21 Biggest Oscars Snubs and Surprises: ‘Don’t Look Up,’ Lady Gaga, ‘Drive My Car’ and More

Greatest Image Oscar nominee “Don’t Look Up” focuses on a world thrown into chaos and uncertainty on account of an impending apocalyptic occasion. That very same power utilized to the lead as much as this 12 months’s Oscar nominations, which was as soon as once more outlined by a pandemic that pressured actors, administrators and extra contenders to marketing campaign from behind their pc screens. Even prime awards strategists conceded in the previous few days that that they had no thought who would make the ultimate lower because it wasn’t simple to ballot voters who had been watching this 12 months’s contenders from screeners at dwelling and never on FYC screenings and occasions.

Now that the nominees have been introduced, the 94th Academy Awards might be a superb evening for Netflix’s “The Energy of the Canine.” The drama, directed by Jane Campion, led all movies with 12 nominations and marked the primary time {that a} girl was nominated for a second time in the perfect director class (Campion’s first Oscar nomination for director was for 1993’s “The Piano”). “Dune” adopted with 10 nominations. Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical memoir “Belfast” picked up seven nods.

There have been some surprising omissions. No Woman Gaga for “Home of Gucci.” Bradley Cooper missed out for his scene-stealing flip in “Licorice Pizza.” In higher information: after not receiving a SAG Award nomination, Kristen Stewart landed her first Oscar nomination for enjoying Princess Diana in “Spencer.” And the excitement for “Drive My Automotive” was actual: The movie obtained 4 nominations, together with one for director Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

Listed below are the largest snubs and surprises.

SNUB: Woman Gaga, “Home of Gucci”
As Patrizia Reggiani, Woman Gaga performed an Italian girl who married into the Gucci household and orchestrated the homicide of her husband. Gaga campaigned ferociously for the Oscar — and he or she was the one actress who had picked up each precursor, as a nominee for the BAFTA, Critics’ Alternative Award, Golden Globe and SAG. However alas, Gaga got here up brief in the long run with Oscar voters. Her snub was the largest of the morning.

SUPRRISE: Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
Although she spent many of the season because the perceived frontrunner for her portrait of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain’s unsettling drama, all bets had been off when Stewart didn’t land a SAG Award nomination for the position. However in the long run, as many predicted, she nonetheless walked away along with her first Academy Award nomination.

SNUB: Jennifer Hudson, “Respect”
The hyper-competitive finest actress class was certain to have its share of disappointments and surprises, however after scoring a SAG Award nom for her fearless portrayal of Aretha Franklin, Hudson’s odds had been wanting good. She was additionally eligible for the unique music “Right here I Am” – one other extremely aggressive class. However the Oscar winner (for “Dreamgirls”) finally didn’t land in both class.

SNUB: Denis Villeneuve for steering “Dune”
Although “Dune” landed 10 Oscar nominations — second solely to “Energy of the Canine’s” 12 — together with finest image, the director’s department didn’t nominate Denis Villeneuve for his bold sci-epic. All of the extra spectacular for Villeneuve: “Dune” was one of many uncommon motion pictures from final 12 months to succeed on the field workplace with a simultaneous streaming launch on HBO Max. However he’ll get one other probability with “Dune 2.”

SURPRISE: Jessie Buckley, “The Misplaced Daughter”
The primary nomination introduced was additionally one of the nice surprises: Jessie Buckley scored recognition for her supporting position in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s function directorial debut. Sharing a task with a legend like Olivia Colman isn’t any small feat, and voters had been clever to acknowledge Buckley’s excellent work.

SNUB: Caitriona Balfe, “Belfast”
Ever since Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical story of rising up in Eire throughout The Troubles hit the pageant circuit, the query hasn’t been if the actors can be nominated – simply what number of. For many of the season, the one certain factor gave the impression to be Caitriona Balfe for her flip as a strong-willed mom; she was the one solid member individually nominated on the SAG Awards (although everybody was acknowledged in ensemble) and he or she hit each main precursor. However in the long run, it was Judi Dench who took the supporting actress nomination, touchdown her eight nomination (she’s a winner for “Shakespeare In Love.”) For the lads, each Ciarán Hinds and Jamie Dornan had been in competition for his or her roles as father and son, nevertheless it was Hinds who ended up scoring in supporting actor.

SNUB: Ruth Negga, “Passing”
Rebecca Corridor’s directorial debut was utterly shut out on the nominations, however most egregiously Negga was unnoticed of the supporting actress dialog for her stunning portrayal as a Black girl passing for white within the Nineteen Twenties. Negga gained prizes from the Nationwide Society of Movie Critics and the London Movie Critics’ Circle and most notably obtained a SAG Award nomination for her flip, often a robust indicator within the race.

