The Oscar Nominations: A Year of Creative Ambitions and Surprises
The 2026 Academy Awards nominations are out, and they've sparked a range of reactions. From ambitious Hollywood blockbusters to international films tackling power dynamics, this year's nods have something for everyone. But here's where it gets controversial... and a little ugly.
The Good: Creative Excellence and First-Time Nominations
One of the feel-good stories is Rose Byrne's Best Actress nomination for her exceptional performance in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You. Byrne, an Australian actress, has shone in various Hollywood productions over the past two decades, from Bridesmaids to Insidious and X-Men. Her portrayal of a stressed-out therapist with a horror twist is a standout.
Another rising star, Jacob Elordi, continues his Hollywood journey with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Frankenstein. At just 28, Elordi brings heart and depth to the role of the Creature, a character who discovers the curse of eternal life. His performance is compelling, even in the early stages of the film.
And let's not forget Nick Cave's haunting contribution to Train Dreams. Co-written with Bryce Dessner, the song is a poetic closer to the drama, but it faces tough competition from the pop culture phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters.
The Bad: Overlooked Talent and Missed Opportunities
Joel Edgerton, an Australian actor, delivers a heartbreaking performance in Train Dreams as a logger and laborer, yet he sadly misses out on a nomination. His portrayal of a quiet, enduring character experiencing horror and grief is a powerful one.
The Academy also overlooked the best non-English-language film, It Was Just An Accident by Jafar Panahi. This darkly comic thriller, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, tackles the abuse of power in Iran. Panahi's courage and craftsmanship deserve recognition, but he was not nominated for Best Director.
Breakout stars Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal, who played a revolutionary's daughter in One Battle and Shakespeare in Hamnet, respectively, also missed out on nominations due to highly competitive categories.
The Ugly: Sequels and Missed Opportunities
Voters decided that sequels were not worthy of nominations this year. Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ice received no love, except for a Best Visual Effects nod for the latter. While Frankenstein and Sinners deserved recognition for their makeup and hairstyling, the transformation of Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine left some viewers unsure.
Johnson's performance was impressive, but the character's look felt forced. It's a fine line between a triumph and an awkward transformation.
The 2026 Oscars will take place on Monday, March 16, Australian time. Will the winners reflect the creative excellence and diversity of this year's nominations? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as we count down to the big night!
