ICYMI

 "Oscars Nominations Wishlist"  
Check out what my personal picks were
leading up to Thursday's announcements.

SNUB
A Real Pain

It was far from a favorite to win, but I still expected to see this hilarious and heartbreaking film show up on nomination day. I also would have put Sing Sing here, but A24 fumbled their distribution so bad, I knew it would be a toss up.

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SURPRISE
I'm Still Here

The only moment in the entire announcement ceremony where I actually exclaimed, "WOAH!" Not the international film I hoped would shock me by getting nominated here, but one I absolutely love to see anyways.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Edward Berger
Conclave

Weirdly, Conclave has been a pundit favorite to win it all. They think that since it's such a toss up this year, the Academy will favor a relatively safe choice. Well, this snub puts a sizeable wrench into that theory. We usually expect the Best Picture to have a nominated director too.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
James Mangold
A Complete Unknown

For the record, I like James Mangold, and I really enjoyed A Complete Unknown, but I didn't find the direction to be special. Again, it was good, but it was as good as direction gets for a standard musical biopic. We've seen it before. RaMell Ross should've been here in his place.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SNUB
Daniel Craig
Queer

It's not a surprising snub, but a disappointing one nonetheless. Queer was a very divisive film, it's hard for a lot of people to get into. Regardless, I hoped people would see the brilliance in Craig's performance. If you give this role to most other acclaimed actors, I don't believe they would have delivered such a moving and provoking character to the screen. Perhaps its just hard to imagine anyone else in a role that feels so perfectly his.

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SURPRISE
Sebastian Stan
The Apprentice

Months ago, news broke out that he wasn't able to participate in Actors on Actors because they couldn't convince agents to pair their client with him. Plenty of this has to do with the outcome of the election, since Stan delivers a brutally honest performance where he plays a young Donald Trump. So, this is very good news, and I'm very happy for Stan, even though I prefer his Golden Globe winning performance in A Different Man.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SNUB
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Hard Truths

I just rewatched this the other day, and I walked out of the theater feeling like she might be who I'd prefer to win. I do love Moore and Madison's performances, and it'll be cool to see one of them receive their first Oscar. I just felt like one of Erivo or Gascón would miss the cut, but their respective films have had the voters in a chokehold as of late. Frustrating.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SURPRISE
Fernanda Torres
I'm Still Here

At least justice prevails for one of our indie stars! Torres was my favorite part of this film, as her character is so layered and she handled every nuance with such finesse. Maybe the voters' love for I'm Still Here could pit her against Moore and Madison as the third true contender, but I'll hold off on predicting anything. For now, I'm just happy that she made it in.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Clarence Maclin
Sing Sing

Devastated. I was singing his praises all year. I even got to see him do a Q&A during an advanced screening back in April. This category is stacked, but I would swap out most of the nominees for Maclin if it were up to me. Praying that Sing Sing takes home at least one Oscar, not just for the promotion of the film, but so more people can witness his performance in particular.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SURPRISE
Jeremy Strong
The Apprentice

Well, at least the surprise nominee is a strong choice. Strong completely transforms as Roy Cohn. If you've only seen clips, trailers, or memes, you might find it fun to experience, but I didn't feel that way when I was immersed into the film. Expectedly, you despise his character, but Strong confuses you by bringing out that sliver of his humanity. I hate him for it.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SNUB
Jamie Lee Curtis
The Last Showgirl

Unlike the masses on film twitter, I'm not a Jamie hater, but she already has a controversial Oscar. The fact that so many pundits believed she would get nominated was mystifying. I mean, for this particular role? Sorry, I didn't get the hype. Glad the voters did the right thing here.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SURPRISE
Monica Barbaro
A Complete Unknown

Barbaro's performance was great, but her impact on the film pales in comparison to Deadwyler's in The Piano Lesson and Qualley's in The Substance. Both would have been my favorites to win. You don't deserve any hate, Barbaro, but I hate what your nomination means for the other two.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SNUB
Moana 2

Not really a snub, but it's the closest thing to it in this category. There was always the chance that it swooped in and ruined the status quo just because it's a Disney film.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SURPRISE
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Also not really a surprise, as the five nominees were as locked in as it gets. However, considering that this was a late December release on Netflix with little theatrical distribution, it's great to see this fantastic film still make an impression on the voters.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Kneecap

This is one of the few that I haven't seen, so I have no feelings about this. I'll update once I've gotten a chance to watch it.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
Flow

I know it had a good chance, but it's always a pleasant surprise when an animated film beats out live action competition.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Daughters

From what I've seen, this is a big snub. I've sadly only seen two documentaries from this award season, but I'll have to check it out on Netflix right away so I can update with my thoughts.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
Porcelain War

Pretty big surprise considering it's the only film nominated that I hadn't even heard of. I'll check it out!

