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“Sinners” Smashes Oscar Nomination Record, Local Buzz Builds for March 15th Ceremony
Hollywood is abuzz! This past Thursday morning, the nominations for the 98th annual Academy Awards were unveiled, and while fan favorites like “One Battle After Another,” “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein,” and “Hamnet” all garnered significant recognition, it was “Sinners” that truly stole the show. The film shattered previous records with an astounding 16 nominations, including highly coveted nods for Best Picture, Best Director, and the newly introduced Best Casting category.
Foreign cinema also made a strong showing this year, with several critically acclaimed titles from the Cannes Film Festival earning multiple nominations. “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sirat,” and “It Was Just an Accident” all proved to be strong contenders in various categories.
Before the big reveal, industry insiders were speculating whether “Sinners” or “One Battle After Another” might break the long-standing record of 14 nominations, a benchmark previously held by cinematic giants “Titanic,” “La La Land,” and “All About Eve.” While the addition of the Best Casting category was thought to be a potential game-changer, “Sinners” soared past the old record, proving its dominance even without the new addition.
“One Battle After Another” certainly held its own, racking up an impressive 13 nominations, including a double nomination for Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn in the Best Supporting Actor category. “Frankenstein,” “Sentimental Value,” and “Marty Supreme” each secured nine nominations, while “Hamnet” landed eight.
Oscar Snubs and Surprises
As always, the nominations weren’t without their share of surprises and perceived snubs. Among the acting categories, many expected Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”) to receive a Best Actress nomination and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”) for Best Supporting Actor. However, speculation suggests potential category confusion may have played a role in their absence.
Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose Palme d’Or-winning film “It Was Just an Accident” was widely praised, secured a nomination for Best Original Screenplay and saw his film recognized in the competitive Best International Feature race. Yet, many felt it deserved a spot in the Best Picture category.
The Best Director race, always a tight competition, saw a few high-profile omissions. Guillermo Del Toro (“Frankenstein”), a Directors Guild Award nominee, was a notable absence from the shortlist.
In a surprising turn, “Wicked” – which garnered 10 Oscar nominations last year – was completely shut out this year, despite earlier predictions of at least a few nods for its sequel. James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” also experienced a franchise low, receiving only two nominations.
The Big Night Approaches: March 15th!
Mark your calendars! The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is slated for March 15th at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Conan O’Brien is set to return as host, fresh off his inaugural hosting gig last year, where “Anora” swept the major awards, taking home Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Screenplay, and Best Editing. Get ready for a night of glitz, glamour, and cinematic celebration!