Oscar Nominations 2023: The snubs, surprises and diversity

Actors Allison Williams and Riz Ahmed on Jan. 24 announced the Oscar 2023 nominations. On March 12, Jimmy Kimmel will host the 95th Academy Awards winners, and everyone will have their fingers crossed for their favorite actors.

While there are first-time nominees and surprises like Rihanna for her song “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther sequel, there are also snubs like Tom Cruise, who didn’t make it to the list. This morning’s announcement has its fair share of pleasantry, heartbreak, and diversity. 

In 2015 and 2016, outcries for the #OscarsSoWhite reverberated through the Academy Awards with a list of all-white nominees. Oscars welcomed diversity with four nominations of people of color last year. 

Everything has led to this. Congratulations to our 18 Academy Award nominees including Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Whale, Aftersun, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, Close, and Causeway! #Oscars2023 pic.twitter.com/F469dcv9fQ

— A24 (@A24) January 24, 2023

This time around, Michelle Yeoh is heading the list as the first Asian best actress for the Oscar 2023 nominations, while Dolly De Leon, also her fellow Asian, didn’t make it to the cut. Meanwhile, here are some of the “surprises” and “snubs” for the Oscar 2023 nominations, as ENews reported.

Surprise: Andrea Riseborough – To Leslie

Her A-list friends didn’t miss out on their bid for getting Riseborough her first Oscar nomination. She is a nominee for Best Actress in her acting in To Leslie.

Surprise: Paul Mescal – Aftersun 

Paul Mescal has received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. pic.twitter.com/MwGgUm3Zju

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 24, 2023

A lot expected that the 24-year-old lead actor of Aftersun would be an outsider in the Oscar 2023 nominations. But his gentle and raw performance in the movie deserves this much attention.

Surprise: The Sea Beast

Although there’s nothing extravagant in this film’s animation, it is a great contender for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. This Netflix movie is nominated as the Best Animated Feature, and it’s also up against Turning Red, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

Surprise: Ana de Armas – Blonde

Although Andrew Dominik’s portrayal of Marilyn Monroe seems nightmarish to some. De Armas played the lead role brilliantly. Regardless of the bad reviews, performances based on well-known individuals will always get votes. 

The Oscar Snubs

Snub: Tom Hanks – Elvis

Hanks’ co-star for Elvis, Austin Butler, scored an Oscar 2023 nomination. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the Best Supporting Actor category list. He played the role of Colonel Tom Parker.

Snub: Taylor Swift – Where the Crawdads Sing

Taylor Swift Snubbed by Oscars for Best Original Song, Lady Gaga and Rihanna Score Nominations https://t.co/ueflsAL04a

— Variety (@Variety) January 24, 2023

Although Swift’s “Carolina” earned its nomination for the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, she didn’t make it to the Oscars 2023 nominations.

Snub: Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie – Babylon

Even with all the other award nominations, neither was in this year’s Oscars. Their work for Damien Chazelle’s celebration of old Hollywood didn’t pay off, leaving fans ranting online.

Snub: Tom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick

Thanks to his production skills, his movie received a best picture nomination. However, voters weren’t amazed by his acting skills. 

Snub: Viola Davis/Lashana Lynch – The Woman King

Sadly, it’s not only the stars that didn’t get a place at the Oscars 2023 nominations but also the movie itself. Though it’s good to know that Viola Davis earned several nominations for other awards this season.

Oscar 2023 Nominations Diversity: Asian Actors Surprises and Snub

Michelle Yeoh is a first-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actress. pic.twitter.com/YRg64Q284u

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 24, 2023

As Oscar season approaches, discussions around this year’s nominees are already beginning to take center stage. This year proves to be a record-breaking level of diversity among its nominations and winners. It is a promising sign of progress regarding race, ethnicity, and gender identity within Hollywood’s hierarchy. Here are the main Asian snub and surprise.

Surprise: Stephanie Hsu –  Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once bagged a lot of nominations. With her remarkable acting in the movie, she deserves to be up for best supporting actress.

Surprise: Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once

The Malaysian icon takes centerstage as the first Asian to be the Best Actress Nominee. While it took her 59 years to finally land a major nomination, it took 95 years before the Academy recognized an Asian woman in this major category.

While this is the first Oscar nod Yeoh had received, she was well-known for her supporting roles. She made a buzz in the films Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger, Crazy Rich Asians, and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Snub: Dolly De Leon – Triangle of Sadness

While Dolly De Leon’s remarkable acting in the film “Triangle of Sadness” didn’t earn her the best supporting actress nomination, the film was in for the Best Picture category. Although De Leon didn’t make it to the Oscars, her portrayal as “toilet manager” and cleaner in the movie was regarded at the Golden Globes and British Academy Film Awards.

She was a nominee for Best Supporting Actress in those two awards. In addition, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Guldbagge Awards, Sweden’s version of the Oscars.