“The Revenant” is an odyssey of survival and revenge in which DiCaprio ate raw buffalo liver, climbed snowy mountains and bathed in icy rivers as he played the legendary trapper Hugh Glass. That film grabbed ten nominations overall.
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This Feb. 21, 2015 file photo shows an Oscar statue as preparations are made for the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
“The Revenant” is definitely the movie everyone is talking about, including the Academy. That story line should have a new twist this time, though, when Chris Rock – who famously labeled Hollywood “a white industry” – hosts the February 28 ceremony. “The Revenant” was directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who also helmed last year’s big Oscars victor “Birdman”, which earned four golden statuettes including for best picture and director.
“Champagne and mezcal will run tonight!” said Inarritu in a statement from London.
One positive takeaway from the nominations is “Mad Max: Fury Road’s” 10 nominations, the second most of any film.
In the best picture category, no films featuring black actors were nominated despite the buzz for “Straight out of Compton”. He didn’t even take a producer credit on The Revenant, which is nominated for Best Picture. “While you’re on the set and you give everything, that’s all you can do”, he added, after film’s British premiere.
The only movies listed in the 2016 Oscar nominations that have people of color in them were Straight Outta Compton for 2016 Best Screenplay, as well as What Happened, Miss Simone, for this year’s Best Documentary, along with Creed, for the 2016 Best Supporting Actor.
In the year since an all-white crop of acting nominees brought heaps of criticism on the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has redoubled efforts to diversify the academy’s membership. She called the lack of diversity in Thursday’s nominations disappointing.
“I feel very proud and happy for my colleagues”.
“It will be a privilege, I really don’t know what to expect”.
Although he is up against some stiff competition from Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Michael Fassbender and Eddie Redmayne, fans and online polls suggest that this trophy might finally be his to keep. Two big names were left out: Johnny Depp for “Black Mass” and Will Smith for “Concussion”.
The nominees for best actress are Cate Blanchett (“Carol”), Brie Larson (“Room”), Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”), Jennifer Lawrence (“Joy”) and Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years”).
The president of the Academy Awards’ voting body isn’t pleased with this year’s lack of diversity in its Oscar nominations. The Revenant actor had been nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1993 drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Quentin Tarantino also failed to make the list for adapted screenplay and his “Hateful Eight” was omitted from the best picture and best director lists.
“Stick with us”, Isaacs, who is black, told NBC4.
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– Composer John Williams’ original score for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was nominated for this year’s awards.
