Michael B. Jordan stars in “Sinners,” which has been nominated for 16 Academy Awards.
It may have taken one ballot after another, but when all the votes were counted, one film stood supreme.
And it was director Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.”
The epic, genre-bending movie — part period drama, part meditation on racism, part all-out horror film — amassed a record-breaking 16 nominations.
Although this included one in the just-created category of Casting, it still put it solidly ahead of the initial record-holder “All About Eve,” which racked up 14 back in 1950 (a feat later to be matched by “Titanic” and “La La Land”).
As impressive as the achievement of “Sinners” is, however, it still has some competition in the actual race. “One Battle After Another,” a film mixing edgy political satire and quirky thrills, has an impressive 13 nominations.
And “Sentimental Value,” a drama from Norway, made a substantial mark for an international film, notching not only an expected nod in the Best International Feature Film category, but other major nominations including ones for its director, its original screenplay, and three of its actors.
Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn in “One Battle After Another.”
A quick rundown of top categories:
BEST PICTURE: This is the only category that allows for 10 nominations, a modern expansion the Academy hoped would make room for movies more successful with audiences than critics; voters, however, have typically used it to acknowledge foreign and indie films as well. This year’s honor roll was “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “One Battle After Another,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners” and “Train Dreams.”
Surprises: No love for “Wicked: For Good,” a film whose first installment had dominated last year’s awards with 10 nominations. This year, it couldn’t even manage one. Also crash-landing was “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” losing the usual blockbuster slot to “F1.”
BEST DIRECTOR: A tight five of Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”), Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”) and Chloé Zhao (“Hamnet”). This long ago settled into a two-person race between Anderson (who is overdue for acknowledgement) and Coogler (who got this ambitious picture made, against all odds). Both are truly deserving.
Surprises: Nominations for Guillermo del Toro, for “Frankenstein,” and Yorgos Lanthimos, for “Bugonia,” would have been perfectly in keeping with their visually striking storytelling. Did Trier’s unexpected nod help edge them out?
Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.”
BEST ACTOR: And the nominees are Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”), Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”), Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”) and Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”). Moura, the least known of these contenders, is the first Brazilian to land a Best Actor nomination.
Surprises: Some were shocked not to see Paul Mescal mentioned here, for his work in “Hamnet.” Certainly a good dramatic turn from the Irish actor, although I would have liked to see some attention paid to Joel Edgerton’s moving but far quieter work in “Train Dreams.”
BEST ACTRESS: Five fine performances got attention — Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Kate Hudson (“Song Sung Blue”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”) and Emma Stone (“Bugonia”). In another time, Hudson’s Oscar-bait role — playing a real-life entertainer struggling with addiction and illness — would have made the likable performer an odds-on favorite for the win. But this competition is tough.
Surprises: Few actresses worked harder on-screen than Amanda Seyfried in “The Testament of Ann Lee.” Did enough voters see it, or was the film too challenging to connect with them?
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Benicio del Toro (“One Battle After Another”), Jacob Elordi (“Frankenstein”), Delroy Lindo (“Sinners”), Sean Penn (“One Battle After Another”) and Stellan Skarsgård (“Sentimental Value”) make up this year’s list. Traditionally, this is a category that tends to favor veteran performers — not particularly encouraging news for Elordi, although his role was one of the most demanding here.
Surprises: Once again, character actor Jesse Plemons deserved acknowledgement and failed to get it, this time for his work in “Bugonia.”
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, left, and Elle Fanning in “Sentimental Value.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Unlike the previous category, this is one that tends to serve as a “You’ve arrived” welcome to younger performers, and this year it is again dominated by newcomers and the little-known: Elle Fanning (“Sentimental Value”), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (“Sentimental Value”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”), and Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”). The sole old-timer (although she’s a first-time nominee)? Amy Madigan for “Weapons.”
Surprises: Although its publicity certainly made it seem as if Timothée Chalamet was the only person in “Marty Supreme,” he was not — and as his older, sadder love interest, Gwyneth Paltrow did lovely work that has mostly been overlooked. Also passed by was Ariana Grande for “Wicked: For Good,” who was pushed in this category instead of the supposedly harder — even if more accurate, in this case — Actress category.
Among the other winners: Warner Bros., a studio that seems destined to be sold for parts, led the nominations tally, with 30 nods across the categories, thanks to its risky backing of both “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.” Perhaps even more impressive? Neon, which amassed 18 nominations for a small but very smart slate that leaned heavily on international films (and put it two noms ahead of the gargantuan Netflix, Warner Bros.’ persistent suitor).
Losers: Fox Searchlight, who repeatedly struck out with such no-show, shoulda-been contenders as “Is This Thing On?” “Rental Family” and “The Testament of Ann Lee.” Another embarrassment was YouTube, whose live streaming of the nominations was plagued by sudden, inexplicable cut-to-black pauses and intrusive ads, which sometimes even interrupted the announcements themselves. With luck, they will have a better handle on things before they take over hosting the show itself, in 2029. For now, luckily, it is still safely at ABC, where Conan O’Brien will host on March 15.
_________________________________________
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
