Oscars 2016: Academy President ‘Disappointed’ by Lack of Diversity as

Who do you think will win?

Will Smith, who stars in football injury drama “Concussion”, and Idris Elba from “Beasts of No Nation” were among the black actors who were not nominated this year. “But that doesn’t change the fact that those movies are there, those movies are great, audiences love them and they were some of the biggest box office of the year”.

There are always snubs, and this year the talk is about racial bias. “If we did not get nominated, that would be familiar territory”.

A similar situation for The Martian – where is Ridley Scott’s Best Director nomination?

Cate Blanchett may also be taking home an Oscar for her role in the period piece Carol.

Fury Road boss George Miller is up against The Revenant’s Alejandro Iñárritu for Best Director.

Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight), Benicio del Toro (Sicario) and Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton) all missed out for best supporting actor, despite their respective films earning nominations in other categories (including Hateful’s Jennifer Jason Leigh in supporting actress). Sensing backlash before it was even published, the executive managing editor pre-emptively wrote an open letter titled “Why Every Actress on The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable Cover Is White”: “The bad truth is that there are no minority actresses in genuine contention for an Oscar this year”, he wrote. This year may hear some of the same chatter, as the only best picture nominees among 2015’s top 20 hits were “Mad Max” and “The Martian”.

Likewise, Tessa Thompson and Michael B. Jordan were ignored for highly praised performances in “Creed“. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is nominated for Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and that classic John Williams score. It’s his 50th nomination, extending his record as the most-nominated person alive.

It received 10 nominations, including cinematography and costume design.

Yesterday, British journalist Piers Morgan branded Hollywood “hideously racist” after Straight Outta Compton was overlooked in the Best Picture category. The tally also includes six nods for “Bridge of Spies”, which it shared with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N).

As expected, Pixar’s “Inside Out” landed a best animated feature nod, as did the Charlie Kaufman-penned “Anomalisa”, “Shaun the Sheep Movie”, “Boy and the World” and “When Marnie Was There”.

It’s hard to see the omission of Aaron Sorkin’s script for “Steve Jobs” in the adapted screenplay category as anything other than a dis, a possible spanking for an admired talent who some feel may have gotten too big for his britches.

Chris Rock, the African-American comedian, film and TV producer, was slated to host this year’s Academy Awards ceremony February 28.