Despite big hits starring black actors and by black filmmakers in 2015, none of them earned nominations from the Academy Awards this morning. That means, for a second year in the row, social media can bring up #OscarsSoWhite again
Last year, the big issue was that Ava DuVernay’s Selma failed to score more than a Best Picture and Best Original Song nomination. David Oyelowo’s performance as Martin Luther King Jr. and DuVernay’s direction were both ignored.
However, this year there was more than just one success for black filmmakers in Hollywood. Ryan Coogler’s Creed earned near unanimous praise for Michael B. Jordan’s performance as the title character and Coogler’s directing. However, the only nomination the film received was Best Supporting Actor for Sylvester Stallone’s performance as the ageing Rocky Balboa. Stallone picked up the Golden Globe Sunday, so it looks like he may be a lock for the award at the Oscars. But it’s surprising that no other person involved in the making of the film was mentioned. Stallone didn’t make that movie by himself.
The members of Straight Outta Compton’s ensemble all failed to earn nominations, despite a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for Best Ensemble. It only earned one nomination, for its Original Screenplay, which tells the story of rap group N.W.A. The movie was a huge hit in August, raking in $161 million at the box office and earned good reviews.
Even though Sony’s Concussion didn’t earn great reviews overall, Will Smith was still expected to get a nomination for his portrayal of Dr. Bennet Omalu. But he came up empty handed. Instead, the Best Actor field includes Bryan Cranston for his performance in the-should-have-been-a-TV-movie Trumbo. Eddie Redmayne, who won last year for The Theory of Everything, was also nominated for The Danish Girl.
As previously noted, Idris Elba also didn’t get a nomination for Beasts of No Nation.
One can only hope that next year, there’s a blockbuster movie from black or minority filmmakers that is finally honored at the Oscars.