(Photo courtesy of: Mitu) “America Ferrera is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in “Barbie” as Gloria.”
Savannah Baker
Connector Editor
The Oscars have announced the nominees for their 96th Academy Awards. 2023 was a big year for film with the release of “Oppenheimer”, “Barbie”, “Killer of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things” which has led to great excitement for this year’s Oscars.
The massive box-office success, “Oppenheimer” starring Cillian Murphy, has earned 13 nominations making it the most nominated film for an Academy Award this year. With a close follow-up, “Poor Things” starring Emma Stone has earned 11 nominations in its respective categories. The considerable number of nominations for both “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things” comes as no surprise for many.
What has shocked viewers is the lack of nominations for this year’s beloved “Barbie.” Director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie won over the media last summer with their heart-felt film that challenges gender roles. To not see Gerwig and Robbie be nominated in their respective categories, Directing and Actress in a Leading Role, is quite ironic considering the films message.
Although Gerwig and Robbie may not be nominated, Ryan Gosling was nominated for his role as Ken in “Barbie” in his respective category, Actor in a Supporting Role. But this continues to create a level of irony. This had led viewers to create quite an uproar on social media about whether The Academy understood the message behind the film.
Despite Gerwig and Robbie not being recognized individually for their work, “Barbie” was far from being snubbed out of nominations. America Ferrera, a Latin American actress who has had a two-decade long career in the film industry, was nominated for her first ever Oscar for her role in “Barbie.” Ferrera was nominated in her respective category, Actress in a Supporting Role—a category which only two Latinas have won. Ferrera’s Oscar nomination has been widely celebrated, but also overlooked by many due to the vocal disappointment and frustration over Gerwig and Robbie’s snubbed nominations all over social media.
“Barbie” earned a total of eight nominations. Aside from Gosling and Ferrera’s nominations, other categories “Barbie” can be seen nominated under are Best Picture, Production Design and Writing. Eight nominations for Academy Awards are far from a disappointment.
“Killer of the Flower Moon” lead actress, Lily Gladstone, has also been overlooked since The Oscar nomination announcement. Gladstone makes history as the first Native American woman to ever be nominated for Actress in a Leading Role. Instead of criticizing The Academy for not recognizing Gerwig and Robbie, viewers should be celebrating Ferrera and Gladstone.
