2020 Oscar Nomination Instant Reaction

This is Jacob and Ricky’s instant reaction to the 2020 Oscar nominations. A more in-depth break-down will be up later on our podcast, but until then check out who was nominated and who we felt was a snub, surprise, and who we think will win.

• Each link goes to the review of whoever posted the pick.

Best Picture

Nominees: Ford V. Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Parasite

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Knives Out
  • Ricky: None

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: None
  • Ricky: None

• Winner:
  • Jacob: 1917, Joker, or Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  • Ricky: OUATIH (JoJo Rabbit is a wild card)

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: This was straightforward and a safe 9 to pick. I think all of the momentum is with 1917, Joker, and Once Upon a Time…, and I think 1917 edges out and wins in the long run, but that would also make it the first Best Picture Winner without an Acting nom since 2009 with Slumdog Millionaire. Then you also have Joker which nabbed the most nominations of the bunch and got editing, screenplay, acting, and directing, one of only two films to do that. It is neck and neck right now, and I really think it will just be whatever mood the Academy is in, and how they react to the final 30ish minutes of Once.
  • Ricky: I think this is a back and forth battle between Once Upon a Time and 1917 with the sleeper being JoJo Rabbit. With JoJo getting lots of love, it would not surprise me to see them give this Best Picture. But personally, OUATIH is more than likely to take home the award.

Best Director

Nominees: Martin Scorcese (The Irishman), Todd Phillips (Joker), Sam Mendes (1917), Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood), Bong Joon-ho (Parasite)

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Greta Gerwig (Little Women)
  • Ricky: None

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Todd Phillips (Joker)
  • Ricky: Todd Phillips (Joker)

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Sam Mendes (1917)
  • Ricky: Bong Joon-ho (Parasite)

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Same with 1917 for picture, the hot hand here is Mendes who won the Globe and recently tied at the Critics Choice. The only other option here would be Bong, but I think Mendes’ masterful “one-shot” direction prevails.
  • Ricky: I refuse to believe anyone will win this award other than Bong. Parasite deserves this love and no one should stand in his way.
    
    TODD PHILLIPS IS AN OSCAR NOMINATED DIRECTOR HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH
    
    This made me really happy. Just saying. Congrats my buddy,

Best Actor

Nominees: Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood), Adam Driver (Marriage Story), Joaquin Phoenix (Joker), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Taron Egerton
  • Ricky: None.

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Jonathan Pryce
  • Ricky: None.

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Joaquin Phoenix
  • Ricky: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Joaquin will get his win, and deservedly so for carrying the film the way he did, but I am more upset about Taron Egerton’s absolutely brilliant and transformative performance as Elton John being left out. I knew Pryce was in when Hopkins was announced, but I don’t think Paramount realized the Oscars Juggernaut they would have had if they would have released this at a later date, and now the film is paying for it.
  • Ricky: Phoenix will win, should win, and anyone else winning would just be stupid. Phoenix gave hands down one of the best performances of the decade, not just of the year. Him finally hoisting this award will be overdue. (plus his speech will be awkward)

Best Actress

Nominees: Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Scarlett Johannson (Marriage Story), Saoirse Ronan (Little Women), Charlize Theron (Bombshell), Renee Zellweger (Judy)

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Lupita Nyong’o (Us)
  • Ricky: Lupita Nyong’o (Us)

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Cynthia Erivo
  • Ricky: None

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Scarlett Johansson
  • Ricky: Zellweger or Theron

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: I am going with Scarlett here. It is hard for me to not go with the hot hand on this one, but after receiving two nominations this year she is bound to win one. I could see her stealing votes from herself, but I think this is where Renee’s wave crashes. Erivo was the only person of color nominated… so that is good for that at least, but this performance and movie just was not worthy of it in my opinion. Lupita should have been nominated and won for this no question.
  • Ricky: Two women race between Zellweger and Theron. I think this could be cut and dry with Zellweger winning literally everything else but Theron victory would not surprise me one bit. I truly think this is a 70/30 as I sit here and think about it today.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes), Al Pacino (The Irishman), Joe Pesci (The Irishman), Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood)

