The 2022 Oscar nominations are in and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” leads the pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture. Other notable contenders include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” a fresh take on the Frankenstein narrative. Notable historic moments include Lily Gladstone becoming the first Native American nominee for Best Actress and a record-breaking three films helmed by women being nominated for Best Picture. The diverse and innovative lineup promises an exciting run-up to the highly anticipated awards ceremony.
Oscar Nominations 2022: A Comprehensive Review
Discover the front runners for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards, with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” leading the pack with 13 nominations. Other notable contenders include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” a fresh take on the Frankenstein narrative. This year’s lineup showcases diversity, inclusion, and innovative storytelling in the film industry.
A Star-studded Race to the Oscars
The spotlight of this year’s Oscar nominations was well and truly captured by Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” This riveting portrayal of the legendary physicist and ‘father of the atomic bomb’ garnered an impressive 13 nominations, including the highly sought-after Best Picture. The film faced stiff competition from “Poor Things,” a fresh, female-led reinterpretation of the Frankenstein narrative, which secured 11 nominations. Also in the running for Hollywood’s prestigious awards was Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” bagging 10 nominations.
However, the journey to the Oscars wasn’t all smooth sailing. The summer box office sensation “Barbie,” although the highest grossing film of the year, managed to secure only eight nominations, falling below expectations. Notably, it failed to secure nominations for director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie, spurring disappointment and public criticism from supporting actor nominee Ryan Gosling. Gosling vociferously expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the crucial contributions of Gerwig and Robbie to the film.
In contrast, “Oppenheimer” enjoyed a successful run, celebrating nominations for director Nolan and its power-packed cast – Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt. With almost $1 billion in box office revenue, the film is a front-runner for the Best Picture award at the 96th Academy Awards set for March 10.
The Awards’ Historic Moments
The nominations also brought historic moments. Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a gripping crime drama set against the backdrop of the oil-rich Osage community in early 20th-century Oklahoma, saw Lily Gladstone become the first Native American nominee for Best Actress. Despite this milestone, the film had its share of disappointments, with Leonardo DiCaprio failing to secure a Best Actor nomination and the film missing out on Best Adapted Screenplay.
It was also a noteworthy year for female directors. For the first time in the 90-year history of the Academy Awards, three films helmed by women – “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” and “Past Lives” – were nominated for Best Picture. This was a marked contrast to the past, where only 19 films by female directors had ever achieved a Best Picture nomination.
International Films and Outstanding Performances
Making a splash in this competitive field was the French courtroom thriller “Anatomy of a Fall.” Despite not being France’s official entry in the International Film category, the film surpassed expectations under the direction of Justine Triet. It received nominations in categories such as editing and original screenplay, which many felt should have gone to Gerwig. Actress Sandra Huller, nominated for Best Actress, expressed her delight, noting the Academy’s increasing recognition of international cinema.
Bradley Cooper stood out with three individual nominations for acting, producing, and writing for “Maestro,” a biopic on Leonard Bernstein. The film, also directed by Cooper, secured a total of seven nominations.
Among the other heavyweights were Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” and “American Fiction,” each clinching five nominations. The former earned acting nominations for Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, while the latter, a satire on race, publishing, and Hollywood, won nominations for Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown.
A Diverse Line-up for Best Picture
Adding to the diversity of genres and themes in the Best Picture category were “Past Lives,” a heartfelt tale of love and friendship, and the gripping Nazi drama “The Zone of Interest.”
The Oscar nominations announcement, led by actors Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid, was a testament to the evolving dynamics of the film industry. It showcased the industry’s unwavering commitment to embracing diversity, inclusion, and innovative storytelling. Unquestionably, this year’s lineup echoes the rich and varied tapestry of global cinema, promising an exciting run-up to the coveted awards ceremony.
1. Which film leads the pack with the most Oscar nominations in 2022?
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” leads the pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture.
2. Which historic moment was achieved in the Best Actress category?
Lily Gladstone became the first Native American nominee for Best Actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
3. How many films helmed by women were nominated for Best Picture?
For the first time in the 90-year history of the Academy Awards, three films helmed by women – “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” and “Past Lives” – were nominated for Best Picture.
4. Which diverse films were nominated for Best Picture?
“Past Lives,” a heartfelt tale of love and friendship, and the gripping Nazi drama “The Zone of Interest” added to the diversity of genres and themes in the Best Picture category.
5. Which film spurned disappointment despite being the highest grossing film of the year?
“Barbie,” the summer box office sensation, managed to secure only eight nominations, falling below expectations. It failed to secure nominations for director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie, sparking criticism from supporting actor nominee Ryan Gosling.
6. Which actor received three individual nominations for acting, producing, and writing for a biopic on Leonard Bernstein?
Bradley Cooper received three individual nominations for acting, producing, and writing for “Maestro,” a biopic on Leonard Bernstein. The film, also directed by Cooper, secured a total of seven nominations.