SURPRISE: “Drive My Automotive” takes 4 noms
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s acclaimed drama has been choosing up steam all season, together with finest image wins from teams just like the Los Angeles Movie Critics Affiliation and New York Movie Critics Circle, nevertheless it was nonetheless an unknown going into nominations morning after failing to attain at PGA and DGA. However in the long run, the Japanese movie (generally known as a lot for its three-hour run time as its accolades) took in a complete of 4 noms: image, director, tailored screenplay and worldwide movie.

SNUB: Leonardo DiCaprio, “Don’t Look Up”
Although DiCaprio has been nominated for six Oscars (and gained for “The Revenant”), he has an advanced relationship with the Academy — as he’s been snubbed for a few of his finest performances, together with “Titanic,” “Revolutionary Street,” “Django Unchained,” “The Departed” and “Catch Me If You Can.” His flip as an astronomy professor in Adam McKay’s comedy is the newest addition to that checklist.

SURPRISE: “The Worst Individual within the World” lands screenplay
One other movie that had been gaining momentum as of late was Joachim Trier’s examine of a younger girl navigating love and life starring Renate Reinsve. The Norwegian movie was predicted to land in worldwide movie and Reinsve was rising as a darkish horse contender for finest actress. And whereas it did certainly rating in worldwide movie, it was finally it was Trier and Eskil Vogt’s authentic screenplay that marked the movie’s second nomination.

SNUB: Aaron Sorkin, “Being the Ricardos” screenplay
Previous to “Ricardos,” Sorkin has directed two movies – “Molly’s Recreation” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” – and obtained screenplay nominations for each. He’s additionally a winner for “The Social Community” and a nominee for “Moneyball” and customarily thought-about a certain factor in a screenplay class. So it was a shock to see him miss for his newest – and arguably finest – movie as director.

SNUB: Tony Kushner, “West Aspect Story” screenplay
Musicals have a spotty historical past of incomes screenplay recognition on the Oscars, and remakes much more so. However Kushner’s interpretation of the traditional musical had been singled out for its creativity and intelligence. But even with a latest WGA nom, the script didn’t land within the closing 5.

SNUB: Jared Leto, “Home of Gucci”
Along with Gaga lacking out, the Academy additionally didn’t go for Leto’s gonzo efficiency because the black sheep of the style household, Paolo Gucci. However perhaps it was an excessive amount of appearing for Oscar voters? Within the movie, Leto is unrecognizable beneath layers of prosthetics.

SNUB: Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
As an affable Lengthy Island uncle in “The Tender Bar,” Affleck was singled out with a supporting actor nomination by the Golden Globes and SAG. However voters missed his efficiency — but once more. Affleck, who has gained two Oscars (for writing “Good Will Looking” and producing “Argo”) has by no means been nominated for an Academy Award for appearing.

SNUB: Bradley Cooper, “Licorice Pizza”
The actor earned raves for his roles in “Nightmare Alley” as effectively, nevertheless it was his supporting flip as Barbra Streisand’s paramour Jon Peters in “Licorice Pizza” that earned him a SAG Award nomination and gave the impression to be placing him on observe for an additional shot on the Oscars. Ultimately, he probably needed to combat towards the concept that his display screen time was too restricted and the class was insanely aggressive. Nonetheless, Cooper walked away a nominee this morning — as a producer on “Nightmare Alley.”

SURPRISE: Jesse Plemons, “The Energy of the Canine”
The shake-ups within the supporting actor class have some silver linings: For one, Plemons was acknowledged alongside along with his solid mates (and important different Kirsten Dunst) for his position as a delicate rancher in Jane Campion’s gorgeous western. This marks the actor’s first Oscar nomination of what’s more likely to be many.

SURPRISE: J.Okay. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”
Maybe much less of a shock as Simmons is a beloved Oscar winner in a scene-stealing position, nevertheless it was nonetheless a pleasure to listen to the actor’s title known as for his flip as William Frawley, the curmudgeonly co-star to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on “I Love Lucy.”

SURPRISE: “Flee” makes historical past
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s acclaimed movie was unimaginable to pigeonhole – the story of a person recalling his escape from Afghanistan as a toddler, it was a documentary from Denmark that additionally occurred to be animated. Whereas many anticipated the movie to land a nom for animated function, there was hope it rating one other nomination in both the doc or worldwide function classes. Ultimately, it landed all three, a primary for any movie.

SNUB: Cate Blanchett out in supporting
Blanchett delivered a crackling flip as a psychologist in “Nightmare Alley.” However she might have break up her personal vote, as she additionally delivered a few of the funnier traces as a morning present host in “Don’t Look Up.”

SNUB: “Belfast,” Modifying
Whereas “Belfast” walked away with seven Oscar nominations, together with finest image, it failed to attain within the enhancing class. At one time, it was thought-about practically unimaginable for a movie to win the highest prize with out an enhancing nomination however 2014’s “Birdman” did it – as have 9 different movies since 1934.

SNUB: Ariana Grande for the music in “Don’t Look Up”
Grande’s hilarious “Simply Look Up,” which she co-wrote, didn’t make the perfect music class. A disgrace! Her efficiency of it will have been one of many highlights of this 12 months’s telecast.