Both will compete in the Oscars’ 94th edition for the prestigious best picture trophy against “Belfast”, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical story of a family living amid sectarian conflict in late 1960s Northern Ireland, and Steven Spielberg’s remake of classic musical “West Side Story”. Those films earned seven nominations each.
The strong showing for “Power of the Dog” — with four acting nominations — provided Netflix with another chance to win best picture, an accolade that has never been awarded to a streaming service.
Netflix earned 27 nominations overall. Apple TV+ also scored a best picture nod for “CODA”, the story of a hearing woman in a deaf family. “Being the Ricardos”, on Amazon Prime Video, received three acting nominations.
“Every year we talk about how the streamers are getting more and more powerful when it comes to the Oscars,” said Marc Malkin, senior culture and events editor at Variety. “This year really proves it.”
Japanese-language drama “Drive My Car”, about a widowed theatre actor, earned a surprise slot in the best picture category.
Other best picture contenders included “King Richard”, about the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams; coming-of-age tale “Licorice Pizza”, thriller “Nightmare Alley” and “Don’t Look Up”, a darkly comic allegory about climate change.
Jane Campion became the first woman nominated twice for best director with her nod for “Power of the Dog”. She was a contender for her 1993 film “The Piano”. but lost out that year to Spielberg, who won for “Schindler’s List”. Only two women, Kathryn Bigelow and Chloe Zhao, have taken home the directing honour.
“Power of the Dog” received nominations for stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kodi Smit-McPhee and real-life couple Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons. The movie, based on a 1967 novel by Thomas Savage, tells the story of a charismatic and domineering Montana rancher in the 1920s.
Most of the nominations for “Dune”, from Warner Bros. studio, came in technical categories such as visual effects and production design. The movie was based on Frank Herbert’s classic, best-selling 1965 novel, which spawned a series of sequels and a 1984 film that was panned by critics.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were nominated for playing TV comedy couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos”.
Bardem said he was thrilled by his nomination but waited to react until he learned that his wife, Penelope Cruz, also received a nod for “Parallel Mothers”.
“The fact that this happened at the same time is magical and that her nomination is for a Spanish-speaking role is truly extraordinary,” Bardem told reporters in Madrid.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added more women and people of colour to its ranks after the #OscarsSoWhite uproars of 2015 and 2016, and have increased membership from outside the United States.
Black nominees this year included Will Smith for the title role in “King Richard”, Aunjanue Ellis as his wife, and Denzel Washington for “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”
Kristen Stewart received her first Oscar nomination, for her portrayal of Princess Diana in “Spencer”. Competitors include Olivia Colman in “The Lost Daughter.”
Voters passed over Lady Gaga’s widely praised role in “House of Gucci”, about the drama behind the famed fashion family.
Winners will be revealed at a ceremony that will be broadcast live on ABC on March 27.
Following is the list of key nominations:
BEST PICTURE
“Belfast”
“CODA”
“Don’t Look Up”
“Drive My Car”
“Dune”
“King Richard”
“Licorice Pizza”
“Nightmare Alley”
“The Power of the Dog”
“West Side Story”
BEST ACTOR
Javier Bardem – “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch – “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield – “tick, tick…BOOM!”
Will Smith – “King Richard”
Denzel Washington – “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain – “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Olivia Colman – “The Lost Daughter”
Penelope Cruz – “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman – “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart – “Spencer”
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – “Licorice Pizza”
Kenneth Branagh – “Belfast
Jane Campion – “The Power of the Dog”
Ryusuke Hamaguchi – “Drive My Car”
Steven Spielberg – “West Side Story”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ciaran Hinds – “Belfast”
Troy Kotsur – “CODA”
Jesse Plemons – “The Power of the Dog”
J.K. Simmons – “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee – “The Power of the Dog”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – “The Lost Daughter”
Ariana DeBose – “West Side Story”
Judi Dench – “Belfast”
Kirsten Dunst – “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis – “King Richard”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Belfast”
“Don’t Look Up”
“King Richard”
“Licorice Pizza”
“The Worst Person in the World”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“CODA”
“Drive My Car”
“Dune”
“The Lost Daughter”
“The Power of the Dog”
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Encanto”
“Flee”
“Luca”
“The Mitchells vs the Machines”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
“Ascension”
“Attica”
“Flee”
“Summer of Soul”
“Writing With Fire”
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
“Drive My Car” – Japan
“Flee” – Denmark
“The Hand of God” – Italy
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” – Bhutan
“The Worst Person in the World” – Norway
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“Don’t Look Up”
“Dune”
“Encanto”
“Parallel Mothers”
“The Power of the Dog”
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“No Time to Die” from “No Time to Die”
“Be Alive” from “King Richard”
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”
“Down to Joy” from “Belfast”
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”
