An award ceremony that the public can get excited about? It’s a concept Oscar producers can take home over the next seven weeks.
From showing robust popcorn movies to recognizing some of the most respected stars of the past four decades to welcoming new faces, this year’s nominations offer something for everyone.
Here are five highlights from the Oscars announcements.
Show us the money!
The national box office average of the Top 10 Picture nominees is $157 million and counts — the fourth highest on any list in the past 25 years. This is an encouraging sign for the exhibition industry as it attempts to rebound from the pandemic. With record hits like Paramount’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water” receiving nods, as well as populist hits like A24’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and Warner Bros. “Elvis”, the audience will be more familiar with the lineup than in previous years. It could yield higher airplay ratings, which the Oscars are desperate for.
Look at the box office average of films nominated for Best Picture since 1997.
It’s nothing but a number
As “The White Lotus” star Jennifer Coolidge said during her Critics Choice acceptance speech this month, “It’s not over until you’re dead.” Indeed, a theme of legacy and admiration emerges from a survey of Oscar nominees across all 23 categories. The comeback stories of Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere”) — nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively — tapped into the cultural zeitgeist, creating some of the most touching moments of the season. Angela Bassett, 64, made a triumphant return to the Oscars supporting the actress with ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, 29 years after playing Tina Turner in ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’. Likewise, Jamie Lee Curtis’ first name for ‘Everything Everywhere’ crowns an astonishing career marked by roles in a range of genre films – which the Academy traditionally snubs. Composer John Williams, 90, is the oldest nominee in all competitive award categories for his work on ‘The Fabelmans’, while supporting actor Judd Hirsch, 87, is the second oldest. old in the history of its category. Hirsch’s offer comes 42 years after his premiere for “Ordinary People” (1980), surpassing Henry Fonda’s record of 41 years between acting nominations.
Paul Mescal from “After Sun” (A24)
Courtesy of Everett Collection
The Beginners Club
The acting branch is more welcoming than ever, as evidenced by the 16 first-time nominees in all four acting categories. For the first time since 1934, the best acting line-up is made up entirely of newcomers: Austin Butler (“Elvis”), Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Fraser, Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) and Bill Nighy (“Living”).
The hugely effective grassroots campaign for surprise Best Actress nominee Andrea Riseborough for “To Leslie” should inspire other underrated artists to go for the gold, even when their studios don’t have the financial means to do so. And then there’s the Daniels, the dynamic filmmaking duo of “Everything Everywhere,” who bode well for a bright future for cinema in the same category where maestro Steven Spielberg is nominated.
Can’t stop the music
With stellar nominees for original songs from some of the year’s best movies, Oscar producers can create a TV show to keep viewers engaged. An eclectic mix of genres and singers are represented, so multiple generations have something to grab.
I recommend starting with the ultimate dance number, “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR,” and ending with Super Bowl headliner Rihanna delivering the “Lift Me Up” from “Wakanda Forever.” TikTok users will be addicted to Sofia Carson singing “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman.” Older demographics will rock barefoot David Byrne on “This Is the Life” from “Everything Everywhere.” And every “monster” alive will surrender to the magic of Oscar-winning Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Mobley in Chinonye Chukwu’s “Till”
©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection
The fight for diversity, equity and inclusion continues
Not without the Academy’s fair share of shortcomings, there have been disappointing omissions throughout its broadcast of nominations.
The laundering of women in Best Director (i.e. Sarah Polley and Gina Prince-Bythewood) and black women in Leading Actress (i.e. Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler) was particularly unacceptable. given the breadth of talent available to be recognised. Out of 591 films nominated for Best Picture in History, 19 women have directed.
I have long believed that the Academy was being used as a scapegoat for systemic issues of inequality in the entertainment industry. However, the organization has done valuable work over the years, such as diversifying its membership and the Aperture 2025 initiative, which includes standards for representation and inclusion in the best image category. It should be noted that since the initiative was announced in 2020, no film nominated for Best Picture since 1990 would be disqualified under the proposed measures, including this year’s list.
It’s a friendly reminder that we still have a lot of work to do in Hollywood when it comes to equality and representation, and that we need to hold the studios to account every year.
To see the current rankings for each individual category, visit Variety Oscar Center. Be sure to bookmark the 2022-2023 Awards Season Schedule for all the key dates and deadlines of the season.