After what can only be described as a strange year for the film industry, the Oscar Nominations are finally upon us. Easily the biggest night of the year for both industry workers and movie fans, the Oscars have been awarded since 1929, making this year the 93rd Academy Award Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on April 25th, honouring movies released between January 1st 2020 and February 28th 2021. Join us as we give you the low-down on this years nominations, including our predictions for who will take home a golden statue.
Written by Becca Johnson
Usually, other ceremonies' nominations such as the Golden Globes and BAFTA's are an indication of which movies are likely to be nominated for an Oscar. It's clear that this has remained true, with previous popular nominations Mank, Minari and Nomadland being the front-runners for this years awards season. All three movies are nominated for the most prestigious Best Picture award, as well as having nominations in multiple categories. Other popular contenders such as Promising Young Woman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Judas and the Black Messiah and The Father are also frequently nominated. The Academy have rightfully paid a lot of attention to Sound of Metal, a heart-breaking yet uplifting story of a drummer who loses his hearing. The movie has nominations in multiple categories including Best Picture and Lead Actor.
The academy have also honoured movies that haven't had much recognition elsewhere, and some nominations have taken the community by pleasant surprise. Love and Monsters, a quirky dystopian about a young man venturing out to find his girlfriend despite the dangerous monsters that stand in his way, has been nominated in the Visual Effects category. Although frequently nominated in other categories, film fans are delighted to see that The Academy have picked up on Paul Raci's exceptional supporting performance in Sound of Metal and nominated him in this category. The film community is also happy to see Amanda Seyfried recognised for her exceptional supporting performance in David Fincher's newest release Mank.
The general consensus is definitely more positive than usual, however there are once again some obvious snubs. Similarly to every other awards ceremony, The Academy have ignored Delroy Lindo's phenomenal performance in most recent Spike Lee joint Da 5 Bloods. Many are also upset that Mads Mikkelsen didn't also get a nod in this category for his performance in Another Round. Though the Supporting Actor category is stacked with talent, many are upset that Alan Kim hasn't received a nomination for his role in Minari. At just age 8, his Critics Choice speech stole the heart of the entire world, and he would've been one of the youngest ever nominated by The Academy.
Here are this year's nominee's. Predictions are in red:
Best Picture
“The Father” “Judas and the Black Messiah” “Mank” “Minari” “Nomadland” “Promising Young Woman” “Sound of Metal” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round”) David Fincher (“Mank”) Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”) Chloe Zhao (“Nomadland”) Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”)
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) Chadwick Boseman (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”) Gary Oldman (“Mank”) Steven Yeun (“Minari”)
Best Actress
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”)
Best Supporting Actor
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”)
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) Olivia Colman (“The Father”) Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”) Youn Yuh-jung (“Minari”)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Sacha Baron Cohen and Co-Writers (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton (“The Father”) Chloe Zhao (“Nomadland”) Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) Ramin Bahrani (“The White Tiger”)
Best Original Screenplay
Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas, and Kenny Lucas (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”) Emerald Fennell (“Promising Young Woman”) Derek Cianfrance, Abraham Marder, Darius Marder (“Sound of Metal”) Aaron Sorkin (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”)
Best Animated Feature
“Onward” “Over the Moon” “Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” “Soul” “Wolfwalkers”
Best International Feature Film
“Another Round” “Better Days” “Collective” “The Man Who Sold His Skin” “Quo Vadis, Aida?”
Best Documentary
“Collective” “Crip Camp” “The Mole Agent” “My Octopus Teacher” “Time”
Best 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”)
Best Costume Design
“Emma” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” “Mank” “Mulan” “Pinocchio”
Best Film Editing
“The Father” “Nomadland” “Promising Young Woman” “Sound of Metal” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Emma” “Hillbilly Elegy” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” “Mank” “Pinocchio”
Best Original Score
“Da 5 Bloods” “Mank” “Minari” “News of the World” “Soul”
Best 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”
Best Production Design
“The Father” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” “Mank” “News of the World” “Tenet”
Best Sound
“Greyhound” “Mank” “News of the World” “Soul” “Sound of Metal”
Best Visual Effects
“Love and Monsters” “The Midnight Sky” “Mulan”
“The One and Only Ivan” “Tenet”
Best Documentary (Short Subject)
“Colette” “A Concerto Is a Conversation” “Do Not Split” “Hunger Ward” “A Love Song for Latasha”
Best Short Film (Animated)
“Burrow” “Genius Loci” “If Anything Happens I Love You” “Opera” “Yes-People”
Best Short Film (Live Action)
“Feeling Through” “The Letter Room” “The Present” “Two Distant Strangers” “White Eye”