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Shia LaBeouf
  • Ricky: Shia LaBeouf

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Anthony Hopkins
  • Ricky: Tom Hanks

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Brad Pitt
  • Ricky: Brad Pitt

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Hopkins… ugh, I guess so. My forever snub will be Shia LaBeouf here for giving us the most heartfelt performance of the year. However, Pitt wins and it isn’t close.
  • Ricky: This category is stupid. Pitt will win, deserves to win and happy to see him get his first nomination. I see three nominees that don’t belong here. But that’s just me.

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees: Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell), Laura Dern (Marriage Story), Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit), Florence Pugh (Little Women), Margot Robbie (Bombshell)

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Jennifer Lopez
  • Ricky: None

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Kathy Bates and Scarlett Johannson
  • Ricky: None

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Laura Dern
  • Ricky: Scarlett Johannson

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Jennifer Lopez missing was strangely huge and at the same time… expected? Bates deserves to be in, and honestly so does Johansson, but not over Lopez. However, Laura Dern wins and it isn’t close.
  • Ricky: Johannson will win. I think so because she ain’t winning Actress, so I think she gets rewarded here. Dern has been sweeping but give me at least this one as our only “shock” of the night.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, The Two Popes

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Hustlers or A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
  • Ricky: None.

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: None
  • Ricky: None.

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Little Women
  • Ricky: JoJo Rabbit

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: No surprise here. Hustlers and A Beautiful Day had chances, but no steam was ever really built for these two. I do think The Irishman has maybe the most love for it, but I think Greta Gerwig’s new take on Little Women, and the backlash that the Academy has received by snubbing her in director, will push her to the win for this one. The other three don’t really stand a chance in my eyes.
  • Ricky: No surprise and honestly JoJo will win this. No question.

Best Original Screenplay

Nominees: Knives Out, Marriage Story, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Parasite

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: The Farewell
  • Ricky: Honey Boy

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: 1917
  • Ricky: None.

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Parasite or Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  • Ricky: OUATIH

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Good for Rian Johnson getting his first nom here, even if that is at the expense of The Farewell. It is a shame Lulu could not get in for her personal and heartwarming script, but oh well. I think the real winner here is 1917 for even getting the nomination. Once and Parasite though will battle it out, and I really think whoever wins here might have a worse shot at winning Best Picture.
  • Ricky: Tarantino is not winning Director, I do think that Parasite has a good chance here if OUATIH is winning Picture though.

Best Cinematography

Nominees: The Irishman, Joker, The Lighthouse, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Portrait of a Lady on Fire
  • Ricky: None.

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: The Lighthouse
  • Ricky: The Lighthouse

• Winner:
  • Jacob: 1917
  • Ricky: Joker

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: This one has been wrapped up for some time now. Deakins is going to win his second Oscar and deservedly so. If there was a snub here it would be Portrait of a Lady on Fire, but seeing The Lighthouse get in just warms my heart.
  • Ricky: I want to be a werewolf.

Best Costume Design

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: ROCKETMAN
  • Ricky: Dolemite

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Joker
  • Ricky: Joker

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  • Ricky: JoJo Rabbit

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Wow! Wow, wow, wow. Rocketman missed out. I know a lot of people are talking about Dolemite is my Name missing, but for Rocketman to miss showed me they were not going to have a good morning. Once is going to win, but wow. This one was the biggest wtf moment for me personally.
  • Ricky: Ruth E Carter should be collecting her second Oscar in a row for her magical work in Dolemite is my Name. JoJo wins again.

