The 89th Oscar Nominations Are Here
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 8:50AM Oscar night is February 26th, 2017. Here are the nominees along with how I fared on my punditry and some interesting stats. Also Read: "8 Big Takeaways from the Nominations" and "Sad Snubs and Curious Inclusions", "Nominations that made us happy" and "Curious Statistics - Oscar Numbers"
La La Land enters Oscar history with 14 nominations, the most ever
BEST PICTURE:
“Arrival”
“Fences”
“Hacksaw Ridge”
“Hell or High Water”
“Hidden Figures”
“La La Land”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Lion”
“Moonlight”
How'd I do on my predictions: 9/9 though this wasn't that difficult I will readily admit
History Made: La La Land, with 14 nominations, ties the record of "most nominations ever" with Titanic and All About Eve
BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck
Andrew Garfield
Ryan Gosling
Viggo Mortensen
Denzel Washington
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5. This was the expected list, no surprises...
BEST ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert
Ruth Negga
Natalie Portman
Emma Stone
Meryl Streep
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5. I had Ruth Negga in the list until the last moment. Argh! Amy Adams, as I suggested in November, had to sit this one out. Let us not discuss my depression over the Bening being left out.
History Made: As with every time Meryl makes a movie, history made. It's her 20th nomination. Soon she will double the nomination counts of her nearest rivals...
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali
Jeff Bridges
Lucas Hedges
Dev Patel
Michael Shannon
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5 Hugh Grant missed the list after all... but that's okay as it was a fraudulent campaign -- he was totally a lead, however great he was. I nominated him in lead.
History made: This is the first time since the 1970s I understand when a Golden Globe winner (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) was not nominated in this category.
Stat-Love: Lucas Hedges is the 8th youngest man ever nominated in this category. He's 20 years old. If he wins he'll be the youngest winner ever in the category.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis
Naomie Harris
Nicole Kidman
Octavia Spencer
Michelle Williams
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5. But this was the expected list. It'd be fascinating to know who was sixth.
History Made: Viola Davis is now the most nominated black woman of all time with 3. There are several people tied in second place with 2 nominations
BEST DIRECTOR
Denis Villeneuve
Mel Gibson
Damien Chazelle
Kenneth Lonergan
Barry Jenkins
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5. The big surprise here was Mel Gibson. We figured, incorrectly that if the more populist DGA didn't nominate him he wouldn't make it with the more elitist Academy. Better luck next time Garth Davis of Lion breakthrough.
Stat-Love: 4/5 of these nominees are first timers in this category. Barry Jenkins is only the 4th black director nominated in the category. None have won.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Kubo and the Two Strings”
“Moana”
“My Life as a Zucchini”
“The Red Turtle”
“Zootopia”
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5. Go me! I am relieved that Finding Dory wasn't nominated. We really don't need the Oscars to honor cash grab sequels when they can be honoring gorgeous films that need the support like The Red Turtle.
Stat-Love: This is getting to be regular, isn't it? 3 American productions, 2 foreign in animated.
ANIMATED SHORT
“Blind Vaysha”
“Borrowed Time”
“Pear Cider and Cigarettes”
“Pearl”
“Piper”
How'd I do on my predictions: 2/5 oops. But I had 2 of these as my alternates ;)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“Arrival”
“Fences”
“Hidden Figures”
“Lion”
“Moonlight”
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5. I assumed Fences would miss for a surging Nocturnal Animals but Oscar didn't like that movie in the way BAFTA and the Globes did.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Hell or High Water”
“La La Land”
“The Lobster”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“20th Century Women”
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5 I thought Captain Fantastic would squeeze out 20th Century Women. I love both movies but I'm so happy 20th Century Women wasn't completely ignored.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Arrival”
“La La Land”
“Lion”
“Moonlight”
“Silence”
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5. Gorgeous movies all.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Fire at Sea”
“I Am Not Your Negro”
“Life Animated”
“OJ: Made in America”
“13th”
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5 WHOA. I am surprised at my success.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“Extremist”
“4.1 Miles”
“Joe’s Violin”
“Watani My Homeland”
“The White Helmets”
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5 I missed 4.1 miles
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
“Ennemis Interieurs”
“La Femme et le TGV”
“Silent Nights”
“Sing”
“Timecode”
How'd I do on my predictions: 2/5. Oops.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“A Man Called Ove”
“Land of Mine”
“Tanna”
“The Salesman”
“Toni Erdmann”
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5 Yay! It's a good thing to considering how we like to be thought of as the top site for this category.
History Made: This is Australia's first nomination in this category with Tanna
BEST FILM EDITING
“Arrival”
“Hacksaw Ridge”
“Hell or High Water”
“La La Land”
“Moonlight”
How'd I do on my predictions: 5/5
History Made: Joi McMillion who edited Moonlight (with Nat Sanders) is the first African-American woman nominated for film editing.
