The announcements have been made, the nominees have celebrated and the Oscar outfits are now being fitted for Hollywood’s biggest night. As always, there are the Oscar oversights recognized immediately as snubs, several surprises and a few shocks.
Here are six things we took away from the nominations of the 88th annual Academy Awards also known as the Oscars.
1. The Revenant was expected to lead Thursday’s Oscar nominations and did. The revenge saga snagged 12 nominations, including best picture and a nomination for Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñárritu who won an Oscar last year for the film “Birdman.”
2. British actor Tom Hardy who has had a great year with multiple roles in high profile films “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “The Legend” finally earned a recognition for his hard work on screen. The actor received a supporting actor nomination for his role as an evil hunter in “The Revenant.”
3. No black actors were recognized. Despite a great performance from Idris Elba, who was touted as a likely contender for a best actor nod for “Beasts of No Nation,” another equally stirring performance from Will Smith who played the Nigerian doctor in “Concussion” and Michael B. Jordan’s performance in “Creed,” all 3 were snubbed of an Oscar. Instead, white actors Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Fassbender and Eddie Redmayne will all battle for the best actor accolade.
4. The Academy loves Jennifer Lawrence and Cate Blanchett. The two repeat offenders have consistently earned best actress nods over the years and continued their streak of earning nominations. Lawrence, who just won a Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy for the lackluster film “Joy” earned a best actress Oscar nomination. It’s the 4th nomination for the young actress who was nominated in 2011 for “Winter’s Bone,” 2013 for “Silver Linings Playbook” and 2014 for “American Hustle.” Blanchett has earned seven nominations since 1998 and received a best actress nod for her role in the Lesbian drama “Carol” where she seduces a young woman. It’s a role eerily similar to the one she played in the 2006 drama “Notes on a Scandal” which earned her a best supporting actress nomination.
5. Although the hip hop drama “Straight Outta Compton“ failed to snag an Oscar nomination for best picture, it did receive an original screenplay nod.
6. The riveting documentary on Nina Simone titled “What Happened, Miss Simone?” also earned a best documentary feature nomination.
Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Guillermo del Toro, John Krasinski and Ang Lee announced the 88th Academy Awards nominations.
The Oscars will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland Center and televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
