This past year was golden for filmmakers and storytellers alike. From movies like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” to “The Color Purple” and “American Fiction,” 2023 was filled with laughter, action, gasps and tears.
After a year of blockbusters and box office hits, the list of Oscar nominees for this year’s Academy Awards on March 10 was highly anticipated. However, when this year’s nominees were announced, people were surprised and upset, to say the least. People anticipated seeing “Barbie” Margot Robbie under an actress in a leading role. The mastermind behind it all, Greta Gerwig, was expected to be up for best director, yet people were left disappointed when she wasn’t nominated either.
“The Academy got plenty right this year but a lot wrong,” Rolling Stone said.
Still upset from the disrespect at the Golden Globes and the surprising results of the Critics Choice Awards, many took to social media about their outrage.
“Nominating Ken but not Barbie is so on the nose it hurts,” one account on X said.
Other actors and actresses were snubbed as well for this year’s Oscars, actors like Charles Melton for his role in “May December,” Willem Dafoe in “Poor Things,” Leonardo DiCaprio in “Killers of the Flower Moon” and actress Greta Lee for her role in “Past Lives.” Arguably all categories were stacked this year with amazing amounts of talent, but many people are upset not seeing these names among the few.
Despite some of the upset and names people feel they missed, there are many things about this year’s nominations that the academy got right and certainly deserve recognition and celebration. Number one is Lily Gladstone for her lead role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Gladstone became the first Native American to ever be nominated for an Oscar award. Gladstone making history is definitely something to smile about and celebrate this Oscar season. America Ferrera earned her first Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in “Barbie.” Gladstone tells a powerful story through her role that will always be remembered, as will Ferrera’s performance and powerful speech about woman and girlhood.
You can read the official Oscar nominee list here.