BEST SOUND EDITING
“Arrival”
“Deep Water Horizon”
“Hacksaw Ridge”
“La La Land”
“Sully”
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5 I missed La La Land and had predicted Deadpool
BEST SOUND MIXING
“Arrival”
“Hacksaw Ridge”
“La La Land”
“Rogue One”
“13 Hours”
How'd I do on my predictions: 3/5 I missed 13 Hours (wtf) and Rogue One and had predicted Sully and Deepwater Horizon just as I had with sound mixing...
Stat-Love: ...but there was a far greater split in these categories this year than usual. They usually line up 4/5 but this year 3/5
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Arrival”
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
“Hail Caesar!”
“La La Land”
“Passengers”
How'd I do on my predictions: 2/5 OUCH. OUCH. OUCH. I only guessed Fantastic Beasts and La La Land. I am horrified that The Handmaiden wasn't nominated but what can you do? It's very tough for foreign language films to break into regular Oscar categories.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“Jackie”
“La La Land”
“Lion”
“Moonlight”
“Passengers”
How'd I do on my predictions: 1/5. I think this is the worst I've ever done in this category. But it was impossible to predict this year if you believed, as I did given statistical evidence, that the music branch would never nominate this many first timers. They usually allow only one a year and 4 of these 5 are first time nominees.
History Made: John Williams (The BFG) is nominated in virtually every year in which he's eligible. The last time he missed the lineup was for Far and Away (1992) a quarter century ago! So his omission this year is a shock. Especially since the branch is so averse to new members.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Audition
Can’t Stop the Feeling
City of Stars
Empty Chair
How Far I’ll Go
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5 I missed Can't Stop the Feeling
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR
“A Man Called Ove”
“Star Trek Beyond”
“Suicide Squad”
How'd I do on my predictions: 1/3. Oops.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“Allied”
“Fantastic Beasts”
“Florence Foster Jenkins”
“Jackie”
“La La Land”
How'd I do on my predictions: 3/5. Missed Allied and Fantastic Beasts
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Deepwater Horizon”
“Doctor Strange”
“Jungle Book”
“Kubo”
“Rogue One”
How'd I do on my predictions: 4/5. Missed Deepwater Horizon as I thought Arrival love would pull that in despite it not having "Most" Visual Effects
Stat-Love: True to form Doctor Strange continued the tradition of Marvel Studios nabbing only 1 or 2 (in this case 1) nomination even when it looked like there'd be a good shot for multiple nods.
Reader Comments (112)
I am glad Adams is sitting this one out. Delighted for Ruth Negga, I hope this boosts her career. Streep didn't need a 20th nomination, even if FFJ is a better performance than everything she's been nominated for since Prada
Sorry for Bening, happy for Negga, glad that Adams was left off the list.
As always with Oscar nomination morning, there are the pleasant surprises (Negga in Actress, Shannon in Supporting, 20th Century Women in Screenplay), the frustrating (MEL GIBSON, no Bening in Actress) and the predictable (best actor slate) but all in all a good list.
I will say one thing you were SO right Nat about Amy Adams,your article about her was right on after all.
And I am so happy that POC are getting so much representation in the nominations for quality work this year! #OscarsNotSoWhite :)
Please, I can't. I really really can't. Life is so hard already and yet they snub Amy Adams from Arrival? Does Meryl Streep need a 20th nomination seriously? I really want to Sob my heart out. Louise Banks was an amazingly well fleshed out woman who calls no attention to herself. But happy for Isabelle Huppert, Ruth Negga and Michael Shannon. And Isabelle is going to win.
Time to light candles for Greta Gerwig and Janelle Monae, this year's victims of category fraud.
And THRILLED to see Michael Shannon prevail over both a leading actor (Hugh) and a weaker costar (ATJ)! Bring your righteous fury to Oscar night, M-Shan!
And AMAZED to see Jackie get that score nomination! MiCA! LEVY!
Overjoyed for Negga & Huppert. Adams sitting this year out will work in her favour in the long term, she'll be back. Sad for Benning, wish we could swap her for Streep (as much as I loved Streep) The Fiennes omission stings, even though is was expected. No Hugh Grant, bit of a shock, I would have thought he was a lock. Mel Gibson, smh.
Bluemoon, Streep was very good in FFJ, I think people just want to harp on it because it's Meryl getting a 20th. Plus I think this will help the 'Adams is overdue' narrative in future seasons.
EW MEL GIBSON, what a turn off to the whole thing. Very happy to see Viggo and Isabelle nominated!! Perhaps Amy Adams will be our new Geraldine Page, without a win until decades into her career...
