For the most part, the Oscar nominations got it right this morning. It was cool to see the expected strong showing for Black Panther, and exciting to see Sam Elliott finally get some recognition for a fruitful career.
That said, like every year, there were a bunch of HUGE head scratchers. For example, how did Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and Three Identical Strangers get left off the Best Documentary Feature list? Weird. The former was the frontrunner. No Black Panther for Visual Effects? Odd. Anyway, most of all, the biggest snub – in recent memory mind you- was Bradley Cooper getting left out of the Best Director race. I had a gut feeling A Star is Born would get some cold water thrown at it in a big way, and sadly it was “Coops.” His omission reminds me, fittingly, of Billy Crystal’s opening number during the 62th Annual Oscars where the comedian sings about The Prince of Tides’ Best Director omission of Barbra Streisand to the tune of Funny Girl’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” It went something like this: “Seven nominations on the shelf, did this film direct itself?” That’s a long-winded way of me saying A Star is Born is Cooper’s vision inside and out, and to not honor him for Best Director is completely ridiculous. I like Adam McKay, okay? But, Vice is a throw away nominee in this category. The film received honors for Editing and Direction and, in my opinion, that film suffered most in both areas. But, let me get off of my soapbox a bit, and turn this post into something happy because this is all about love this morning.
There were a lot of talent left off the Oscar ballot this morning, and we need to celebrate them someway, somehow. So, I present to you “The Forgotscars.” It’s not an awards show or anything really. Just five alternate universe nominees in the top categories for you to vote for here. Comment below if you don’t see your favorite. Speaking of which, The Lobster is such a better film than The Favourite. Why so much love for The Favourite? I digress…stay positive. With that, here are a list of the Oscar forgot including Clint Eastwood and it’s not because of this or maybe it is. No trophies, but you’re all winners in my book.
Best Picture:
Cold War, First Man, First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Actor:
Clint Eastwood (The Mule), Ethan Hawke (First Reform), Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased), John C. Reilly (Stan & Ollie),
John David Washington (BlackkKlansman)
Best Actress:
Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns), Viola Davis (Widows), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Nicole Kidman (Destroyer), Julia Roberts (Ben is Back)
Best Supporting Actor:
Steve Carell (Vice), Timothee Chalamet (Beautiful Boy), Hugh Grant (Paddington 2), Josh Hamilton (Eighth Grade), Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther)
Best Supporting Actress:
Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place), Elizabeth Debicki (Widows), Claire Foy (First Man), Nicole Kidman (Boy Erased), Margot Robbie (Mary Queen of Scots)
Best Director:
Damien Chazelle (First Man), Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born), Peter Farrelly (Green Book),
Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk),
