98th Academy Awards: Surprises and Snubs
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, have been announced, revealing a mix of expected contenders and notable omissions. while some filmmakers and artists received well-deserved recognition, others were surprisingly left out of the running.
Directing Snubs
Despite critical acclaim, several prominent directors were not nominated for best Director. Guillermo del Toro, while earning a nomination for his adapted screenplay, was absent from the directing category. Other notable omissions include Jafar Panahi (“It Was Just an Accident”), Kleber Mendonça Filho (“The Secret Agent”), zach Cregger (“weapons”), Yorgos Lanthimos (“Bugonia”), Park Chan-wook (“No Other Choice”), Clint Bentley (“Train Dreams”), Richard Linklater (“Nouvelle Vague,” “Blue Moon”), Kathryn Bigelow (“A House of Dynamite”), Mona Fastvold (“The Testament of Ann Lee”), Mary Bronstein (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Rian Johnson (“Wake Up Dead Man”), Kelly Reichardt (“the Mastermind”), and DGA nominee Eva Victor (“Sorry, Baby”).
The Nominees for Best Director
The nominees for Best Director are: Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another,” Ryan Coogler for “Sinners,” Josh Safdie for “Marty Supreme,” Joachim Trier for “Sentimental Value,” and Chloé zhao for “Hamnet.”
Original Song Surprises
The Best Original Song category also saw some unexpected results. Despite having two new songs from the musical “Wicked” on the oscar shortlist, Stephen Schwartz did not receive a nomination. Other artists missing from the list include miley Cyrus (“Avatar: Fire and Ash”), Ed Sheeran (“F1”), Billy Idol (“Billy Idol Should Be Dead”), and Nine Inch nails (“Tron: ares”).
Diane Warren’s Continued recognition
Songwriter Diane Warren secured her 17th Oscar nomination, continuing her streak of recognition despite never having won an Academy Award.
The nominees for Best Original Song
the nominees for Best Original Song are: “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: relentless,” “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” “I Lied to You” from “Sinners,” “Sweet Dreams of joy” from “Viva Verdi!,” and “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams.”
A Night of Recognition
The 98th Academy Awards promises to be a celebration of cinematic achievement, though the nominations have already sparked debate and discussion among industry professionals and film enthusiasts alike. Conan O’Brien’s hosting duties are expected to add a touch of humor to the evening, despite his own lack of nomination for his supporting role in “If I Had Legs I’d kick You.”
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