My first thought was Nathaniel will be delighted 20th Century Women got in for Original Screenplay. I really didn't like Nocturnal Animals but Michael Shannon was fantastic and they owe him for not nominating him of Take Shelter. Happy for Nicole and Viggo and everything for La La Land. We still can't say Academy Award Nominee Hugh Grant
Very happy to see voters chose the right performance in Nocturnal Animals to nominate. You GO Michael Shannon!!!
I know there is some cat fraud with Davis and Patel this year, but they don't seem as egregious as in past seasons, and they did snub Grant (likely for that reason)
Well at least amy adams haters are happy now.
Don't get the appeal of Michael Shannon in that movie. Did the category need two Texas sheriffs doing one last case before retiring?
I didn't like the way they announced it this year. I miss the live aspect, with the name and picture of the actress popping up.
However, I am happy Amy Adams is sitting this out. Six nominations with not steam to win just seems silly. This will fuel whichever nomination she receives next to finally be her win. Either that or the academy is done with her forevermore.
I'm so happy for Ruth Negga. I thought she was so great in Loving, and this will really boost her career.
I know Hugh Grant was category fraud af, but I feel bad. That was his shot at an Oscar nom. Oh well.
Mike in Canada
ABSOLUTELY agree about Mica Levi...the music branch is so notoriously stingy to newcomers, and I feared a young, female, experimental composer like Mica Levi would certainly be overlooked by someone much more established like John Williams. Thrilled she was recognized for her outstanding work on Jackie.
UK TV says Grant was nominated.
LA LA LAND with 14! Happiness!
Four of five Actor nominees, four of five supporting actor nominees and all five supporting actress nominees are in Best Picture nominees. Only one of the best actress nominees.
TROLLS and SUICIDE SQUAD are now Oscar nominees.... WTF, they are the new NORBIT lol
Oh! And I just realized that three of my faves - Yorgos Lanthimos, Kenneth Lonergan and Mike Mills - are all together in one flawless category!
And that your boyfriend Bradford Young has fulfilled his destiny!
Best:
Ruth Negga
"Hail, Caesar!" Production Design
"The Lobster" and "20th Century Women"
"Kubo and the Two Strings" Visual Effects
Worst;
Original Song. WHERE IS "SING STREET" YOU FOOLS.
Streep' 20th Oscar nomination!
Looks like Streep fatigue not a thing with Academy Voters.
As soon as I saw Huppert and knew immediately Bening, Adams and even Blunt were out, knew she had it!!
This is me celebrating The Lobster breaking into Original Screenplay. "Academy Award Nominee" is all that film needs in its marketing to get more people to see it. It already has "from the creators of Dogtooth" so this helps a lot.
Add me to the list of those grossed out by stupid Mel Gibson. Happy Ruth Negga got in and that Mica Levy's gorgeous score for Jackie was honored. In the meantime, I clearly need to see Lion, Arrival, and Elle, just to get caught up w/ the major nominees. Plus I'm still wildly anticipating seeing 20th Century Women! I wish Annette Bening had gotten a nod - just from watching the previews I can tell she's fab in it. Though I loved Streep in FFJ but I would swap her out.
People are going to react to something, so it will be Gibson or Adams this year. I am pissed about Adams (when she carries the film to Pic and Director? Wouldn't we have questions if there was a man at the center of the film?), but it's a pretty great list overall. So glad they did right by Moonlight.
Some other stats:
- Meryl lands her twentieth nomination, continuing in setting a nomination tally that no one will ever surpass.
- Denzel was already the most nominated black/POC actor, but he pads his lead on Morgan Freeman with his seventh nomination.
- Viola Davis becomes the solo most nominated black/POC actress with her third nomination, breaking out of a tie with Whoopi Goldberg.
- Goldberg is not lonely, however, as Octavia Spencer now joins her in a tie for second place.
- Bradford Young is the first black nominee in Cinematography.
- On the heels of the #OscarSoWhite controversy, 2016 is the first year since 2004 where there are POC nominees in all four acting categories. As with 2004, as well, there will likely be two POC winners.
David I love those nominations when an element of a film is recognized by the branch even if the film it's housed in isn't necessarily great or 'awards worthy'. I wish there were more of these.
@Jamie - once Huppert was the first nominee I was convinced that Negga was in and that Streep would miss due to a late surging Henson... I was half-right!
@Rami
But...is she better than Amy in Arrival? But that aside I'm also happy for POC. let's all say their names! BRADFORD YOUNG, RUTH NEGGA, VIOLA DAVIS, NAOMIE HARRIS, MAHERSHALA ALI, OCTAVIA SPENCER, DENZEL WASHINGTON, BARRY JENKINS FOR DIRECTING, SCREENPLAY AND PIC, AND MY FELLOW ASIAN DEV PATEL! who else am I missing ?!
Blueemoon, add the dearly departed August Wilson to that list.