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SNUB
Hard Truths

Not a huge snub, as the nominees were relatively set in stone. It also took a rewatch to fully recognize the genius of the script. Still not perfect, but it would have been nice to see this get nominated.

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SURPRISE
September 5

This is one of the few that I haven't seen, so I have no feelings about this. I'll update once I've gotten a chance to watch it.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SNUB
Dune: Part Two

Fair enough, really. Sci-fi epics don't usually win over voters in the screenplay categories. However, it is notable since Part One was nominated and was significantly less story.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
Nickel Boys

I fell in love with this film, but I think it'll take a rewatch to fully gauge how great the script is. Any recognition for this gorgeous film is a good thing, though!

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SNUB
Challengers

Abysmal. This score was so beloved by movie fans and truly captured the identity of the film. In so many of the precursors, it was the *winner* of this category. So, how doesn't it even garner a nomination? Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deserve better than this.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SURPRISE
Wicked

It's a good score, but I find it a little odd to nominate an adapted musical in this category. Maybe that's a hot take, but they feature so many numbers that the score feels like an extension of them, rather than something completely original and distinct.

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SNUB
"Kiss the Sky"
The Wild Robot

I considered this song a lock, and if it wasn't for Emilia Pérez, I would've said it could even win. I personally don't care much for this song, it's cheesy, but it works very well for the movie. Very odd omission.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
"Like A Bird"
Sing Sing

Well, this is some consolation for the lack of nominations the film has received despite being one of the best reviewed films of the year. I also think this song is great! I was confused as to why it wasn't in most people's lists before.

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Conclave

Aside from the addicting score, the cinematography and production design were two of my favorite aspects in the film. A lot of pundits considered it a lock, especially because it supported their theory that the film would win Best Picture. However, looking at the rest of the nominees, I can't say that I'd swap any of them out for this one.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
Emilia Pérez

This film didn't hit for me, and the fact that it leads in nominations is baffling, but I will admit that the cinematography was one of its better aspects. However, it took the spot from Nickel Boys, which I feel is such an obvious choice for this category. I would even go as far to say that it deserves to win over The Brutalist, which is a massive achievement as well. Just sad...

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SNUB
Dune: Part Two

Probably the biggest snub of them all. Not only was it considered a lock, but it was also predicted as a winner by many pundits. I don't feel very strongly about the edit, but it was at least distinct. The Oscars' recency bias is on full display once again. Soon, there won't be any big movies in the first half of the year.

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SURPRISE
Wicked

I just hate when these categories default to nominating the biggest films rather than rewarding films where the editing (or at least the editing process) was unique yet effective. Is Wicked well edited? Yes, but we expected that to be the case from a massive event film. Their box office should be their reward, not the Oscars.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SNUB
Gladiator II

Period pieces tend to rule this category, but there's no reason to reward an underwhelming sequel. Rightfully ignored.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SURPRISE
Nosferatu

Now this is a period piece that deserves its flowers. The gothic aesthetic is so well executed in this film, and the set is a big part of that.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SNUB
Dune: Part Two

Not to sound like a broken record, but this is just blatant recency bias. Also, I'll take good sci-fi costume design over good period piece costume design any day. 

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SURPRISE
A Complete Unknown

What did this film do with their costumes that any 20th century musical biopic (of which there are so many) hasn't done? This nomination feels very uninspired.

VERDICT:    HATE IT  

SNUB
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

A lot of pundits threw this in because it was a big film that required a lot of attention to makeup and hairstyling. It's good, I guess, but I don't find it necessary to recognize this film at the Oscars either.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SURPRISE
Emilia Pérez

Compared to the other nominees, this one is clearly the odd one out. Surely there was one other film this year that emphasized hair and makeup in the same way the other nominees did? Possibly The Apprentice?

VERDICT:    DISLIKE IT  

SNUB
Gladiator II

Once again, just wasn't a memorable enough film to be recognized to this capacity, even if the sound work is generally of a high quality.

VERDICT:    LIKE IT  

SURPRISE
The Wild Robot

Once again, we love to see an animated film get nominated in a category with live action films. Last animated film in Best Sound was Soul (2020).

VERDICT:    LOVE IT  

SNUB
Twisters

Yeah, whatever.

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

SURPRISE
Alien: Romulus

Sure, why not?

VERDICT:    NEUTRAL  

BIGGEST SNUB

Dune: Part Two
for Best Editing
(but also across the board)

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I'm Still Here
for Best Picture

FAVORITE SNUB

Jamie Lee Curtis
for Best Supporting Actress

FAVORITE SURPRISE

Fernanda Torres
for Best Actress

WORST SNUB

Challengers
for Best Original Score

WORST SURPRISE

James Mangold
for Best Director