2020 Academy Award Nomination Reactions
Before I begin to analyze these nominations, I wanted to point out this was a very strong year for film. With so much competition, something is inevitably going to be left out. My personal feelings about some of the films aside, this could have been a chance for the Academy to honor a wide variety of films in many different areas. Unfortunately, this didn't really happen and a lot of deserving films were left with nothing (The Farewell, Booksmart, Uncut Gems and Us are a few films that come to mind). In my analysis I will not be talking about what could have been and will instead focus on what was actually nominated. It will become very evident that my "Could Sneak In" pick was actually often correct.
I am also withholding from making a pick of which will win each category. That will come at a later date, most likely the week of the telecast.
BEST PICTURE
1917
Ford v Ferrari (I guessed Knives Out)
The Irishman
JoJo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
I correctly guessed the Academy would use all their spots and was wrong about only one! I would have liked to have seen Knives Out pull this one out but Ford v Ferrari is a great film and had a very strong following. I can't be terribly mad.
BEST ACTOR
Adam Driver- Marriage Story
Antonio Banderas- Pain and Glory
Joaquin Phoenix- Joker
Jonathan Pryce- The Two Popes (I guessed Taron Egerton- Rocketman)
Leonardo DiCaprio- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I was really hoping Taron winning at the Globes would carry him to a nomination here. I have been very upfront about my feelings that Taron acted circles around Rami Malek, who won the Oscar last year for Bohemian Rhapsody. He should have at least gotten a nomination but I underestimated the support behind The Two Popes. Jonathan Pryce is a very good actor and I thought he deserved a nomination for The Wife so better late than never I guess?
BEST ACTRESS
Charlize Theron- Bombshell
Cynthia Erivo- Harriet (I guessed Awkwafina- The Farewell)
Renee Zellweger- Judy
Saoirse Ronan- Little Women
Scarlett Johansson- Marriage Story
I will admit I have not seen Harriet. I can't speak to its quality, but I am beyond shocked she knocked Awkwafina's nuanced and heartbreaking performance out of a nomination. There had been a lot of buzz about Erivo's performance so she was in my "Could Sneak In" prediction.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Al Pacino- The Irishman
Anthony Hopkins- The Two Popes (I guessed Song Ho Kang- Parasite)
Brad Pitt- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Joe Pesci- The Irishman
Tom Hanks- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
I again underestimated The Two Popes and thought that the overwhelming acclaim of Parasite would land the film an acting nomination, with Song Ho Kang's brilliant performance being the more obvious nomination. No offense to Sir Anthony Hopkins but I didn't think his performance was one of his best.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Florence Pugh- Little Women
Kathy Bates- Richard Jewell (I guessed Jennifer Lopez- Hustlers)
Laura Dern- Marriage Story
Margot Robbie- Bombshell
Scarlett Johansson- JoJo Rabbit (I guessed Zhao Shuzhen- The Farewell)
I don't know how I feel about this category. Jennifer Lopez had been nominated in nearly every awards ceremony prior to this so I am definitely shocked she wasn't nominated. While I do think she was very good in the role, I didn't consider it award worthy so I am not as upset by her exclusion as many others are. It would have been nice to see some diversity in the nominations which makes the exclusion of Zhao Shuzhen hurt more for me.
BEST DIRECTOR
Bong Joon Ho- Parasite
Martin Scorsese- The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Sam Mendes- 1917
Todd Phillips- Joker (I guessed Taika Waititi- JoJo Rabbit)
Really Academy?? Todd Phillips??
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Bong Joon Ho and Jin Won Han- Parasite
Noah Baumbach- Marriage Story
Quentin Tarantino- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rian Johnson- Knives Out
Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns- 1917 (I guessed Lulu Wang- The Farewell)
Missed another shot to nominate The Farewell here. 1917's momentum carried over to the screenplay category so I get it. Still doesn't ease the pain.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Anthony McCarten- The Two Popes (I guessed Noah Harpster, Micah Fitzerman-Blue- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
Greta Gerwig- Little Women
Steven Zaillian- The Irishman
Taika Waititi- JoJo Rabbit
Todd Phillips & Scott Silver- Joker
I swear I didn't hate The Two Popes. I did have it in my "Could Sneak In" prediction. I should just not bet against Anthony McCarten, who scored his 3rd screenwriting nomination in four tries (the only one he didn't get nominated for was Bohemian Rhapsody)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lawrence Sher- Joker
Jarin Blaschke- The Lighthouse (I guessed Phedon Papamichael- Ford v Ferrari)
Robert Richardson- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Rodrigo Prieto- The Irishman
Roger Deakins- 1917
I absolutely love the Jarin Blaschke nomination here. The Lighthouse looked amazing and I had him on my "Could Sneak In" only because I never thought the nomination would actually happen. Should have trusted my gut.