BlueMoon02, yes agreed on Adams/Streep but its not a wtf nomination either. If anything , I think Negga took Adams spot and well I think Negga at this point in her career needs the recognition more than Adams.
All I got to say is Yay Freakin Yay for "13th". Best doc this year.
has it really been since 2000 that a woman has been nominated for Score?
@Rami Oh yes August Wilson too! And let's not forget that Joo McMillon is the first Black Woman to be nominated for film editing! SHE ROCKS!
I would have felt abit better if Amy was snubbed for American Hustle cuz she was a lead/supporting though she was amazing in it. But u know...Arrival was well loved with 8 nominations and yet one of the main reasons the film worked got left out. I dun disagree abt Ruth Negga. But yes since the cards has been shown, I hope Isabelle Huppert would take the gold.
I think it is sad and ironic that Hacksaw Ridge is so prominent in nominations while Silence did so poorly. A belligerent sociopath gets welcomed back while a consistent master sits it out. When will hollywood learn to ignore the hype and rewards durability and consistency ... probably never.
Streep met her quota for the 2010s...she averages 4 noms per decade (for the 5 decades she has been working in film).
Wow...the Bening AND Adams snubs really sting...but they made way for Ruth and Isabelle's first noms...here's to a Huppert win!
I meant Joi McMillon! My sincere apologies. and let's not forget ABA DUVERNAY for The 13th. Mel Gibson = 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄😠😠😠😠😠
In a predictable year with depressingly inevitable snubs and that lame Amy Adams surprise, my initial favorite take-always: Michael Shannon was indeed the only worthy aspect of Nocturnal Animals, and both 20th Century Women and The Lobster landed screenplay nods!
Really PISSES me off
that Gibson and Garfield got nominated!
Hacksaw Ridge was only eligible for The Razzies!
Was it Goran, who said Land Of Mine wouldn't (or was it shouldn't?)
get nominated?
Ha! Deserved nom!
Luckily Julietta missed out, though!
Yahoo! has Adams nominated and Negga not. Typical Yahoo! sloppy reporting. Anyway, Congrats to Nathaniel (and TFE pundits and readers) for doing well this year with predictions. Personally, the few disappointments I had were the snub of The Handmaiden in craft categories, Streep's nomination over more deserving Bening and Adams, no Arrival in Visuals (or Score), Grant no where to be found, Gibson over Larrain in Director -- and Jackie missing in Picture.
I miss the live announcement. (Nostalgia!) "Dick Poop" ruins everything.
Had either Bening or Adams been nominated either would have won.
Amy Adams should've been there, she was all about Arrival was about. The Bening should've been there too, a fantastic performance. If you're going to give Affleck an Oscar for Manchester, you don't snub Annette Benning for 20th Century Women.
Anyways, there are only 5 noms and everybody on the list deserves it. What are we going to do??
I think the thing we need to take away is to NEVER bet against Meryl Streep. Even in a competitive year where we think the Academy will spread the wealth. The only time she EVER misses is when she has a co-star in the same film who is receiving more acclaim (i.e. Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room and Nicole Kidman in The Hours).
I know this is sort of crazy to say right after La La Land received 14 nominations, but I still sort of think that Moonlight will win best picture? It did receive 8 nominations, which, for a small film about a queer African-American man with no big names is pretty damn impressive. In recent years, they've given BP to the critic's favorite with smaller statue count -- think 12YOS > Gravity, Birdman > TGBH, Spotlight > MMFR.
With you-know-who as POTUS, social movements around the world, BLM, Oscars so White the past two years, might they opt for the smaller, socially important drama over the big pretty musical?
I wouldn't have mind Gibson getting back in Hollywood's good graces
if only it had been a GOOD movie - I don't care what he's done -
I judge the art not the artist.
But I'm pissed that Hollywood has welcomed him back with such a shitty movie!!
I can't believe Garfield got nominated - he fucking stinks in Hacksaw!
Happy New Year, Nathaniel!
My heart aches for La Bening and Joel Edgerton. The husband syndrome continues! Trintignant, Courtenay and now him!
I hate what they did with the announcement. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
As i'm thrilled that the Academy didn't follow the Globes and the BAFTAS with their Nocturnal Animals love, i'm so pissed about the Hacksaw Ridge nominations in Director, Picture and Leading Actor. It might by the worst performance Garfield ever gave on screen ... even Taylor-Johnson was better in Nocturnal.
Anyway, i'm also glad that Arrival won so much love EXCEPT in the lead actress category ... What's wrong with the academy, snubbing one of their favorite actresses the year she delivers her best performance ever? As much as i loved Meryl Streep in FFJ, she belongs in the sixth place on the list (even if Loving didn't get to French screens yet, i assume Negga's performance is more deserving...).