On Monday (IST), the 96th Academy Awards took center stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, unveiling a mix of elation and disappointment. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, as expected, fulfilled its pre-Oscar buzz, clinching an impressive seven awards. However, this triumph left several other contenders without recognition, departing the ceremony without any trophies.
In one of the standout surprises of the evening, Lily Gladstone, recognized for her portrayal of an Osage woman in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, faced disappointment in the lead actress category as Emma Stone’s performance in Poor Things clinched the award.
Gladstone’s potential victory in the lead actress category would have marked a historic moment, as she would have become the first Native American actress to claim this accolade. The anticipation was further heightened by Michelle Yeoh’s groundbreaking win as best actress the previous year for Everything Everywhere All at Once, amplifying the hopes for Gladstone’s triumph.
Despite securing an impressive 10 nominations across major categories like best picture and best supporting actor, Killers of the Flower Moon left the Oscars empty-handed. This marks the fourth time a Martin Scorsese film, including Gangs of New York (2002), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and The Irishman (2019), has experienced disappointment on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the year’s highest-grossing blockbuster, faced a similar fate, albeit less disheartening. Despite receiving eight nominations, the film featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling only managed to secure one win for best original song. Billie Eilish and Finneas claimed the award for their captivating composition “What Was I Made For.”
Actor-director Bradley Cooper joined the ranks of notable nominees who experienced disappointment at the 96th Academy Awards. Despite earning seven nominations, his film Maestro failed to secure any wins. Cooper, previously celebrated for his directorial debut A Star Is Born, which claimed the best original song category at the 2018 Oscars, found himself nominated once again for best actor this year.