The 97th Academy Awards nominations revealed an unpredictable landscape filled with surprises and notable omissions. While actors like Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman were considered frontrunners for Best Actress nominations, the final list diverged from expectations. Jolie's portrayal of opera legend Maria Callas and Kidman's performance in "Babygirl" did not secure nominations, despite previous accolades that suggested they might.
Conversely, the film "The Apprentice," which faced a lackluster reception from audiences, saw Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan nominated for their roles, despite Strong being the only one recognized by the Screen Actors Guild. This illustrates the unpredictability of awards season, as exemplified by Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s acclaimed performance in "Hard Truths," which was overshadowed by Fernanda Torres's nomination for "I’m Still Here."
James Mangold received his long-awaited Best Director nomination for "A Complete Unknown," a notable recognition that came at the expense of Edward Berger and Denis Villeneuve. Daniel Craig's role in "Queer" also failed to resonate with voters, missing out on a nomination.
The Supporting Actress category proved particularly chaotic, with strong contenders like Monica Barbaro and Selena Gomez being overlooked. Gomez's performance in "Emilia Pérez" was not enough to surpass her co-star Zoë Saldaña, who garnered more momentum.
Internationally, the animated film "Flow" surprised many by earning a nomination for Best International Feature, alongside its Best Animated Feature nod, marking a significant achievement for Latvia. Meanwhile, RaMell Ross's "Nickel Boys," widely praised as one of the year's best films, received a Best Picture nomination but missed out on a cinematography nomination, highlighting the varied responses from the Academy.