Box office sensation Barbie has garnered eight Oscar nominations, a remarkable achievement in itself. However, the absence of star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig in key categories casts a shadow over the celebration.
Greta Gerwig, despite missing out on a best director nod, sees a silver lining with Justine Triet’s nomination for Anatomy of a Fall, contributing to a more diverse lineup. In an interesting turn of events, Gerwig cements her place in history as the first woman to direct three films nominated for the coveted Best Picture award.
Most importantly, this year marks a milestone as three women directors, including Gerwig, have helmed best picture nominees, signaling a positive shift in gender representation in the film industry.
However, despite being the highest-grossing film of 2023, raking in an impressive $1.44 billion worldwide, Barbie left fans surprised as Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were notably absent from their anticipated categories.
Despite Margot Robbie’s absence from the best actress category, her co-star America Ferrera secured an unexpected supporting nod. Ryan Gosling, another prominent cast member, earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination, while two tracks from the film’s soundtrack are in the running for Best Original Song.
Although Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie missed out on the anticipated best director and best actress categories, there’s a silver lining – Robbie is recognized as a producer in the prestigious best picture lineup, while Gerwig receives an acknowledgment for best-adapted screenplay.
Not to forget to mention, Oppenheimer emerges as the front-runner, leading this year’s Academy Awards with an impressive 13 nominations.
Christopher Nolan’s sprawling three-hour masterpiece, delving into the life of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, not only received critical acclaim but also proved to be a box office sensation.
The stellar cast, including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr., earned well-deserved nominations for their outstanding performances, with Nolan himself recognized in the competitive best director category.
The leading actress category saw unexpected recognition for Annette Bening, a standout in Nyad, defying earlier perceptions of being an outside contender.
A remarkable surprise unfolded with America Ferrera’s supporting performance in Barbie, earning her a nomination against expectations. Her compelling monologue resonated strongly with Academy voters.
Despite its struggle, May December secured a solitary nod for original screenplay, while stars Julianne Moore, Charles Melton, and Natalie Portman missed out on individual acting nominations.
Contrary to their strong showing at the Bafta nominations, All of Us Strangers and Saltburn found themselves without any Oscar nominations.
Notable omissions included Leonardo DiCaprio in the best actor category for Killers of the Flower Moon and Willem DaFoe, a standout in Poor Things, missing out on a best supporting actor nod.
