father"
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
"Mank"
"News of the World"
"Tenet"

.

The Production design branch of the Academy just can't get enough of Christopher Nolan's movies, can they? This is a surprising (but deserved) get for The Father though. 

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Sean Bobbitt, "Judas and the Black Messiah"
Erik Messerschmidt, "Mank"
Dariusz Wolski, "News of the World"
Joshua James Richards, "Nomadland"
Phedon Papamichael , "The Trial of the Chicago 7"

.

We correctly guessed that they'd finally nominated Bobbitt for late-breaking Judas but we still don't get what Trial of the Chicago 7 is doing here. 

COSTUME DESIGN

"Emma"
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
"Mank"
"Mulan"
"Pinocchio"

.

Pinnochio surprises. We probably shoudln't have predicted Ammonite given its lack of a CDG nomination but we though that branch would favor Michael O'Connor's work again. Only 1 Best Picture nominee is competing here which is a fun change of pace. 

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

"Greyhound"
"Mank"
"News of the World"
"Soul"
"Sound of Metal"

.

Greyhound managed to score one nomination after all. And Soul is th first animated film to score in Sound in a bit. 

ORIGINAL SCORE

"Da 5 Bloods"
"Mank"
"Minari"
"News of the World"
"Soul"

.

Raise your hand if you knew that Terence Blanchard would be the only Oscar nominee from Da 5 Bloods. (We did not). 

VISUAL EFFECTS

"Love and Monsters"
"The Midnight Sky"
"Mulan"
"The One and Only Ivan"
"Tenet"

.

The Academy had the chance to make humanitarian history here and honor the very deserving Welcome to Chechnya. They blew it. 

FILM EDITING

"The Father"
"Nomadland"
"Promising Young Woman"
"Sound of Metal"
"The Trial of the Chicago 7"

.

We're thrilled that The Father made it but we think Trial of the Chicago 7 easily wins this which is a pity as the others are so artful and interesting in the editing department. 

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

"Emma"
"Hillbilly Elegy"
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
"Mank"
"Pinocchio"

 

Nice group don't you think?

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"Another Round" - Denmark
"Better Days" - Hong Kong
"Collective" - Romania
"The Man Who Sold His Skin" - Tunisia
Quo Vadis, Aida? - Bosnia and Herzegovina

.

In a major surprise Hong Kong scores here despite being about teenagers which is not really an Oscar draw in this category. The others were expected but for Tunisia though it's fans were very passionate so it wasn't much of a surprise. 

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

"Feeling Through"
"The Letter Room"
"The Present"
"Two Distant Strangers"
"White Eye"
,
Color us disappointed that our two favourites (Kicksled Choir and The Human Voice) weren't nominated and our two least favourites  (The Letter Room, Feeling Through) among the 10 finalists were. 

 

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

"Onward"
"Over the Moon"
"A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon"
"Soul"
"Wolfwalkers"

.

As expected. This is the first time Pixar has managed two nominations in a single year in this category though they've won half of these trophies so it's easy to not notice that. 

 

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

"Burrow"
"Genius Loci"
"If Anything Happens I Love You"
"Opera"
"Yes-People"

.

Hmmm. Very happy for Opera and Yes People.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"Collective"
"Crip Camp"
"The Mole Agent"
"My Octopus Teacher"
"Time"

.

An insanely competitive category this year though we're bummed for Dick Johnson is Dead and Welcome to Chechnya our two fav docs of the year. 

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

"Colette"
"A Concerto Is a Conversation"
"Do Not Split"
"Hunger Ward"
"A Love Song For Latasha"

.

Almost nailed the predictions in this category. Alas, our favourite of the 10 finalists (Speed Cubers) didn't mak it. Perhaps it was just too happy for this category that generally loves misery. 

AND THAT'S THAT. CHART UPDATES COMING ALL DAY TODAY. 

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Reader Comments (131)

hold on to your hats

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterAdrian S-G

NO Jodie No Ellen yes to Amanda.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

Oscars so black!! wow @ Best Supporting Actor! Great job Academy!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterSuzanne

LaKeith Stanfield?! Nice shocker

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPoliVamp

So category fraud Reigns JATBM has no lead.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

Congrats Glenn Close, American treasure.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

WHO TF IS THE LEAD IN JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH THEN?
Did everyone just get submitted at supporting?
Glad LaKeith has an Oscar nom tho, but this is bullshit. Category fraud at its finest.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterFadhil

Judas and the Black Messiah, who is the lead? Dominique?

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterUnknown

LAKEITH STANFIELD???

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterMichael R

markgordonuk: Yeah. Both leads of a movie can get nominated in Supporting. Shameless. Hey, here's an idea: Boost ALL acting categories to 10 and see whether this crap still happens.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

There are no leads in Black Messiah apparently.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Mank and Ma Rainey ignored at screenplay. Both Netflix movies.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterUnknown

At least Raci is there sad no Murray or Rylance.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

No Pedro Almodovar. :(

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterDan Humphrey

Nathaniel just had a stroke when Stanfield's name was announced...

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterMichael R

No Welcome to Chechenya.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterUnknown

Thank God Raci, Close, and Seyfried got in.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterMichael R

I'd have preferred Burstyn,Cooke or Foster over Close and Bakalova but Amanda Seyfried looked shaky and she's in so am very happy.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

Oscar has this Animated Feature Film in their Twitter page for 20 minutes. They uploaded it by mistake instead of the animated short film.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterUnknown

One Night in Miami and Ma Rainey out of best picture.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterUnknown

Another Round got Director but no Mikkelsen.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermarkgordonuk

They really loved SOUND OF METAL it even got a Best Picture nom!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterDAVID

Jesse Plemons must be the lead of JUDAS, then? Or Maybe Martin Sheen and that godawful makeup?

