As the excitement for the 96th Academy Awards buzzed through the air, actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid graced the stage on January 23rd to announce the prestigious Oscar nominations. The affirmation from the Academy represents a pinnacle of achievement for industry professionals, and a nod from the iconic awards can transform an actor’s career, as highlighted by the hosts.
Two films notably dominated last year’s box office and have now emerged as cultural titans, dueling for Oscar glory in an epic standoff that has been affectionately termed “Barbenheimer.” These are none other than Christopher Nolan’s historical epic ‘Oppenheimer’ and Greta Gerwig’s colorful ‘Barbie’. While both films have garnered a host of nominations, Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ seems to have taken an early lead in the awards season race.
The past year has seen Hollywood come to an unprecedented halt amid the largest strike in the industry’s history. In light of these events, Beetz and Quaid emphasized the importance of celebrating the creative minds behind the stories—the writers—as an integral part of the day’s festivities.
Here are the nominations for the 96th Academy Awards, showcasing a remarkable array of talent across a spectrum of categories:
For Best Actor, the nominees are Bradley Cooper for ‘Maestro’, Colman Domingo for ‘Rustin’, Paul Giamatti for ‘The Holdovers’, Cillian Murphy for ‘Oppenheimer’, and Jeffrey Wright for ‘American Fiction’.
In the Best Actress category, we see Annette Bening nominated for ‘Nyad’, Lily Gladstone for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, Sandra Huller for ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, Carey Mulligan for ‘Maestro’, and Margot Robbie for ‘Barbie’.
Moving to Best Director, the contenders are Justine Triet for ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, Martin Scorsese for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, Christopher Nolan for ‘Oppenheimer’, Yorgos Lanthimos for ‘Poor Things’, and Jonathan Glazer for ‘The Zone of Interest’.
The male supporting roles have also brought forth exceptional performances, with nominations for Sterling K. Brown in ‘American Fiction’, Robert De Niro in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Oppenheimer’, Ryan Gosling in ‘Barbie’, and Mark Ruffalo in ‘Poor Things’.
The category for Best Supporting Actress presents a stellar lineup with Emily Blunt for ‘Oppenheimer’, Danielle Brooks for ‘The Color Purple’, America Ferrera for ‘Barbie’, Jodie Foster for ‘Nyad Da’Vine’, and Joy Randolph for ‘The Holdovers’.
For Best Picture, a variety of narratives have captured the Academy’s attention: ‘American Fiction’, ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, ‘Barbie’, ‘The Holdovers’, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, ‘Maestro’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Past Lives’, ‘Poor Thing’, and ‘The Zone of Interest’.
The category of Best Original Screenplay has acknowledged the scripts from ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, ‘The Holdovers’, ‘Maestro’, ‘May December’, and ‘Past Lives’, demonstrating a profound appreciation for original storytelling.
Lastly, the Best Adapted Screenplay nominations include American Fiction’, ‘Barbie’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Poor Things’, and ‘The Zone of Interest’.
As the entertainment world waits with bated breath, the winners of these supreme cinematic accolades will be unveiled on March 10th. Until then, the spotlight shines on those nominated, as they epitomize the creative spirit that drives the film industry forward. Fans across the globe, and especially in India, can tune in to the Oscars 2024 Livestreaming to catch every moment of cinematic history in the making.
