Snub: Margaret Qualley for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “The Substance”
While “The Substance” is a dark and gruesome body horror film, the performances in it raise its status from that of just another glorified gorefest to a film that will undoubtedly be remembered throughout the film industry. Despite winning multiple other awards for her performance, supporting actor Margaret Qualley did not even receive a nomination. For being such a vital part of “The Substance”, one would assume that if Demi Moore was nominated, Qualley would obviously be as well. This was unfortunately not the case.
Snub: Demi Moore for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “The Substance”
Demi Moore has been in the acting industry for over 45 years, and one would imagine that after all this time, it would finally be her turn to receive an Oscar. In 2023, Jamie Lee Curtis won an Oscar for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” after being in the industry also for ~45 years.
Snub: “Civil War” for all categories
Show after show I’ve been disappointed as “Civil War” has been ignored. Alex Garland’s masterful war drama and political commentary came out at the perfect time. It’s a movie that pictured what would happen if America had another civil war; an extremely divisive plot especially considering that this came out during election year. This movie was a personal favorite of mine and could have been perfect for so many categories. Biting writing and directing from Alex Garland paired with captivating cinematography in the hands of Rob Hardy and career-best performances from Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Jesse Plemmons.
Surprise: “I’m Still Here” for Best International Feature Film
While I am forever grateful that “Emilia Pérez” did not win this category, it still comes as a surprise knowing its track record. Not only did “Emilia Pérez” take home the award for Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes, it also shared the top prize of the night with “The Brutalist.” Additionally, it had the most Oscar nominations at 13 noms. “I’m Still Here” is a captivating and intense story about the military dictatorship of Brazil in the early 70s. It follows a family through several years of their life and how militant occupation can change lives forever
Snub: “Dune: Part Two” for Best Cinematography
“Dune: Part Two” has some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen. Cinematographer Greig Fraser has a surgeon-like control over every frame of this movie. He also pioneered a brand new technique by shooting on an infrared camera for the black and white scenes, leading to a haunting look. Alas, cinematography went to “The Brutalist” for its minimal but effective storytelling.
