Love it or hate it, the Oscar season is upon us, and as we wait for the most awaited entertainment event, let us take a look at this year’s nominees. From the likes of Barbie Vs. Oppenheimer to Christopher Nolan Vs. Martin Scorsese, the nominees are stacked with mammoth stars with high-pedigree performances to their credit.
The result of these nominations will be announced on 10 March 2024 in an exclusive event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Apart from the announcement of the result, the event is packed with musical performances of this year’s nominated songs, including the fan favorite “I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling from Barbie. Let’s take a closer look at all the nominees and evaluate the probable winners.
Star-Studded Tussle At The Oscars
Starting with the Best Picture nominee, we have American Fiction, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Oppenheimer, along with others. In our opinion, Oppenheimer might be the most popular choice for many reasons, as the plot and impeccable screenplay alone credit Oppenheimer as the best picture. Moreover, the direction, innovative, practical effects, and Ludwig Goransson’s score present a strong case for Oppenheimer.
The closet hurdle Oppenheimer faces is Killers of the Flower Moon by Martin Scorsese. The latest Scorsese outing focuses on the legacy and murders of Osage members who were once the richest residents in Oklahoma. Starring heavyweight stars like Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone, the movie is a classic Scorsese filled with dynamic dialogues and striking visuals.
Now, coming to the Best Director, the fight resumes between Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan for Killers of the Flower Moon and Oppenheimer, though the other nominee, Yorgos Lanthimos, presents a strong case with Poor Things. However, in my opinion, we might finally see Nolan bagging the prized award.
Moving on to the Best Actor, we have the likes of Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, Jeffrey Wright, Colman Domingo, and Paul Giamatti competing for the award. While Paul Giamatti presents a strong case with his tender performance in The Holdovers, it is safe to assume that Cillian Murphy’s eccentric and encapsulating performance as J. Robert. Oppenheimer has guaranteed him walking away with this award.
As of now, the Best Actress award seems to be tied to Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone. Emma Stone’s outing in Yorgos Lanthimos’ unique black comedy Poor Things has made her a strong contender to repeat her La La Land success. On the other hand, Lily Gladstone has given a breakout performance with Killers of the Flowers Moon and is looking to bag her first Academy Award.
Best Supporting Actor is where things get a little more interesting as Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, Ryan Gosling, Sterling K. Brown, and Robert Downey Jr. face off in probably the most interesting roster of supporting actors. Considering the Academy’s long obsession with prioritizing real-life portrayal, Robert Downey as Admiral Strauss in Oppenheimer is the likely contender to emerge in this roster of stars.
Best Supporting Actress seems a steamroll as Da’Vine Joy Randolph is looking as the likely winner of the award for her portrayal in The Holdovers. Moreover, her repsheet of winning every other award, including the BAFTA, the Golden Globes, and the SAG Awards, further cements her victory.
Now coming on to the Best Animated Feature, ever since its release, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has unofficially been dubbed as the Best Animated Feature. The diverse art style and fluid animation of the movie have elevated the levels of animated features and have officially given recognition to comic-book-style animation worldwide.
