Before we get to a list of negativity, it's important to first acknowledge the good that came from the 93rd Academy Awards announcing its field of nominees Monday morning.
The Oscar nominations, which you can peruse here, were unveiled by hosts (and adorably married couple) Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra:
It’s #OscarNoms morning! Tune in to see this year’s nominees. https://t.co/eY8qjcwXYM
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 15, 2021
According to the Academy (h/t CNN), 70 women received 76 nominations—a record number—while two women (Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell) are under consideration for best director for the first time in one year. Additionally, Zhao is the first-ever woman of color to receive a best director nomination.
Chloé Zhao has become the first Chinese woman and the first woman of color to receive an Oscars nomination for best director for her film “Nomadland.”https://t.co/rpsoQCVGqM pic.twitter.com/TLNB0TBeBI
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 15, 2021
Congratulations to Chloe Zhao and Emerald Fennell for joining the five women nominated for Best Director in the Oscars 93-year history. #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/F2DNI2uCYz
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 15, 2021
Asian-Americans made long overdue headway elsewhere, too:
For the first time in Oscars history, two men of Asian heritage — Riz Ahmed of “Sound of Metal” and Steven Yeun of “Minari” — are up for best actor in the same year.
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 15, 2021
Just two actors of Asian heritage had been nominated in the category before. https://t.co/MCV1EnZBq0
With nine actors of color nominated, this is the most diverse slate of acting nominees in Oscars history — including the first Asian American best actor nominee (Steven Yeun) and the first person of Pakistani descent nominated for acting ever (Riz Ahmed). https://t.co/uAorirbXJC
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) March 15, 2021
The firsts kept on coming, as Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) became the lone Bulgarian actress to receive a nomination in the show's 93-year history with a best supporting actress nod.
More somberly—but equally as groundbreaking—Chadwick Boseman is the seventh posthumous actor nominated for an Oscar. The Black Panther icon was recognized the best actor category for his work in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, his last film before passing away from colon cancer at 43 years old in August. Ma Rainey's will have a strong showing across the board:
Absolutely thrilled!! Congratulations to the whole @MaRaineyFilm team! Deserved! pic.twitter.com/Dx9GEsLRaz
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) March 15, 2021
As will David Fincher's Mank, leading the field with 10 nominations:
— Mank (@MankFilm) March 15, 2021
, .
Thank you to @TheAcademy for recognizing the cast and crew of MANK with 10 Academy Award nominations. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/l2AbqOA5Cl
Behind Mank, six films are tied with six nominations apiece:
Total nomination tally:
— The Oscar Expert (@expert_oscar) March 15, 2021
Mank: 10
Nomadland: 6
Minari: 6
Sound of Metal: 6
Chicago 7: 6
Judas and the Black Messiah: 6
The Father: 6
Promising Young Woman: 5
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: 4
News of the World: 4
One Night in Miami: 3
Congratulations to #JudasAndTheBlackMessiah Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield for both getting Best Supporting #OscarNoms.
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) March 15, 2021
It is the 11th time that two people from the same film have been nominated. pic.twitter.com/2jlvKzMh8I
Congratulations to the cast and crew of #JudasAndTheBlackMessiah for their Best Picture #Oscars nomination, making history as the first film with an all-Black producing team to be nominated for the top honor! pic.twitter.com/Ik0IEal04D
— Judas and the Black Messiah (@JATBMFilm) March 15, 2021
Nomadland has been nominated for 6 #AcademyAwards – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. #OscarNoms #NMDLND pic.twitter.com/7Vt83q0eSs
— Nomadland (@nomadlandfilm) March 15, 2021
#Minari makes history
— Minari (@MinariMovie) March 15, 2021
Congratulations to Isaac, Steven, YJ, Emile and the whole Minari family on their 6 wonderful, wonderful #OscarNoms pic.twitter.com/hvEVmjplGj
The legacy of The Chicago 7 lives on. Thank you to @TheAcademy for 6 Academy Award nominations — including BEST PICTURE and BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Aaron Sorkin. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/DV0pLHPDXn
— The Trial of the Chicago 7 (@trialofchicago7) March 15, 2021
And now for the downside. Even with the Academy doing so much right, nothing is ever perfect. Below are five notable snubs from this historic field.
Sorkin is hardly deprived of recognition. The acclaimed director has won more awards than can be listed here, including one Oscar for The Social Network in 2010 and three other Oscar nominations. One of those nominations even came this year, in the best original screenplay category for The Trial of the Chicago 7. The snub came when Sorkin wasn't also put up for consideration for best director.
Minari, as we've already covered, made plenty of history, but 8-year-old Alan Kim wasn't included. The young actor, who was seven years old at the time of filming, played the son, David, to Steven Yeun's Jacob as the Korean family starts a new life in Arkansas. This snub is heartbreaking because Kim won't have an opportunity to replicate his lovely Critics' Choice Award speech:
But the good news is he is only eight, so there is plenty of time for him to continue stealing our hearts. Plus, as he told GQ's Chris Gayomali, it was simply "so awesome" to work with Yeun.
One Night in Miami... was recognized, thankfully, with three nominations: best actor in a supporting role (Leslie Odom Jr.), best adapted screenplay (Kent Powers) and best achievement in music written for motion pictures ("Speak Now").
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 15, 2021
However, Regina King was notably absent. The Oscar-winning actress made her directorial feature debut with this film and has been widely lauded for her work. The Academy chose not to join in. If King would have been nominated, the best director category would have been stacked with three women.
Like Sorkin, we aren't asking you to feel overly sorry for Lee. Plus, we have already established that the directing category is stacked. That said, Da 5 Bloods only receiving one overall nomination (best achievement in music written for motion pictures) is a bit surprising. The film was (duh) directed by Lee, who won his first and only Oscar for best adapted screenplay (BlacKkKlansman) in 2019:
Lee recently addressed his Golden Globes snub with The New York Times, and it's likely he feels the same way about this one.
Malcolm & Marie was directed and written by Sam Levinson, then filmed with just 22 crew members on set during the pandemic. The plot focuses on Malcolm (John David Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) as they argue their way into the night at home, traversing deep and vulnerable waters. There is nobody else in the cast. Thus, there is nothing left to distract from Washington and Zendaya's performances.
Zendaya became the youngest-ever (24) to win best actress in a drama series at last year's Emmys, as well as the second Black actress after Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder). So, fans were expecting the Euphoria star to continue her ascent as universal awards darling at this year's Oscars. Instead, the actress in a leading role category was filled out by Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Frances McDormand (Nomadland) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman).
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