BEST EDITING
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
JoJo Rabbit (I guessed 1917)
Joker (I guessed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Parasite
I am actually stunned 1917 didn't get an editing nomination here. War movies are usually nominated in this category, which is why I had JoJo Rabbit as a "Could Sneak In". The love for Joker definitely pushed that one in over 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
BEST SCORE
1917
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (I guessed JoJo Rabbit)
I should have seen the John Williams nomination coming for the capping film of the Skywalker Saga. I did have it in "Could Sneak In" though.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
1917
The Irishman
JoJo Rabbit (I guessed Little Women)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
The Production Design on Little Women was stellar so I am surprised it didn't get a nomination. Once again, my "Could Sneak In" pick was correct.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Irishman
JoJo Rabbit (I guessed Dolemite is My Name)
Joker (I guessed Rocketman)
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
If Dolemite is My Name had any shot at being recognized, it was here. I am very shocked about that and Rocketman not being nominated for its amazing Elton John get ups. Broken record time, I did get JoJo Rabbit in my "Could Sneak In"
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
1917 (I guessed Dolemite is My Name)
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (I guessed Rocketman)
Another missed opportunity to nominate Dolemite is My Name and Rocketman. This is also a weird spot for a 1917 nomination as I don't really recall many war films being nominated for something like this.
BEST SOUND EDITING
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Joker (I guessed Avengers: Endgame)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (I guessed Rocketman)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
I am surprised by Once Upon a Time's inclusion here over something immersive like Avengers: Endgame or Rocketman. I also was low key hoping for a surprise nomination for Uncut Gems here. Anyone who has seen that film will know what I'm talking about.
BEST SOUND MIXING
1917
Ad Astra (I guessed Avengers: Endgame)
Ford v Ferrari
Joker (I guessed Rocketman)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (I guessed Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
I think this was my worst category in terms of how little I actually got right. I echo my sentiments from above about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood here.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
1917
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman (I guessed Alita: Battle Angel)
The Lion King
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
I get that the Academy wanted to reward The Irishman for its digital de-aging. But it fluctuated in its effectiveness and quality and honestly became more of a distraction. I'm surprised to see it get nominated despite having it as my "Could Sneak In"
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus (I guessed Frozen II)
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Frozen II's exclusion here is downright shocking. I haven't seen Klaus but I have heard how it was animated and I have heard nothing but good things. Honestly, this was a good shock (I haven't seen either) and I am happy to see something outside of the Disney catalog have a chance.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Corpus Christie (I guessed Atlantics)
Honeyland (I guessed Those Who Remained)
Les Miserables
Pain and Glory
Parasite
I did have Corpus Christie as my "Could Sneak In" but I am sad that I haven't seen as many of these as I could have. I have no problem with the "one inch tall barrier of subtitles" so I am definitely disappointed in myself. It's also very fascinating that a documentary was nominated here, the first time in Academy Award history. That's something worth celebrating.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
American Factory
The Cave (I guessed Apollo 11 )
Edge of Democracy (I guessed One Child Nation)
For Sama
Honeyland
Did the same thing that happened to Won't You Be My Neighbor? last year also happen this year to Apollo 11? For those of you who don't know, the support for Won't You Be My Neighbor? was so strong that everyone was expecting each other to vote for it so they didn't and instead voted for other docs. So it didn't get nominated. Apollo 11 is a stunning doc and I am sad it won't get the recognition it deserved. Kudos to Honeyland for getting its second nomination here though!
As I said in my in my Oscar Prediction article, I didn't predict the Best Song nominees or the Live Action/Animated shorts. I hope to catch up on those before the awards are handed out because I will definitely be attempting to predict the winner!
Check back later to see how I did and kudos to all the nominees!