The Oscar nominations announced Thursday added intrigue if not diversity to the Academy Awards race. Here are some of Oscar’s biggest snubs, surprises and interesting facts:
King dethroned: The most glaring omission in the acting categories was David Oyelowo, who portrayed Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma.” Many also thought “Selma” director Ava DuVernay was a lock to become the first black woman nominated in the category. Whatever the reason, their omissions highlighted another. …
Lack of diversity: All 20 of the nominated actors are white, which led to the Twitter hashtag “OscarsSoWhite.” It’s a nightmare scenario for the Academy of Motion Pictures, which has in recent years sought to diversify its ranks, and comes a year after the best-picture win for “12 Years a Slave.”
Everything isn’t awesome: Despite critical love and major box office, “The Lego Movie” was left out of the animation category. “Lego” co-director Phil Lord tweeted a photo of a Lego-built Oscar, writing: “It’s okay. Made my own!”
Repeaters: Bradley Cooper’s nomination for his role in “American Sniper” is his third consecutive acting nod. Meryl Streep’s supporting nod for “Into the Woods” means she has been nominated a record 19 times.
Eight is enough: For the first time since the academy expanded possible best-picture nominees to 10 contenders in 2009, just eight films are up for the top prize in 2015: “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash.”
