This year’s Academy Awards saw historic wins for Asian actors Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, as well as costume designer Ruth E. Carter becoming the first Black woman to win two Oscars and “Naatu Naatu” becoming the first Indian film to win best original song. “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” dominated with five wins, followed by “All Quiet on the Western Front” with four.
Meanwhile, despite receiving 30 nominations, acclaimed best picture nominees such as “Elvis,” “The Fabelmans,” “Banshees of Inisherin,” and “Tar” went home empty-handed. Variety has compiled a list of the biggest omissions and surprises from the 95th Annual Academy Awards.
SNUB: Angela Bassett, Best Supporting Actress, “Wakanda Forever”
The supporting actress category has been a bit of a mystery all season. While Bassett appeared to be the early frontrunner after winning the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, neither of those voting bodies overlapped with the Oscars. As a result, when Kerry Condon won the BAFTA and Jamie Lee Curtis won the SAG Award, the category began to look fairly open. And no one could deny Bassett’s powerful performance in a film that everyone saw, or the impact of her speeches.
Bassett did, however, receive praise from presenters Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors. “Hey, Auntie,” Jordan said, as Majors added, “We love you.”
SNUB: Catherine Martin and “Elvis”
“Elvis” had an impressive eight nominations going into the night, including three for Martin in the picture, production design, and costume design. After winning the BAFTA for “Elvis,” it appeared that Austin Butler would take home the lead actor award, but SAG Award winner Brendan Fraser triumphed in that category for his comeback film “The Whale.”
SURPRISE: Ruth E. Carter, Best Costume Design, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
It’s difficult to call it a surprise when someone as iconic as Carter wins a prize, but Catherine Martin received a slight advantage after winning the BAFTA. They competed in different categories at the Costume Designers Guild Awards, with “Elvis” winning for period film and “Wakanda Forever” losing to “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” giving Martin an advantage. However, Carter not only won on Oscar night, but she also became the first Black woman in history to win two Academy Awards.
SNUB: Mandy Walker, Best Cinematography, “Elvis”
One week ago, Walker became the first female director of photography to win the top prize at the American Society of Cinematographers Award in the feature film category – and it looked like she might repeat the feat at the Oscars, becoming the first woman in the Academy Awards’ 95-year history. However, James Friend won the award for his outstanding work in “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
SURPRISE: Volker Bertelmann, Best Original Score, “All Quiet on the Western Front”
Most experts predicted that this category would be decided by two previous winners: Justin Hurwitz for his acclaimed “Babylon” score and five-time Oscar winner/legend John Williams. However, it was German composer Bertelmann, who had previously been nominated in this category for “Lion,” who won his first Academy Award.
