The 2023 awards season is nearing its end as the 95th annual Academy Awards nominees have finally been announced. In recent years, members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have chosen to cast a wider net and have celebrated a more diverse selection of artists on Hollywood's biggest night. And for the most part, they did the same this year. Save for the lack of diversity in the Best Director and Best Actor categories, this year's Oscar nominations represent the vast array of films released in 2022.
But of course, there are no Oscar nominations that are perfect. Since art is inherently subjective, and the awards race is intrinsically political, there will always be artists who were snubbed out of recognition for their brilliant work. Let's take a look at some of the artists who should've at least received a nomination, if not the little gold statue.
Joseph Kosinski and Co. Moved Mountains in Top Gun: Maverick
While Top Gun: Maverick did get at least some recognition for saving the 2022 box office with its Best Picture nomination, The Academy missed the mark by not recognizing its director and cinematographer. Joseph Kosinski and Claudio Miranda's lack of a nomination shines a light on a consistent problem with The Oscars and the type of films they respect most. Historically, The Oscars have little to no time for action films and the technical prowess needed to bring them to life. But Kosinski and Miranda took things to the next level with Maverick as their work reached new heights with its nearly 800 hours of footage. Yet The Academy didn't find the pair worthy despite their massive success at filming aircraft practically, directing actors from miles away, and coaxing the romantic side out of a post-Jerry Macguire Tom Cruise.
The Woman King Deserved To Be Recognized
Film Twitter is rightfully furious that Ana de Armas was nominated for her role in Blonde when Viola Davis' turn as Nanisca in The Woman King was completely overlooked. While de Armas' performance was strong, it certainly didn't lift the quality of the film around her. On the other hand, Davis delivered a superb performance in a picture that would've still been immensely powerful if she wasn't attached. Ultimately, the film suffered from a lackluster awards campaign despite being qualified for several races. If it had gotten a stronger push and maintained a vigorous buzz, nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, or several technical categories wouldn't be out of the question.
RRR's Massive Commerical and Critical Success Didn't Translate
For many film fans, RRR was their first introduction to the world of Tollywood. And what a great introduction it was, as the film offers everything from intense choreography to high drama. While RRR's "Naatu Naatu" is a shoo-in to win the Best Original Song race, it's sad that it didn't receive a Best International Feature nod. As good as Argentina 1985 is, it doesn't achieve the heart-pounding heights that RRR does in its hefty runtime. The lack of nominations is shocking for many since the hype around the film leading into awards season was earth-shattering. Many believed that the film's historical screening at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, which sold out in 98 seconds, boded well for the feature's awards hopes. Unfortunately, there were larger forces at play when it came to RRR's lack of a nomination.
James Cameron Reinvented Filmmaking Again
Love him or hate him, it can't be argued that James Cameron is one of the most prolific filmmakers alive today. Cameron once again elevated the science of making movies with his recent return to Pandora. During the lengthy filming process, the Terminator director developed a camera that processes an actor's motion capture and CGI in real time. There is no doubt that this technology is revolutionary and will be utilized in creating countless films and video games down the line. While Avatar: The Way of Water's story doesn't land all of its flips, it still reaches levels of precision that most directors can only dream of. The six directors nominated all brought challenging and compelling stories to audiences this year, but Cameron's innovation alone should earn him a spot among them.
Jeremy Pope Is a Revelation in The Inspection
Jeremy Pope is on a rare trajectory to stardom. The 30-year-old actor is one of six performers to have been nominated for two Tonys in the same year. But his awards cred doesn't end there, as he received an Emmy nomination in 2020 for his performance in Ryan Murphy's Hollywood. If he had received a Best Actor nomination for his role in A24's underrated film The Inspection, it would have skyrocketed his name recognition and already illustrious career. Not to mention, his nomination would have added at least some diversity to a stunningly white category. That, however, isn't why Pope should have received a Best Actor nomination. The simple truth is that Pope's turn as Ellis French in The Inspection is a raw, sophisticated, and inspiring performance that deserves the highest level of recognition.
Taylor Swift Would've Brought in Big Numbers
It is no secret that The Oscars broadcast is in desperate need of a ratings boost. It is also no secret that fans of Taylor Swift will turn out in droves to support anything with her name attached to it. The fact that The Academy didn't nominate Swift's song "Carolina" from Where The Crawdads Sing shows they either have no sense of self-preservation or just prefer John Williams' music. Regardless of the massive spike in viewership that a "Carolina" nomination would bring, it is simply a stronger song than other nominees, like Diane Warren's "Applause," which marks her 14th nomination. If The Academy had a few more Swifties in its cohort, this golden opportunity might not have been missed.