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 The 11 nods for "Joker," which turned the comic-book genre on
its head with its terrifying portrayal of an isolated loner,
covered all the major fields, including best picture, director
Todd Phillips and Golden Globe-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix.
The controversial Warner Bros. <T.N> movie has taken in more
than $1 billion at global box offices.
Phillips in a statement said he saw the film as "a character
study to reflect the world around us. Explore what we’re seeing
and feeling in society, from the lack of empathy to the effects
of the absence of love."
"Joker" will compete for the top prize with testosterone race
car drama "Ford v Ferrari," Netflix <NFLX.O> gangster movie "The
Irishman," Nazi-era satire "Jojo Rabbit," divorce drama
"Marriage Story," World War One film "1917," nostalgic
show-business story "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," and South
Korean social satire "Parasite."
Netflix got 24 nominations, including for biographical drama
"The Two Popes" and documentary "American Factory," one of the
first collaborations with the production company of former U.S.
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Only Sony Pictures' <6758.T> "Little Women," an adaptation of
the classic Louisa May Alcott novel by an all-female production
team, broke the mold with its best picture nod.
Director Greta Gerwig was shut out of the all-male directing
race, but she scored a nomination for adapted screenplay. Stars
Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh were also nominated.
Pugh said it was sad that Gerwig did not get a director nod but
she told Reuters: "She got her film seen and people are
recognizing the work and the talent that’s been put into it. So
as sad as it is, we didn’t lose out completely."
"Little Women" co-producer Amy Pascal said the movie "made
history by being only the third movie ever to be nominated for
best picture that’s written, directed and produced exclusively
by women."
However, a record 62 women got nominations on Monday, almost
one-third of the field, said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences, whose 8,000 members vote on the nominees and the
winners.
The academy on Monday did not respond to a request for further
comment on the issue of diversity among the nominees.
The Oscars will be awarded in Hollywood on Feb 9.
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"I can't look at this slate of nominees and say that anyone really
doesn't deserve to be there. I don't necessarily see the omission of
Greta Gerwig from this year's slate of nominees as a gender-based
decision," said Owen Gleiberman, chief film critic for Variety, told
Reuters.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Only one of the 20 acting nominees was a person of color: Cynthia
Erivo for her lead role as anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman in
"Harriet."
Last week the British BAFTA nominations were an all- white affair in
the acting races.
A lack of nominees of color, which led to the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite,
prompted the Academy in 2016 to diversify its mostly white, male
membership by inviting more women and people of color to join.
Universal Pictures' <CMCSA.O> "1917," which took home the Golden
Globe for best movie drama last week, got 10 nods, including for
British director Sam Mendes.
Co-producer Pippa Harris said the film, about two young soldiers who
have to deliver a lifesaving message across enemy lines, resonated
because it went beyond the traditional war movie.
"There is very little blood and gore," she told Reuters, saying the
movie also focused on "friendships that get formed in the heat of
battle, the importance of being home, being separated from your
family."
Harris said the nominations overall had something for everyone.
"There are stories that feature men front and center stage, but
what's great is that there are also films like 'Little Women' and
'Parasite' which couldn't be further apart in terms of their
approach to filmmaking and subject matter."
"Parasite," a dark satire about the gap between rich and poor,
became the first South Korean movie to be nominated in both the best
picture and best international film categories. Director Bong Joon
Ho also received a nod for best director.
Notable omissions included Robert De Niro, star of "The Irishman,"
Jennifer Lopez for "Hustlers," Eddie Murphy for comedy "Dolemite is
My Name" and Disney's animated blockbuster "Frozen 2."
(Additional reporting by Alicia Powell and Jane Ross; editing by
Jonathan Oatis)
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