Best Film Editing

Nominees: Ford V. Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Parasite

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  • Ricky: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Jojo Rabbit
  • Ricky: Jojo Rabbit

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Ford V. Ferrari or The Irishman
  • Ricky: Ford V. Ferrari or The Irishman

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: This could be the only award The Irishman takes home all night, sequentially this could also be the only award Ford V. Ferrari takes home all night. Jojo was semi surprising seeing they went for the comedic tone of the film, but the big one here was the Once snub. The snub here hurts the chances of winning that Best Picture. I also think this is the one that really pushes Joker into the Best Picture heavyweights.
  • Ricky: What Jacob said.

Best Makeup and Hair

Nominees: Bombshell, Joker, Judy, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, 1917

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Rocketman
  • Ricky: None.

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Joker
  • Ricky: None.

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Bombshell
  • Ricky: Bombshell

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: I personally think 1917 SHOULD win, but that is for another article. Here again, the Rocketman snub is really surprising, and the addition of Joker is surprising as well. Bombshell will win for their ability to recreate these people, and this group loves the fat suit, see Darkest Hour.
  • Ricky: Bombshell will win, should win, and better win. Period.

Best Production Design

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Parasite

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Us
  • Ricky: None.

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Parasite
  • Ricky: None.

• Winner:
  • Jacob: Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood
  • Ricky: Parasite

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Personally, 1917 should win, but again… another article. Once will win, and deservedly so. Parasite was so good to see, and it was wishful thinking, but the world that was created in Us was massively overlooked.
  • Ricky: Parasite is going to win this one, why? No clue. But wishful thinking.

Best Original Score

Nominees: Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: Avengers: Endgame or Us
  • Ricky: Us

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: None
  • Ricky: None

• Winner:
  • Jacob: 1917
  • Ricky: Joker

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: Joker has been taking all the precursors, but I still have faith in Thomas Newman getting his first win. Not really a surprise, more so wishful thinking here.
  • Ricky: Hildur. Period. End. Of. Story.
    
    Jacob is wrong.

Best Original Song

Nominees: I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away (Toy Story 4), (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again (Rocketman), I’m Standing With You (Breakthrough), Into the Unknown (Frozen II), Stand Up (Harriet)

Best Sound Editing

Nominees: Ford V. Ferrari, Joker, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Sound Mixing

Nominees: Ad Astra, Ford V. Ferrari, Joker, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

Best Visual Effects

Nominees: Avengers: Endgame, The Irishman, The Lion King, 1917, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Animated Feature

Nominees: How To Train Your Dragon: A Hidden World, I Lost My Body, Klaus, Missing Link, Toy Story 4

• SNUB:
  • Jacob: ABSOLUTELY NONE
  • Ricky: Frozen II

• SURPRISE:
  • Jacob: Klaus
  • Ricky: I Lost My Body

• Winner:
  • Jacob: I Lost My Body
  • Ricky: Toy Story 4

• Thoughts:
  • Jacob: WHAT A LINE-UP! My absolute favorite of the bunch. Original animation prevails, and the two sequels that made it was deserving. I am going with I lost my body. The arthouse animation pick that I really think can pull it out, it is also the best of the bunch.
  • Ricky: I want I Lost My Body to win, but I think we see the big dog win the race.

Best Documentary

Nominees: American Factory, The Cave, The Edge of Democracy, For Sama, Honeyland

Best International Film

Nominees: Corpus Christi, Honeyland, Les Miserables, Pain and Glory, Parasite

Best Animated Short

Nominees: Dcera (Daughter), Hair Love, Kitbull, Memorable, Sister

Best Documentary Short

Nominees: In The Absence, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl), Life Overtakes Me, St. Louis Superman, Walk Run Cha-Cha

Best Live Action Short

Nominees: Brotherhood, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbors’ Window, Saria, A Sister

Check out our full thoughts later in our podcast.

Jacob is a film critic and co-founder of the Music City Drive-In. He is a member of the Music City Film Critics’ Association and specializes in the awards season. You can find him on Twitter @Tberry57.