Oscars get a sequel – ‘so white’ for a second year

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the nominations for the best achievements in filmmaking throughout 2015.

Oscar nominees for Best Actor are shown in this combination of file photos (L to R) Bryan Cranston, Matt Damon, Michael Fassbender, Eddie Redmayne, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Hip-hop hit movie “Straight Outta Compton” failed to get a place in the best picture category, and the Twitter hashtag #Oscarssowhite, which sprung up a year ago, was quickly revived.

The best actress field is led by favourite Brie Larson for Room and includes Jennifer Lawrence (for Joy, making her, at 25, the youngest four-time nominee), Cate Blanchett (Carol), Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) and Charlotte Rampling (45 Years).

This year’s Oscar nominees were recently announced and every major category was filled by a White actor or filmmaker. Coogler was not included in the best director nominations, but Sylvester Stallone, who reprised a role from the Rocky film franchise in “Creed“, received a best supporting actor nomination.

Will Smith for “Concussion”, Idris Elba for “Beasts of No Nation” and Michael B. Jordan for “Creed” were among those expected to be nominated but noticeably left off the list.

Don’t expect to see many African-American folks walk away with trophies at next month’s Academy Awards presentation.

The Revenant and Mad Max: Fury Road were showered with honors during Thursday morning’s Oscar nominations announcement. Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs spoke to Deadline about the lack of diversity, saying, “Of course I am disappointed, but is not to take away the greatness (of the films nominated)”.