Another night of the Oscars went and, as we know, the big winner was Everything Everywhere All at Once , with seven Oscars.
The film captured the attention and preferences of the Academy, to the point that some films or performers, who perhaps deserved to get at least one statuette here and there, were completely cut out.
As per tradition, let’s take a look at the snubbed (and very snubbed) films and actors of this 2023 edition of the Academy Awards.
Elvis
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis was among the favorites in the nominations, with eight nominations (film, make-up and hair, sound, lead actor, cinematography, costumes, editing, production design), but remained totally dry. All Quiet on the Western Front, Everything Everywhere All at Once , The Whale and Top Gun: Maverick shared its potential prizes.
The spirits of the island
Nine nominations and no wins for Martin McDonagh ‘s Spirit of the Island , which went head-to-head with Everything Everywhere All at Once in virtually every category, and came away broken bones.
Tar
Six nominations for Todd Field ‘s Tár , including one for best actress for Cate Blanchett , which would have been well deserved. Again, impossible to stop the battleship Everything Everywhere All at Once .
The Fabelmans
It was quite inevitable that Steven Spielberg ‘s The Fabelmans would remain a dry mouth, even if we hoped until the end that at least some recognition would have gotten it (for example for the best original screenplay, historic consolation prize for the snubbed). And yet nothing. Sorry for Michelle Williams , who deserved the Oscar for leading actress.
Angela Bassett, Best Supporting Actress for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Finally, the award went to Jamie Lee Curtis , perhaps, with all due respect to a great actress, the most forced of all the awards to Everything Everywhere All at Once . Would Angela Bassett have been better? Opinions may differ, sure, but everyone expected her to win. The Marvel film instead earned the award for best costume design to Ruth E. Carter . At least he had one consolation.
Triangle of Sadness
Ruben Östlund ‘s film , winner of the Palme d’Or at the last Cannes Film Festival, didn’t have many nominations, only three: best film, original screenplay and direction. He could have been the wild card to win at least the bottom two, but obviously the members of the Academy thought otherwise.
Babylon
The old unwritten rule states that flops cannot win Oscars, and Babylon confirms it, sadly. Whether you liked it or not, we can agree on one thing: Babylon deserved to win at least two of the three statuettes he was nominated for, best costumes and set design (the third nomination went to Justin Hurwitz ‘s music ). Damien Chazelle ‘s film is a visual feast, a feast overflowing with succulent dishes and details. But his failure condemned him to oblivion.
Top Gun: Maverick
Six nominations, only one technical Oscar for best sound. Better than nothing, mind you, but considering Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for a string of high-profile awards, including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Editing, it’s a consolation prize.
Avatar: The Water Way
Again, it was inevitable. Yet the third highest-grossing film in cinema history, Avatar: Running Water , won only one visual effects award. Which, for heaven’s sake, could only go to James Cameron ‘s film , a huge technological leap forward at least from this point of view. However, net of its defects, the sequel to Avatar is a mammoth production effort, which goes beyond the concept of “visual effects” and transcends towards a new way of conceiving cinema. Maybe the right category hasn’t been invented yet.