Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were released on Thursday, Jan. 23, leaving viewers in shock. Since the announcement, many have expressed dismay regarding certain choices made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
What has largely upset audiences is the film “Emilia Perez.” It has even been dubbed this year’s “Oscar villain” by the public. “Emilia Perez” received a mind-numbing 13 nominations across all categories, a historic feat as it now is the most nominated foreign film in the Academy’s history.
“Emilia Perez” is a musical drama that follows a Mexican cartel leader who goes on a journey to transition into a woman and leave her former life behind. Many critics have applauded the film for its bold direction, audacious storyline and captivating performances. However, audiences have disagreed.
Currently on rottentomatoes.com, the film sits at a critic score of 72% and an audience score of 17%. Audiences insist that the film’s representation was shallow and failed to respectfully portray the issues it touches on.
Speakers and organizations within LGBTQ+ and Mexican communities have spoken out on the film’s misgivings. This includes “Emilia Perez”‘s stereotypical portrayal of a transgender woman and its poor use of the Spanish language.
Leading behind “Emilia Perez”, “The Brutalist” and “Wicked” both received 10 nominations from the Academy. Similar to “Emilia Perez,” “The Brutalist” has also stirred up its own controversy. This is as the film’s editor stated in a recent interview that the production team used artificial intelligence to enhance the actors’ accents and to produce artwork. Other films nominated included “The Substance,” “A Complete Unknown, “Conclave,” “Anora,” “Dune: Part Two” and “I’m Still Here.”
What were the most controversial snubs?
- “Challengers” – Best Score: Despite winning Best Score at the recent Golden Globes ceremony, the film did not receive a nomination for its score by the Academy. In fact, the film received zero nominations.
- “Sing Sing” – Best Supporting Actor: “Sing Sing” received three nominations from the Academy: Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song. The film’s supporting actor, Clarence Maclin, received strong praise from critics for his performance but was not awarded a nomination.
- “Queer” – Best Actor: For his work in “Queer,” Daniel Craig received nominations from prestigious award bodies including the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice but was not recognized by the Academy.
- “Conclave” – Best Directing: Director Edward Berger has received high praise throughout this awards season and was expected to receive a nomination from the academy for his work in “Conclave.” However, he did not receive a nomination.
“Dune: Part Two”: Although the film received five nominations, including the coveted Best Picture nomination, the film did not receive a nomination for directing or nominations in any acting categories.
