Oscar 2020 Nominations : Hail Joker

I have been waiting for the nominations for a while and they're finally here. Joker sets a record for being the first comic book film to get 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Original Scores. As a fellow comic book film and a film fan myelf, I cannot be any more happier. Joker is a very well-made comic book film that deserves such recognitions.

Oscar has always been picky with big-budgeted film or sci-fi/superhero film and it's about time for they to be more considerable. To be honest, a comic book film being nominated as a Best Picture nominee should've happened a long time ago with The Dark Knight. Then, in 2019, obviously due to current political pressure in America, Oscar nominated Black Panther as a nominee for the Best Picture category. Now, I enjoy Black Panther. Killmonger was a very good villain and it definitely one of the good MCU movies. But to consider it as a Best Picture nominee? I don't think so. The story and plot was messy, and yes, the obvious flaw: the PS2 CGI.

Hildur Guðnadóttir, the brilliant composer behind Joker

Joaquin Phoenix did a remarkable job in Joker and here's hoping for him winning that Oscar. After been doing indie films for years, exploring the extent of his acting ability, it is about time for he to get recognised. Todd Phillips as the helm of the film also deserves to be nominated for Best Director. We must also not forget the composer behind the brilliant scores for Joker, Hildur Guðnadóttir who is still a new composer but her fresh talent, firstly heard in HBO's Chernobyl, to be appreciated. She would be up against old-time contender John Williams for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

These guys are legends

As for the Best Director category - it surely is a tough fight, there's: Martin Scorsese for The Irishman, Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Todd Phillips for Joker, Bong Joon-Ho for Parasite and Sam Mendes for 1917. These guys are hard contenders, with Scorsese and Tarantino, two Hollywood legends and Bong Joon-Ho, the South Korean director behind the brilliant film Parasite fighting for the title but I put my bet on Scorsese.

80 and kicking - Al Pacino is back

The Best Picture contenders meanwhile, pretty much are the same as the Best Director's. Joker, Parasite, The Irishman, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood are great films of 2019 and they're on my Top 10 2019 Films list. As for other nominees - Ford v Ferrari, Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story and 1917, I can't really say much because I haven't had the privilege to watch them yet. But I bet 1917 and Ford v Ferrari are good.

Brad Pitt was really cool in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

The nominees for Best Supporting Actor for this year are interesting as well - we have Al Pacino AND Joe Pesci for The Irishman and Brad Pitt for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. These guys have had their days over but I consider this as a comeback by them. Al Pacino had not been nominated for a while and Joe Pesci has basically retired. Brad Pitt has seen a decline in his career for past few years but personally, I think he is making a come back in 2019 with OUATIH and Ad Astra.

The nominees for Oscar 2020 are all interesting anf they deseve it and a congratulations to Joaquin Phoenix and the Joker's crew!

Full list of 2020 Oscar nominations: https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/