Oscar Nominations 2024: Barbie's Snubs and Five More Talking Points
The Oscar nominations for 2024 have been announced, and while there were the usual snubs and surprises, Barbie's absence from major categories has generated the most discussion. This article explores five key talking points from the nominations, including controversies surrounding two films with Jewish representation, the historic nominations of openly LGBT actors, the lack of recognition for the British film Saltburn, the slow progress for female directors, and the record-breaking potential for Native American actress Lily Gladstone. It also delves into the reasons behind Barbie's snubs and provides insights from experts.
1. Golda and Maestro's 'Jewface' Controversy
Golda and Maestro were films that drew attention to debates about Jewish representation on screen. Actress Dame Helen Mirren playing Israeli prime minister Golda Meir and Bradley Cooper's portrayal of Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro sparked discussions about non-Jewish actors playing Jewish roles. The controversy deepened when the films received nominations for best make-up and hairstyling at the Oscars, leading to criticisms of "Jewface" representations.
Author and broadcaster David Baddiel tweeted his observations on the matter, questioning the Academy's decision to shortlist these films for an award that deals with the portrayal of Jewish characters.
2. An LGBT Record
The nominations for 2024 revealed a historic moment for the Oscars, with two openly LGBT actors receiving nominations for playing LGBT characters. Colman Domingo was nominated for his performance as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin, while Jodie Foster received a nod for her role as swimming coach Bonnie Stoll in Nyad. Previously, Sir Ian McKellen was the only nominee in this category when he was recognized for his role in Gods and Monsters in 1998. This year also marked the first time three films directed by women were nominated for best picture.
The nominations also included several actors who received their first ever nomination, such as Emily Blunt, Jeffrey Wright, Danielle Brooks, Sterling K Brown, America Ferrera, Lily Gladstone, Sandra Hüller, Cillian Murphy, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
3. Saltburn Gets Burned by the Academy
Despite gaining recognition from other awards ceremonies, Saltburn failed to receive any nominations at the Oscars. The British film, directed by Emerald Fennell and featuring mostly British and Irish actors, became a cult hit and received multiple Bafta nominations. However, it seems that the more conservative voters in the US Academy found some of the film's content too extreme. Scenes involving bathtubs and graveyards were reportedly too much for their tastes.
This snub led to disappointment among fans who had seen Saltburn gain traction and popularity in other awards circles. The film's strong showing at the Baftas, its home turf, made its lack of recognition at the Oscars surprising.
4. Slow 'Revolution' for Female Directors
The best director category this year featured only one woman, Justine Triet from France for her film Anatomy of a Fall. This marked the eighth time in Oscars history that a woman had been nominated in this category. Speaking about the state of the film industry, Triet expressed her pride in being nominated and noted that the past few years have been the beginning of a significant revolution for women.
Despite Greta Gerwig's absence from the best director shortlist, history was made this year with three films directed by women nominated for best picture. This progress indicates some positive changes in the representation and recognition of female directors.
5. Will Lily Gladstone Fulfil Yearbook Prediction?
One potential record-breaking moment at the Oscars could be Lily Gladstone becoming the first Native American actress to win an Oscar. Gladstone's performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, a film directed by Martin Scorsese, received critical acclaim. The film tells the story of an Osage tribe targeted by white settlers for their oil-rich land. Interestingly, a high school yearbook picture surfaced revealing that Gladstone was voted 'most likely to win an Oscar' by her classmates.
Considering her talent and the recognition she has garnered for her performance, it is not surprising that there is speculation about Gladstone's chances of breaking this record.
Barbie's Big Snubs
Barbie, a film centered around feminism and the patriarchy, received mixed results in the Oscar nominations. While Greta Gerwig was recognized for her screenplay, her snub in the best director category, along with Margot Robbie's absence from the best actress category, disappointed many fans. However, industry experts had anticipated these snubs.
Robbie's nomination for best actress was not certain, as there were other strong contenders for the category. The Academy tends to favor serious performances over comedic ones, which potentially put Robbie at a disadvantage. On the other hand, America Ferrera, who had a more serious role in Barbie, received a nomination in the best supporting actress category.
While fans expressed disappointment about Barbie's snubs, some acknowledged that the five actresses ultimately nominated in the best actress category had delivered outstanding performances in a year filled with strong female roles.
