LOS
ANGELES — Oscar voters showered the neo-musical “La La Land” with 14
nominations on Tuesday, a tie with “Titanic” and “All About Eve” for the
most in Academy Award history. But the academy also moved past two
#OscarsSoWhite years by honoring six black actors — a record — and
including diverse films like “Moonlight,” “Fences” and “Hidden Figures” in the best picture race.
Nine movies will compete for Hollywood’s top prize, including several
box-office hits. Joining “La La Land” and “Moonlight” (eight nominations
total), “Fences” (four), and “Hidden Figures” (three) in the best
picture race were “Arrival,” a science-fiction thriller; the
cops-and-robbers drama “Hell or High Water”; the subtitled tear-jerker
“Lion”; “Manchester by the Sea,” about a mournful New England handyman;
and “Hacksaw Ridge,” Mel Gibson’s true story of World War II heroism.
In
a surprise, Mr. Gibson also drew a nomination as best director,
officially ending his 10-year status as a Hollywood pariah for his
offscreen behavior. Filling out the directing field were Damien Chazelle
(“La La Land”), Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”), Barry Jenkins
(“Moonlight”) and Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”).
There
were other surprises. “Arrival” emerged as one of the most-honored
films, with support in eight categories, but its star, Amy Adams, failed
to receive a nod for best actress. Instead, her slot likely went to the
newcomer Ruth Negga for her understated performance in “Loving.”
Joining her were Isabelle Huppert from the French film “Elle,” Emma
Stone from “La La Land,” Natalie Portman from “Jackie” and Meryl Streep
from “Florence Foster Jenkins.”
In
an embarrassing glitch, a website managed by the academy and ABC, which
broadcasts the Oscars, initially listed Ms. Adams as a nominee instead
of Ms. Negga. An overeager ABC staffer made the mistake, according to an
academy official. It was quickly corrected.
In
a sharp contrast to the previous two years, when the academy put
forward all-white rosters of acting nominees, voters chose the largest
number of black candidates ever. Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris each
received a nod for their supporting work in “Moonlight.” Viola Davis
(“Fences”) and Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures”) were also nominated
for supporting actress. Joining Ms. Negga in the lead categories was
Denzel Washington of “Fences.”
The Indian actor Dev Patel was nominated for his supporting role in
“Lion.” Jeff Bridges from “Hell or High Water,” Lucas Hedges from
“Manchester by the Sea” and Michael Shannon from “Nocturnal Animals”
rounded out the supporting actor nominees.
More Than One on the Ballot
In 1940 Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American
performer to be nominated for an Oscar (she won best supporting
actress). Others followed but it wasn’t until 1968 that two or more
black performers were nominated in the same year. In subsequent Oscar
races, one movie would often be responsible for multiple nominations.
This year, six black actors and actresses — in four different films —
were nominated, a record.
Years in which more than one black actor or actress received an Oscar nomination
’65
Actor
Supporting Actor
Actress
Supporting Actress
Winner
’70
Beah Richards ("Guess Who's Coming to
Dinner") goes up against Carol Channing ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"),
who revealed her African-American heritage years later.
’75
Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield are both nominated for “Sounder.”
Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey are all nominated for “The Color Purple.”
’80
Morgan Freeman (”Street Smart”) and Denzel Washington (“Cry Freedom”) compete for supporting actor.
’85
Two years later, Freeman and Washington are both nominated again. Washington wins for “Glory.”
Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett are nominated for “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
’90
Denzel Washington in “Training Day” beats out Will Smith in “Ali.” Halle Berry wins for “Monster’s Ball.”
’95
Jamie Foxx wins for “Ray” against Don Cheadle
in “Hotel Rwanda.” Foxx is also nominated for his supporting role in
“Collateral,” but loses to Morgan Freeman.
’00
Forest Whitaker wins for “The Last King of
Scotland” against Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Jennifer
Hudson wins for “Dreamgirls.”
’05
Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique are both nominated for “Precious.” Mo’Nique wins.
Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are both nominated for “The Help.” Spencer wins.
’10
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o are both nominated for “12 Years a Slave.” Nyong’o wins.
’15
2016: Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are both nominated for “Fences”; Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris for “Moonlight.”
The
Indian actor Dev Patel was nominated for his supporting role in “Lion.”
Jeff Bridges from “Hell or High Water,” Lucas Hedges from “Manchester
by the Sea” and Michael Shannon from “Nocturnal Animals” rounded out the
supporting actor nominees.
Joining
Mr. Washington as best actor nominees were Ryan Gosling for “La La
Land,” Viggo Mortensen for “Captain Fantastic,” Casey Affleck for
“Manchester by the Sea” and Andrew Garfield for “Hacksaw Ridge.”
Pundits will inevitably declare that the academy listened to the #OscarsSoWhite protests that found the Rev. Al Sharpton berating Hollywood
in a preceremony rally last year. Public pressure may well have been a
factor, but the outcome, in truth, may have more to do with the vagaries
of moviemaking: a full slate of high-quality movies with diverse casts
that coalesced in the past year.
For
the first time in memory, the academy did not unveil its nominations at
a news conference attended by entertainment journalists. Instead,
reporters were bypassed — no chance for academy officials to be peppered
with uncomfortable questions that way — and the nominations read
without an audience in a presentation broadcast on Oscars.com, “Good Morning America” and other platforms.
The
favorite by far going in was “La La Land,” the show-business musical
directed and written by Mr. Chazelle and starring Ms. Stone and Mr.
Gosling. “La La Land” collected a record seven prizes at the Golden Globes,
and the film has the benefit of being about Hollywood’s favorite topic —
itself.
(Recent best picture winners with entertainment-industry
backdrops have included “The Artist” and “Birdman.”)
The
rules allow the best picture category to have as many as 10 or as few
as five nominees, depending on how voters spread their support. (There
were eight last year.)
The
academy entrusted its previous ceremony to the producers Reginald
Hudlin and David Hill, who brought in Chris Rock to scold Hollywood on
diversity and created a cable-news-style scrawl in an ill-advised
attempt to make acceptance speeches more interesting. Ratings dropped,
and ABC, which broadcasts the ceremony and charges $2 million for a
30-second commercial, moved to take a firmer hand in this year’s
telecast. Jimmy Kimmel, who anchors ABC’s late-night programming block, was selected as host.
The Oscars will be broadcast on Feb. 26.
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