The 96th annual Oscar awards nominations for the best performances in the film industry were announced — with a number of performances left out. What big names got snubbed this year?
Despite the popularity and critical acclaim of “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig was notably missing from the Best Director category, as was Margot Robbie for Best Actress for her role in the film. This became especially controversial with Ryan Gosling’s nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the same film.
“There is no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed,” Robbie told Variety. Instead, she looked on the bright side. With Robbie credited as a producer, “Barbie” was nominated for eight awards, including Best Picture. Robbie did, however, speak up for Gerwig.
“Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director,” Robbie said. “What she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing. What she pulled off, it really is. But it’s been an incredible year for all the films.”
“The Iron Claw” also fell victim to snubs. It may come as a surprise that Zac Efron did not receive a nomination for Best Actor after playing the film’s lead role. Efron’s performance as Kevin Von Erich was the heart of the film. Efron portrays Kevin Von Erich as he successfully overcomes hardships, like losing three of his brothers (two to suicide), and going on to have a family of his own. His performance at the end of the film when he reflects on losing his brothers alone was captivating enough for some Academy recognition.
Similarly, Jeremy Allen White was snubbed in the Best Supporting Actor category for his portrayal of Kerry Von Erich in the same film. His character, the brother of Efron’s Kevin Von Erich, is a gifted athlete and the favorite of five children, leading to his struggle to meet the expectations of his father. From the highs of career success to the lows of drug abuse, White portrays depression, unhappiness, and injury with a sense of conviction.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the writing of Sean Durkin, who should have also been nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The story was an overall great depiction of The Von Erich family and the hardships the boys faced being a part of a professional wrestling family.
Queens College alum Ray Romano should have received a Best Director nomination for his film “Somewhere in Queens.” Romano’s shot selection captures life in Queens in a way that shows how personal the borough is to him. The basketball game, for example, was filmed at Christ the King High School, with other scenes filmed at Queensborough Community College. A compelling story of family life with a believable conflict, Romano put his heart into making “Somewhere in Queens” relatable.
Another snub was the amazing performance by Romano’s co-star Laurie Metcalf. Metcalf’s character, Angela Russo, brought humor to serious situations in this film. She balanced the roles of overprotective mother and family peacemaker as she was trying to keep them together. Her convincing performance made me realize she was the most compelling character in the film.
Snubs aside, there are still plenty of nominees to root for. You can catch this year’s Oscars on ABC on Sunday, March 10th at 7:00 p.m.
