As expected, they were also nominated for the coveted Best Picture Oscar. Top Gun: Maverick Y Avatar: The Way of Waterwhich contributed to the return of the public to movie theaters after the pandemic, although Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveranother big box office production, was left out.
The rest of the applicants in that category are the biographical film about the rock and roll star Elvisthe very intimate The Fabelmans by Steven Spielberg, Cate Blanchett’s latest tour-de-force tarthe winner of the Cannes Film Festival The triangle of sadness and the adaptation of the homonymous novel They speak.
Everything everywhere at the same timewhich portrays a family of Chinese-American immigrants who undergo a tax audit and find themselves embroiled in an interdimensional battle to save the multiverse from a powerful villain, has grossed more than $100 million worldwide.
The film garnered four nominations for its cast, including best supporting actor for Ke Huy Quan, who appeared as a child in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom nearly four decades ago, and Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh.
Yeoh thus became the second woman of Asian origin nominated for best actress in the 95 years of the Oscars, and will compete with Blanchett, who already has two statuettes to her credit.
Controversy arose in this category as no black women were nominated, despite the fact that Viola Davis (the king woman) and Danielle Deadwyler (Till: The crime that changed everything) were seen as favourites.
In the best supporting actress category, however, African-American Angela Bassett became, as expected, the first star from a Marvel superhero movie to be nominated for an Oscar, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The Oscar nomination for best actor for Brendan Fraser (The whale), Colin Farrel (The Banshees…) and Austin Butler (Elvis), clear favourites. The remaining nominations in that category went to Paul Mescal for aftersun and Bill Nighy for Living room.
Latinos in the fray
Among the Latinos in contention stands out Argentina, 1985about the historic trial that sentenced the commanders of the last Argentine dictatorship (1976-1983), which was placed among the Oscar nominees for best international film after being shortlisted by the Academy in December.
In addition, it will compete for the statuette for best animated film “Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro”, by the already Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker.
And the Cuban-Spanish Ana de Armas (Blonde) is among the nominees for best actress, where she will compete with Yeoh, Blanchett, Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie).
Spielberg made the shortlist for the Oscar for best director, but no women were nominated in the category, prompting a quick reaction on social media.
Before the nominations, Clayton Davis, editor of the magazine Variety specializing in prizes, told the AFP that this is one of the most unpredictable Oscar races, in part due to the massive growth in the number of international voters for the Academy.
Surprises such as the South Korean parasites was crowned best film in 2020 and that the Japanese “Drive My Car” was nominated last year.
“That streak could continue,” Davis said.
“All Quiet Front” was also nominated for best international film.
‘Top Gun’ could win
Actors Riz Ahmed (the sound of metal) and Allison Williams (Girls) announced the nominations from Los Angeles.
Television ratings for awards ceremonies, including the Oscars, have been declining as Academy voters in recent years have opted for lesser-known independent films such as nomad land Y coda.
Many in the industry expected a good number of nominations among the big productions of 2022, much needed at a time when giants like Cineworld, the second largest theater chain in the world, filed for bankruptcy.
James Cameron’s science fiction epic Avatar: The Way of Waterwhich surpassed the $2 billion mark in worldwide box office last weekend, earned four nominations.
Top Gun: MaverickTom Cruise’s long-awaited sequel to his 1986 smash hit, which has already grossed some $1.5 billion, received six.
“That’s the one that looks like it could win best picture,” Davis said.