The annual Academy Awards nominations have been released to the public and it will certainly be the night of the year. The prestigious award honors all cinematic involvement for crew members and actors, making it one of the most important nights of modern day pop culture. 2022 has been an overall success for cinematic arts, bringing new stories to life and showcasing new talent. Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis Presely in Baz Luhrman’s biopic, Elvis, certainly set the bar high for other actors competing in the Best Actor category. Recently, Butler received the BAFTA (the British acting award equivalent to the Oscars) award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, which indicates that Butler is well on his way to becoming an Oscar winning actor. Though many people are curious to find out who wins this category, the public eye has turned their attentionto the Best Actress categories, more specifically, Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Although each brilliant actress competes for those ninety seconds of glory, the real competition seems to lie between Michelle Yeoh (for her portrayal of an aging Chinese immigrant in the Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Cate Blanchett (for her portrayal of the musically inclined antagonist in TÁR). Both actresses have demonstrated a range of emotion, however, Yeoh’s role in her film could not beat Blanchett. Blanchett masterfully executed the slow yet dangerously seductive role of a woman in a position of power, who preys upon vulnerable musicians. Additionally, I admire the Academy for nominating actresses of different ethnicities, promoting inclusivity and diversity. Additionally, I applaud EEAAO for earning eleven nominations in total, some included Best Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Directing, and even Best Motion Picture of the Year.
Along with EEAAO, nine other films (All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisheer, Elvis, The Fabelmans, TÁR, Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness, Women Talking) have been nominated for the biggest award of the night: Best Motion Picture of the Year. After viewing Steven Speilberg’s, The Fabelmans, I can say without a doubt that the coming-of-age film will receive the highest award of the night, along with Best Achievement in Directing. With great casting, superb performances (especially by Michelle Williams, who is also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role), and yet a simple storyline, Speilberg’s story of one boy’s journey into adulthood with a passion for filmmaking won over the hearts of all viewers. I have high hopes for the 95th annual Academy Awards ceremony, and I think you should too. I hope everyone tuned into this event, this year’s Oscars are not one to miss. I am sure the evening will be full of fun, excitement and laughter, with Jimmy Kimmel as your host.
