HOLLYWOOD — “Oppenheimer” secured a commanding lead in this year’s Oscar nominations, receiving an impressive 13 nods, including a nomination for Best Picture, solidifying Christopher Nolan’s masterful portrayal of the father of the atomic bomb.
Following closely is “Poor Things,” a female-focused reinterpretation of the Frankenstein myth, with 11 nominations, and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 10 nominations, both vying for Hollywood’s most prestigious awards.
However, the day brings some disappointment for “Barbie,” the counterpart to last summer’s “Barbenheimer” box office success and the highest-grossing film of the year. Despite being a satire based on a popular line of plastic dolls, “Barbie” settled for eight nominations, falling short of expectations.
Notably, key nominations for director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie are missing, drawing dismay from supporting actor nominee Ryan Gosling, who emphasizes the integral role they play in the film.
“Oppenheimer,” released on the same day as “Barbie” and grossing nearly $1 billion, emerges as the front-runner for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards on March 10. The film earned nods for director Christopher Nolan and stars Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt, along with recognition in various technical categories.
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a three-and-a-half-hour true crime opus, makes history with Lily Gladstone becoming the first Native American nominee for Best Actress. While “Killers” earned several nominations, including for Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo in acting categories, there’s disappointment for Leonardo DiCaprio, overlooked in the Best Actor category, and a miss for Best Adapted Screenplay.
This year marks a milestone for female directors, with three films directed by women—”Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” and “Past Lives”—earning Best Picture nominations. “Anatomy of a Fall” stands out, securing a nomination despite not being France’s official entry in the international film category. The film, helmed by director Justine Triet, also gains recognition for editing and original screenplay.
Bradley Cooper shines with three individual nominations for acting in, producing, and writing “Maestro,” a Leonard Bernstein biopic that received seven nominations. Other notable performances include Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” earning five nominations, and “American Fiction,” a satire on race, publishing, and Hollywood, which garners five nominations as well.
The Best Picture category is completed by “Past Lives,” exploring love and friendship over time, and the stark Nazi drama “The Zone of Interest.” The nominations were announced by Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid from Los Angeles at 5:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) Tuesday.
(By el Amigo/Sourced online/MNM)