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterJonathan

Well at least no Jared Leto but WOW

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermikenewq

I'm happy.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

Once again, they made the best decisions out of all awards bodies.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterDl

So happy for all the PYW, Minari and Sound of Metal love.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterSad man

Except Best supporting leading actor, everything else is YES

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPP

with the exception of TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, might this be the freshest, hippest batch of films the Academy has ever nominated?

Borat, Minari, Judas, Promising Young Woman, Nomadland, Sound of Metal!

This is not the same Academy of 20 years ago or ever 5 years ago. I love it!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterRicky

Delighted by all the nominations for Minari. It is was shot few miles from where I live. Happy!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterKD

ohh I feel like a virgin - watched it live for the first time :)
I love these nominees !!!
Steinfield I had to look up ...as haven't seen Judas.
Glenn, Amanda, Carey, Vanessa & Emerald congrats & Hurray !!!
No love for one of my favourites One Night In Miami ... which is really sad - but otherwise all in all WHAT A YEEEEAAAAARRRRR !!!! Puhhhh ... finally that was like a double marathon

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentermartin

I guess there are no leads in Judas and the Black Messiah.

Actress and Actor are strong.

That best director lineup is top-notch. Glad I stuck to my guns and put Vinterberg in my predictions.

Ma Rainey and One Night in Miami - no picture nomination. Wonder if Twitter will have a collective stroke?

Having just seen The Father last night, I'm thrilled at how well it did. The production design and editing were remarkable. Just a really superb film.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterAaron

The good:
-Two women directors!
-No Sorkin for Best Director
-No Ma Rainey or Mank in Screenplay
-Lakeith Steinfeld, one of our best young actors, is an Oscar nominee (let's focus on that)
-Amanda Seyfried!
-No Boseman in supporting
-Raci!
-Vinterberg!
-The Mole Agent for Documentary

The bad would be no Welcome to Chechnya for Doc or VFX and no Almodóvar in Short Film... but that might be it? Good list

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterLucky

This best picture line-up is great. I don't miss One Night in Miami and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

LaKeith was submitted in lead. Don't drag him or the film. The voters put him in supporting.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commenterjules

Ouch. Ma Rainey and One Night snubbed (I guess they could only have one “black” BP and it’s Judas), no black director nominated. Not a good look this year.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterDMF

The Father did really really well. Don't count Hopkins out yet for the gold. Also, I'm glad that the Academy chose not to nominate Boseman for Da 5 Bloods, but I'd have been happier if his spot would have gone to Glynn Turman rather than the JATBM double dip.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterAbzee

Disappointed for WELCOME TO CHECHNYA, BIRDS OF PREY and a few odds and ends, but for the most part a pretty solid list. That JUDAS double in supporting is *nuts*. Like, was Cate Blanchett a supporting in CAROL as well? Their names are both in the title. I have to imagine that voters had both on both ballots but supporting is where they each fell with the most votes. I like that they ignored MA RAINEY's adaptation. Happy for Maria Bakalova. Good on Andra Day, too.

Love that COLLECTIVE double. Predicted that quite a while back, too.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterGlenn Dunks

That JATBM category fraud is the most egregious thing I've seen in a while. The fact that the Academy members watched the movie and decided that both leads were supporting is...a choice.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterTroy H.

Unknown: Except Ma Rainey is an August Wilson "You just have to film what he gave you" and it missed for another Netflix movie (The White Tiger) and Mank, well: The script is a not as good Sorkin copy in terms of rhythms/tone. Those misses are good.
Visual Effects: SIGH. If they were going to nominate a talking animals thing anyway, why The One and Only Ivan over Sonic?

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterVolvagia

Also, all the Best Picture nominees got 6 nominations except for Promising Young Woman (5) and Mank (10)! Talk about spreading the wealth, we don't have last years problem were several of films got over 10 nods.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterLucky

Overall pretty happy. Supporting Actress is everything (Seyfried yay!)

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterRyan

I desperately wanted Delroy Lindo to get in, but alas. I’m thrilled for Lakeith Stanfield, Ramin Bahrani, Thomas Vinterberg, Terence Blanchard, and Steven Yeun. Disappointed that two of the three major films with predominantly Black casts were not nominated for Best Picture. Glad that two women are competing for Best Director, although I had hoped it would be three. Delighted with the Best International Film lineup. Overall, this was one of their better recent years.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterThe Mighty Rhino

Emerald Fennell get nominations for Picture, Directing, Writing for a debut is pretty fantastic.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterKD

Mostly great surprises. Happy for Stanfield as the surprise though I'm sure both leads of Judas showing up in Supporting will definitely be discussed for blatant category fraud.

The Father getting Editing and Production Design - beautiful. So well deserved.

Judas in Cinematography, Mole Agent in Doc (though Dick Johnson and Chechnya should be there), Sound of Metal so many places including BP and Raci... These are good. Very happy overall. And yay for two women in Director, finally (and both stellar picks)!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered Commentereurocheese

No surprises in the actress/supporting actress categories which is a surprise in itself.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterJF

No Speed Cubers. I mean, I said that was coming and it still hurts.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterRobert G

God bless Glenn Close!!

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterAndrew Carden

Very good nominees overall. I wish Dear Comrades would get in in International Film. Very happy for Amanda and The Father. And also, I'm glad the academy made it clear: Filmed plays have no place in Best Picture.

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterLuc

REFORM BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy

At first I was happy for LaKeith Stainfield nomination, but then I though 'so this movie has no leading actor?'. Academy members feel no shame when it comes to category fraud hahaha

March 15, 2021 | Unregistered CommenterJ
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