Oscars 2024: A Global Celebration

This year's Oscar nominations have taken the world by storm, with a record-breaking number of international films and performances. The wildfires in L. A. might have delayed the voting process, but they didn't stop the global influence from shining through. For the first time ever, two films are up for both Best International Feature and Best Picture: 'Emilia Pérez' from France and 'I’m Still Here' from Brazil. The Cannes Film Festival also had a huge impact, with eight films receiving a whopping 31 nominations. It's a testament to the festival's power, even though it happens early in the year. Netflix is making waves with 'Emilia Pérez', which has 13 nominations and is their best shot yet at winning Best Picture.Musicals are having a moment too, with three nominations: 'Emilia Pérez', 'A Complete Unknown', and 'Wicked'. However, there are some snubs that have people talking. Directors like Edward Berger and Jon M. Chu were overlooked, even though their films got multiple nominations. It's a reminder that the Academy's choices aren't always predictable. 'The Brutalist' is another standout, with 10 nominations including Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay. It's a unique situation, similar to 'The Pianist' in 2002, which also took home directing and screenplay awards but lost Best Picture. One surprising nomination is Jeremy Strong for his role as Roy Cohn in 'The Apprentice'. This comes just days after Donald Trump's second-term inauguration. It's an interesting turn of events, and it will be fascinating to see how it all plays out at the Oscars.