Random Thoughts: 2024 Oscar Nominations

America Ferrera surprises. No love for Celine Song and Greta Lee. Everyone is pissed that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were dissed. Woohoo! It's Academy Awards time again!

You’ve probably heard by now how the Academy ignored the entire point of Barbie by nominating (a very deserving) Ryan Gosling — along with America Ferrera, which was a wonderful surprise — while snubbing star Margot Robbie (though as producer Robbie is a nominee since Barbie landed a Best Picture nom) and director Greta Gerwig (though Gerwig and Noah Baumbach scored an adapted screenplay nom).

Robbie was sensational as Stereotypical Barbie and Gerwig's direction was inspired. Unfortunately, mainstream success has stopped being a precursor for major Oscar success as the past few decades have seen that trend be abandoned for more niche interests. This is to the detriment of those deserving recognition in their chosen genre, whether it be comedy, horror or action — God forbid your film features a superhero. If one of those movies happens to score a Best Picture nom, it comes across more as a patronizing pat on the head than a genuine reflection of talent.

Though let’s be real; we’ll take the win regardless.

The lack of Oscar love for Robbie and Gerwig in the actress and director categories, respectively, ultimately takes nothing away from what they have achieved with Barbie’s unmitigated success.

Now if you really wanna light my fire, talk to me about the real snubs of this year’s Oscars: Past Lives’ Celine Song for Best Director and Greta Lee for Best Actress.

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 96th Academy Awards air live March 10 on ABC.

BEST PICTURE

American Fiction; Anatomy of a Fall; Barbie; The Holdovers; Killers of the Flower Moon; Maestro; Oppenheimer; Past Lives; Poor Things; and The Zone of Interest

Ten nominees. A strong list that I have few qualms over. That said, I would have preferred seeing Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers here instead of Maestro. Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic is well done yet can’t escape the whiff of vanity project that lingers over it. I would love for either Poor Things or Past Lives to take home the prize, but am prepared for Oppenheimer to come out on top.

BEST DIRECTOR

Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall; Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon; Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer; Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things; and Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest

One woman. So kind of the Academy to throw us a bone after not bothering to nominate a single woman last year. This is one reason why they need to expand the directing field to a maximum of eight nominees if they insist on nominating up to 10 films for Best Picture. Did the other films direct themselves? Greta Gerwig for Barbie and Celine Song for Past Lives should be here. On the bright side, at least Bradley Cooper didn’t make the cut for Maestro. Nolan has this locked up regardless and I’m good with that. Though if Lanthimos somehow sneaks in a win, I would be ecstatic.

BEST ACTOR

Bradley Cooper, Maestro; Colman Domingo, Rustin; Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers; Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer; and Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Alright. Let’s just get this settled. I would much prefer seeing Andrew Scott for All of Us Strangers or Teo Yoo for Past Lives on this shortlist instead of Cooper, who gave a rather good performance but not one that’s necessarily Oscar worthy. It’s down to two equally worthy nominees: Giamatti and Murphy. May the best man win.

BEST ACTRESS

Annette Bening, Nyad; Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon; Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall; Carey Mulligan, Maestro; and Emma Stone, Poor Things

Bening is one of my favorite actresses. However, Greta Lee should have landed the nom instead for her gorgeous turn in Past Lives. Gladstone, Hüller, and Stone make for one helluva race. I’m rooting hard for Stone as I adore Poor Things. Gladstone taking home the Oscar, though, would be phenomenal.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction; Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon; Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer; Ryan Gosling, Barbie; and Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

Who are we kidding? This is RDJ’s to lose and he won’t, so there ya go. Is he worthy? Without a doubt. He steals the movie from Cillian Murphy, who doesn’t seem to mind one bit. If by some bizarre fluke RDJ doesn’t win, then by all means give it to his MCU science bro Ruffalo for his sensational performance where he pivots from hilarious to sinister to pathetic — occasionally in the same breath — without missing a beat.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer; Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple; America Ferrera, Barbie; Jodie Foster, Nyad; and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

As with Best Supporting Actor, this category appears to be already sewn up thanks to Randolph. She’s my pick to win as I’m still thinking about her fierce portrayal of a grieving mother. Blunt is on fantastic form and definitely deserving, but can you imagine if Ferrera’s monologue on womanhood earned her an Oscar?! I personally would be tickled pink.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

American Fiction, Cord Jefferson; Barbie, Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach; Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan; Poor Things, Tony McNamara; and The Zone of Interest, Jonathan Glazer

This is a tough category. Oppenheimer could sweep the ceremony, but I can’t help but think this is where the Academy will throw Barbie — specifically Gerwig — a bone. Then again, McNamara could triumph after losing in 2019 for The Favourite, especially if those same voters who couldn’t follow Gerwig’s time-shifting Little Women back in 2020 decide Barbie really is nothing more than a movie based on a toy and want to honor a feminist film that’s more to their taste.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari; The Holdovers, David Hemingson; Maestro, Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer; May December, screenplay by Samy Burch; story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik; and Past Lives, Celine Song

I may well be proven wrong, but I think (or perhaps it’s a very strong hope) that Song will be recognized for her beautiful, elegant, heartfelt screenplay. Past Lives deserves to be an Oscar winner. If this doesn’t come to pass, then I’m thinking Treit and Harari will be making their acceptance speeches, unless Hemingson upsets.