With the Jan. 22 announcement of the nominations for the 98th Oscars, The Bradley Scout Staff has made their picks for which movies, actors and tracks should have been nominated in different categories.
Latif Love:
Jonathan Majors in “Magazine Dreams” – Actor in a Leading Role
Look. I understand that Jonathan Majors is at minimum a very divisive figure who has spent the last few years entangled in controversies and may be a raging psychopath. Still, he deserved to be nominated for Best Actor. Hate him or love him, he’s incredibly talented, and he had one of his best performances of his career in “Magazine Dreams.” Majors performed like his career was on the line (maybe because it was). His depiction of a bodybuilder battling with the crippling effects of society’s gaze, body dysmorphia and family trauma feels so authentic that he seemed born for the role. His performance was vulnerable, relatable and should be award-recognized.
Scarlett Rose Binder:
Ariana Grande in “Wicked: For Good” – Actress in a Supporting Role
I’ll be the first to call “Wicked: For Good” a disappointment. Despite my excitement for the follow-up to a nearly immaculate first installment – or perhaps because of my high expectations – the execution of this film left me positively confusified. It was flawed in ways it shouldn’t have been. Its two original songs only slowed the plot; I’m not surprised to see them missing from the nomination list. Ariana Grande’s performance, however, was not one of the adaptation’s flaws. Frankly, the lack of regard for one of the most impressive character transformations I have witnessed is insulting. Grande became Glinda in every possible way; her comedic timing, vocals and mannerisms left nothing to be desired, even from a huge fan of the Broadway musical. She should have won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress last year. This year, she should at least be nominated.
Injy Wasfy:
“No Other Choice” – International Feature Film
Maybe the message of corporate hell hit a little too close for the voting committee of the 98th Oscars, because their unwillingness to take a bet on this Korean dystopia resulted in one of the biggest snubs of the year. With the film bringing an unemployed family man to the brink of madness, only to have him kill competitors for a dead-end office job, director Park Chan-Wook’s “No Other Choice” would have highlighted Korea’s desperate employment situation, while introducing American audiences to global interpretations of something so universal. Other films in the selection held either immediate attention to conflicts around the world in “The Voice of Hind Rajab” or the unique perspective of an aging filmmaker showcased in “Sentimental Value.” However, for the everyday viewer, Korea’s increasingly established hold in the western film industry deserved a spot for a movie that dared to comment on something most audiences would have connected to.
Paul Swartz:
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from “Sinners” – Best Original Song
“Sinners” made headlines for achieving a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations. But it should’ve had more. While “I Lied to You” is a more than deserving recipient of this nomination from the same movie, “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” functions better as a song independent of the film. The track plays in the movie’s final moments and carries into the credits, not benefiting from the breathtaking visuals that “I Lied to You” does. “Sinners” wouldn’t stick the landing nearly as well without “Last Time (I Seen the Sun),” and the vocal collaboration between Alice Smith and Miles Caton would feel just as powerful even if it didn’t come at the end of a magnificent movie.
Jordan Jones:
Damson Idris in “F1” – Actor in A Supporting Role
Damson Idris’s absence from the Best Supporting Actor nominees is one of the most frustrating snubs. Idris’s performance in F1 is restrained yet emotionally grounded, pushing the film forward with every minute of screentime given. If it was up to me, Idris would not only be a nominee here, but under multiple other Oscar categories as well. Idris’ ability to balance vulnerability with soundless intensity makes this snub unforgettable.
