Award

Oscars Snub Jamie Lee Curtis, Angelina Jolie, Selena Gomez in Nominations

Published January 23, 2025

As the excitement builds for the Academy Awards, nominees like Adrian Brody, Demi Moore, Zoë Saldaña, Kieran Culkin, and the producers of “The Brutalist” are already working on their acceptance speeches. Though no nomination is guaranteed, they are seen as the frontrunners in their categories. However, names like Ralph Fiennes, Mikey Madison, Ariana Grande, Guy Pearce, along with films such as “Anora” and “Conclave” keep the competition alive.

This year is particularly challenging for Southern California. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is striving to celebrate Hollywood’s biggest night while also being mindful of recent tragedies that have caused significant loss and hardship throughout the area. Neighborhoods have been devastated, dreams have been shattered, and lives have been lost.

The announcement of nominees for the 97th Academy Awards delivered some familiar rituals and moments that offered a slight sense of comfort. Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott, two talented individuals, read the nominations during a calm, early morning event at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. This year's announcement lacked the dramatic flair usually associated with unveiling big events, such as college sports championships, but it did attract a larger audience and included some upbeat techno music, albeit in a very understated manner.

As customary, discussions of “snubs and surprises” have arisen regarding this year’s nominations. Instead of calling them “snubs,” let’s refer to them as “Disappointments and Unexpected Highlights.”

Disappointments

This year's omissions include notable actors like Jamie Lee Curtis for her role in “The Last Showgirl,” Selena Gomez for “Emilia Pérez,” Angelina Jolie for “Maria,” and director Denis Villeneuve for “Dune: Part Two.”

I personally felt that Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance in “The Last Showgirl” was on par with her Oscar-winning performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” However, the Academy sometimes leans towards spreading accolades among actors, which may explain her absence from the nominations.

Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in “Maria” was also left out. While both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were remarkable in “Wicked,” they took the spots that could have gone to Jolie and Gomez, whose roles presented unique challenges that I believe deserved recognition.

Jolie garnered considerable acclaim, receiving an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival for her role. Yet, despite the performance's caliber, the film received mixed reviews and did not perform well financially.

As for Denis Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Two” was undeniably a visually stunning production, illustrating his directorial skill. Unfortunately, the Academy has a habit of reserving nominations for directors when a film is not nominated for Best Picture, which, in this case, was a mistake.

Pleasantly Unexpected Developments

In terms of surprises, both Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong received nominations for their performances in “The Apprentice,” with Stan nominated for Best Actor and Strong for Best Supporting Actor.

The film has gone through challenges, especially since its portrayal of a young Donald Trump led to criticism. Despite this, Stan's nuanced and grounded performance was recognized. It is refreshing to see the Academy acknowledging the quality of acting, regardless of the subject matter.

Moreover, Fernanda Torres’s performance in “I’m Still Here” earned her a nomination for Best Actress after already winning a Golden Globe for her work in the film. Not only did her film receive a nomination for International Feature Film, but it also landed a spot among the top ten Best Picture contenders.

This year's Oscars will have a different atmosphere. The Academy announced a departure from live song performances in favor of showcasing the songwriters and the behind-the-scenes aspects. In a point of honor, plans are also underway to celebrate Los Angeles as a city of dreams, reflecting its beauty and resilience.

The ceremony will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2, beginning an hour earlier than in previous years. The announcement of nominees faced multiple delays, and some events such as the nominees' luncheon were canceled altogether.

This year’s honorary award recipients include music legend Quincy Jones, casting director Juliet Taylor known for films like “Taxi Driver,” writer Richard Curtis famous for his romantic comedies, and James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Oscars, Nominations, Film