Academy President Addresses Lack of Oscar Diversity

Leonardo DiCaprio is not nervous about whether he will finally win an Oscar – because he says the hard work of actually shooting the film is over.

But absences were also stuck on repeat. During 2011 was the last time before past year all of the acting contenders were white, and then again in 1998. “This all-white nominee things isn’t going to fly, Chris Rock notwithstanding!” When nominations for the 88th annual Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning, “Spotlight”, the acclaimed drama about The Boston Globe’s reporting of the Catholic Church clergy abuse scandal, was nominated for best picture, director (Tom McCarthy), original screenplay, editing, and supporting performances by Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams. “Champagne and Mezcal will run tonight!” Is it Hollywood homophobia that kept Academy voters from recognizing the movie’s craft, or is it the New Math of the best picture nominating procedures? Whether or not this is a message being sent from the Academy to Netflix as a rebuke for messing with their racket is debatable, but it’s impossible to get less recognition than zero nominations. The adapted screenplay category will see “The Big Short’ screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, “Brooklyn’ by Nick Hornby, “Carol’ by Phyllis Nagy, Drew Goddard’s screenplay for “The Martian’ and author Emma Donoghue’s adaptation of her novel for “Room'”. Plus, the movie did not also get a nod for Best Picture. For the second straight time, there are no people of color in any of the acting categories, and many found it puzzling that the Academy filled only eight of ten slots for Best Picture.

“We gave it our all on this film, and this appreciation from the Academy means a lot to me and my colleagues who made it possible”, Inarritu said in a statement.

“No, I am very happy, very honored”. Two big names were left out: Johnny Depp for “Black Mass” and Will Smith for “Concussion”.

The best actress field also includes rising star Brie Larson for “Room”; veteran Charlotte Rampling, who is hoping British drama “45 Years” will bring her first Oscar; and Saoirse Ronan for Irish immigrant tale “Brooklyn”.

Although “The Martian” received a best picture nomination, its director, Ridley Scott, who had been considered by many a favorite to win the best director award, failed to even get a nomination.

“Once again, Todd Haynes has been blanked for Best Director”.

In an era when the major studios have largely cut back on complex, mid-range adult fare, two such films – “Bridge of Spies” and the financial crisis dramedy “The Big Short” – received several nominations apiece. “We were screaming like idiots in the pitch black with the smell of waffles in the room”. 20th Century Fox had an especially good day, led by “The Revenant” and “The Martian”.

Netflix’s first original feature, Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation”, was shut out.