After a long awards season road, we’ve finally come to the last stop. Tuesday morning, Zazie Beetz (“Atlanta”) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) announced the nominees for the 96th Oscars. To the surprise of no one, “Oppenheimer” leads all films with 13 nominations. It’s up for Best Picture against “American Fiction;” “Anatomy of a Fall;” “Barbie;” “The Holdovers;” “Killers of the Flower Moon;” “Maestro;” “Past Lives;” “Poor Things;” and “The Zone of Interest.”
Since we’re rooting for everyone Black, let’s get to the nominees we really care about.
In addtition to Best Picture, “American Fiction” received nods for Jeffrey Wright for Best Actor, Sterling K. Brown for Best Supporting Actor, and Cord Jefferson for Adapted Screenplay. It’s truly exciting to see Brown have this moment. He’s such an exceptional actor who brings something special and unique to every role. It’s long past time for him to become a top billed leading man.
We’ll get to find out if Colman Domingo has been saving his best red carpet moment for the big show, as he joins Wright, Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”) and Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) with a nomination for Best Actor for his superb performance in “Rustin.” It’s been so inspiring to see how Domingo has used his awards recognition to make sure Bayard Rustin also receives his long overdue flowers for being an essential part of the civil rights movement.
Best Supporting Actress frontrunner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) finds herself among the spectacular company of Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”); Jodie Foster (“Nyad”); America Ferrera (“Barbie”); and Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”).
Sadly, Brooks’ breathtaking performance as Sofia is the only nomination for “The Color Purple,” which has found itself as the subject of several controversial headlines in the last few weeks. This behind the scenes messiness seemed to seal its awards season fate.
Other notable nominees include: Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony” for Best Original Song; “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” for Best Animated Feature; “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” for Best Documentary Feature; “The ABCs of Book Banning” for Best Documentary Short; and “The Barber of Little Rock” for Best Documentary Short.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, The 96th Oscars air live Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC.