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What was really going on?
Was some sort of anti-Hibernian bias afoot among our most prestigious awards bloggers?
but its fair to wonder what led experts to underestimate the lead of the presumptive Best Picture winner.
Why did this happen, and what does it tell us about the limitations of Oscars punditry?
Could Paul Giamatti and Jeffrey Wright get nominated for comedies?
Could Colman Domingo overcome the lack of passion forRustin?
And what was going on withBradley Coopers nose?
Everyone was saving a seat for Murphy, but that seat was firmly in the back row.
The NarrativeSimilarly, it was easy to slot Cooper and Giamatti into established awards-season roles.
Which is not to say he had nothing going for him.
The FilmUnlike Cooper or Domingo, Murphy at least had the benefit of starring in the Best Picture frontrunner.
But that doesnt take a contender as far as you might think.
Not since Jean Dujardin andThe Artist12 years ago have Best Actor and Best Picture overlapped.
Counterintuitively, the fact thatOppenheimerwas so strong across the board tended to obscure Murphys individual achievement.
This is too simple; as many have noted.
Murphy has been out there campaigning as much as anyone.
Youll notice what I havent yet mentioned anything about whats onscreen.
Murphy also gave a subtly transformative performance in a role that didnt lack for dramatic heft.
The Procrastinators Guide to Finally Watching Oppenheimer
Uh-oh!
No, I am here to help you.
Instead, plan to watch the movie in three one-hour blocks.
Heres how to do it:
First, youll need a Peacock subscription.
(This is not #spon, though I would happily shill for the star-crossed streaming service.
The next shot is Oppenheimer driving through the burgeoning town, the perfect teaser for night two!
The second night, youll pick up from there, and go to 2:00:17.
Theres literally a slow fade to black, Jesse says.
The second hour is about power struggles, between people, internally, and also with science.
The third hour is all cat-and-mouse, judgment day.
Anyway, youve got eight nights until the Oscars.
Heres how to use three of them!
How Will Dune Two Do Next Year?
Reviews forPart Twohave beenpositively effusive, with many critics proclaiming the sequel better than its predecessor.
But at the very least, action-friendly trophies like Visual Effects and Sound should be in play.
Theres even the possibility thatPart TwosurpassesPart Onein total nominations, thanks to two categories where the firstDunedidnt show up.
Perhaps the lesson is to avoid colons, which does not bode well in this case.
Still, Villeneuve will certainly be in the directing conversation forPart Two.
Part Twoalso boasts somethingPart Onedidnt: a potential acting play.
CouldPart Twosucceed wherePart Onefailed, and become a legitimate Best Picture threat?
Everyones favorite presentation format is coming back!
Why didntThe Iron Clawget nominated?
(It came out too late.)
The First Annual Bunch of Boys Awards.
