Random Thoughts: 2023 Oscar nominations

Throwing in my two cents on who made the cut … and a few who should have

Now that the nominations have been announced for the 95th Academy Awards, the time has come to pick apart those selections like vultures on a carcass. Is it fair? Not entirely. Is it fun? You better believe it. Film critics and film buffs alike will discuss and dissect whether the best nominees were culled right up until the winner in each and every category is announced on Oscar night.

There’s no way I’m not going to participate. I may not have seen all the nominees  —  I have seen a fair number so far  — but I still have an opinion regardless. One disappointment I will declare right now is the absence of Decision To Leave for Best International Feature. Also, I agree that RRR should have been India’s submission. Could we please get a live performance of “Naatu Naatu” to ease our pain? You know, right before it wins Best Original Song?

Below are my quick takes on eight categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The 95th Academy Awards airs live March 12 on ABC.

BEST PICTURE

All Quiet on the Western Front; Avatar: The Way of Water; The Banshees of Inisherin; Elvis; Everything Everywhere All at Once; The Fabelmans; Tár; Top Gun: Maverick; Triangle of Sadness; and Women Talking

Ten nominees. Two that I would bounce are Elvis and The Fablemans. Austin Butler is the main reason to watch Baz Luhrmann’s biopic; the rest of it is boilerplate, offering little for the audience to chew on when Butler isn’t onscreen. Steven Spielberg’s most personal film yet unfortunately isn’t his best work; I enjoyed it but it didn’t resonate as much as I had hoped. In their place, I would suggest RRR with its buoyancy, romance, and crowd-pleasing musical and action set pieces; and Aftersun, the father-daughter tale that has favor with critics and audiences, and should have been shown more love than its lone nomination for Best Actor.

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin; Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once; Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans; Todd Field, Tár; and Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

No women? Seriously? A year after Jane Campion took home the Oscar and we’re back to square one. Not that I’m surprised but come on! As you may have guessed, I would bump Spielberg. In his place, I would have loved to have seen either Gina Prince-Bythewood for The Woman King or Charlotte Wells for Aftersun or Sarah Polley for Women Talking. Sure, a nomination for Polley here would have bolstered her film’s chances for winning Best Picture. But honestly, any of these deserving women should have had her name listed above.

BEST ACTOR

Austin Butler, Elvis; Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin; Brendan Fraser, The Whale; Paul Mescal, Aftersun; and Bill Nighy, Living

A solid lineup to be sure as it’s hard to see a weak link. That said, as much as I love Nighy, it would have been nice to see Jeremy Pope nominated for his elegant, soulful turn in The Inspection in his stead. Or Park Hae-Il’s fantastic performance as a detective falling in love with his prime suspect in Decision To Leave. 

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett, Tár; Ana de Armas, Blonde; Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie; Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans; and Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Riseborough’s nomination was a surprise to be sure and it’s hard to slight her for her successful grassroots campaign. Still, I’m not convinced she should be here. The same could be said for de Armas, who is seemingly the best thing about the toxic Blonde. Who should be in the mix then? Danielle Deadwyler and Viola Davis for their powerful turns in Till and The Woman King, respectively; the latter of which was unjustly ignored by the Academy. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin; Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway; Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans; Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin; and Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

The supporting categories have the strongest lineups among the actors. I was thrilled to see Brian Tyree Henry break through, his nomination as big a surprise as Andrea Riseborough’s. At this point, it’s Ke Huy Quan’s party and I hope he keeps it going into the wee hours of March 13.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin; Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once; Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once; and Hong Chau, The Whale

Great performances by all the women nominated. I would honestly be happy regardless of who wins. It seems to be Bassett’s to lose right now with the wave she’s been riding on the awards circuit. However, should she somehow not snag the Oscar, I would love to see Hsu or Chau giving an acceptance speech.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger, L. Paterson, & Ian Stokell; Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Rian Johnson; Living, Kazuo Ishiguro; Top Gun: Maverick, Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Craig and Justin Marks; and Women Talking, Sarah Polley

Is this where Top Gun: Maverick swoops in for a victory? Probably not. With all the love the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences bestowed on All Quiet on the Western Front in terms of nominations, this is where the German film could score big. Meanwhile, I would love to live in a world where Polley is an Oscar winner. Can we please make that happen?

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh; Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert; The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner; Tár, Todd Field; and Triangle of Sadness, Ruben Östlund

I swear I love Spielberg, really I do, but out of this lineup The Fablemans is still the weakest entry. Not that I don’t hate that it’s here. It’s a lovely screenplay and if it wins anything at the Oscars, this may be it. Though that probably won’t happen since it appears to be a horse race between McDonagh and Kwan & Scheinert — and rightfully so as both screenplays are outstanding. Speaking of horses, you know who should be here, probably ousting Spielberg & Kushner? Jordan Peele for Nope. The scope. The imagination. The ties that bind. Peele continues to think big while keeping it real. A missed opportunity.