No Tom Hanks? Or Emma Thompson? Or Oprah? As the Oscar nominations were revealed Thursday morning, critics declared the #Snubpocalypse on Twitter.
The Academy of Arts and Sciences indeed delivered a few nomination wallops, but leaving out Oscar favorite Hanks for best actor after he riveted in "Captain Phillips" and "Saving Mr. Banks" this year? That calls for an announcement do-over. Critics were stunned as the Academy declared it preferred method actor Christian Bale of “American Hustle” and Leonardo DiCaprio, who has inspired both love and hate for his performance in “The Wolf of Wall Street" over Hanks.
Bale and DiCaprio join Golden Globe winner Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), and Bruce Dern of “Nebraska”). Although some critics were spot-on in predicting that the Academy would choose between Dern or Robert Redford — and not honor both — others were surprised that Redford was not nominated for his almost silent role in “All is Lost.”
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2014 Oscar nominations
Thompson, who co-starred in “Saving Mr. Banks” with Hanks, was considered a shoo-in for her portrayal of “Mary Poppins” author P.L. Travers in the best actress category. Critics believed she could have even edged out Meryl Streep, who picked up her 18th nomination for “August: Osage County.”
Oprah, who was left out of the Golden Globes race for supporting actress for her portrayal of a long-suffering butler's wife in "The Butler," also was rejected by the Academy. Critics believed Oprah's popularity coupled with the fact that she managed to make audiences forget who she is when she inhabited her character, Gloria, would earn the talk show queen her second Oscar nomination. (Her first was for "The Color Purple" in 1985).
One person's snub was Jonah Hill's gain. To the surprise of many, Hill was recognized by the Academy for his supporting role in "The Wolf of Wall Street." Hill, who was not nominated for a Globe, was stopped by a fan on his way to his seat Sunday and offered encouraging words: “You were so great,” she told Hill. “I know it’s coming.”
She was right. Hill nabbed the film industry’s most prestigious supporting actor nod honor alongside Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”), Bradley Cooper (“American Hustle”), Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave”), and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”). Hill was nominated in 2011 for his supporting role in "Moneyball."
Although the Academy allows for up to 10 nominees for best picture, nine movies made the cut this year, leaving out the Coen brothers "Inside Llewyn Davis," a critical darling. As expected, the nominees included: Golden Globe winner “12 Years a Slave,” “American Hustle,“ "Captain Phillips," “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Gravity,” “Nebraska,” “Her,” and “Philomena."
