Nominations for the 2019 Oscars have finally been announced by Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis Ross live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. Leading the pack are Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma and Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite, having scored 10 nominations each heading to the 91st Academy Awards. A Star Is Born, Green Book and BlacKkKlansman were among the Best Picture nominees. In addition, Aussies were represented by Australian production designer Fiona Crombie and screenwriter Tony McNamara, who both earned nominations for The Favourite.
But, it wouldn’t be an award show nomination list without a few snubs and surprises. One of the most noticeable omissions was Bradley Cooper failing to crack the Best Director category for A Star Is Born.
RELATED: The Full List Of 2019 Oscar Nominations
Below, the biggest snubs and surprises from this years list.
Bradley Cooper and Peter Farrelly got left out of Best Director
A Star Is Born and Green Book were considered two of this years biggest films, with Cooper’s adaptation of the 1976 film grossing over $400 million in the box office. The films themselves managed to score well in the overall categories – with A Star Is Born landing eight nominations and Green Book five – but, neither managed to score a Best Director nomination, usually considered a prerequisite for a Best Picture win. The Academy director’s branch is notorious for snubbing actors who step into the director’s chair. And Bradley Cooper, who was considered a lock for making the box-office phenomenon has now joined the ranks of Barbra Streisand, Ben Affleck, and Angelina Jolie, as actor-directors who failed to receive their proper due.
The 44-year-old responded to the nominations in a statement: “Everyone who worked on this film truly risked putting themselves out there—in the hope that in doing so people will connect and feel something deep and personal—the way films have made me feel since I was a kid. When I got this opportunity I knew I had to risk it all because I may never get another chance—so to be here today in a place where people who have seen the film are talking about how it makes them feel, something deep—that simple human thing—that we need each other—and the Academy to recognise that this morning—I just am so grateful.”
Fans were noticeably upset about Cooper’s lack of a nomination.
Emily Blunt failed to score an Oscar nomination…again
Emily Blunt has six Golden Globe nominations, three BAFTA and three SAG, including two from this year. Yet, after making it in nearly every category, Blunt has missed out on an Oscar nomination yet again, not scoring with either Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place.
John David Washington failed to pick up a Best Actor nomination
While Spike Lee’s drama picked up six Oscar nominations, John David Washington somehow failed to crack the best actor category for playing real-life police officer Ron Stallworth. His counterpart, Adam Driver, was nominated for best supporting actor.
Black Panther becomes the first superhero movie to get a Best Picture nomination
It’s finally happened. A superhero movie has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Black Panther was a smash hit with critics and audiences alike and it has been steadily picking up nominations left and right this awards season, so this shouldn’t be a surprise that it landed a nomination in this year’s Best Picture category.
Roma scores two nominations for its lead actresses
Perhaps my most pleasant surprise came courtesy of the two acting nominations for Roma: Yalitza Aparicio for Best Actress and Marina De Tavira for Best Supporting Actress. Throughout award season, despite high acclaim for Roma, its cast had been largely overlooked. It seems The Academy fixed that oversight by nominating the wonderful performances of Aparicio and De Tavira.
The Academy Awards ceremony airs live on February 24.
RELATED: The Full List Of 2019 Oscar Nominations
