The Greatest Showman - Chaos Unfolds

After the release of the 84th Oscar nominations, many initially believed that the chaos surrounding this year's nominations would come to a close. However, that was not the case. The list of nominees presented only a moderate level of certainty—strong contenders and a few surprises, but nothing that would end the chaos. Instead, the nominations served to funnel the chaos into nine potential winners. Yet, the question of who will emerge victorious from these films remains unanswered.

At least, other categories provided some hints.

Best Director Nominees

The final five nominees for Best Director were:

Michel Hazanavicius for The ArtistWoody Allen for Midnight in ParisMartin Scorsese for HugoAlexander Payne for The DescendantsTerrence Malick for The Tree of Life

This list completely closed the door for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which many expected to be a major contender after David Fincher's work on the project. The film, anticipated as a strong contender for David Fincher to earn another Oscar nomination, has not lived up to expectations. The thought lingers: Would The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have fared better with Renly Hall and Rooney Mara instead of Daniel Craig in the lead roles? But that question remains unanswered.

As for The Help, it seemed poised for a major run early in the season, with buzz surrounding its clever theme and strong performances. However, without a Best Director nomination, The Help has lost momentum, and while it still garners praise, it has not captured the level of critical acclaim that could propel it to an Oscar win.

Meanwhile, The Tree of Life, a film laden with philosophical depth and artistic flair, stood out as the season's major dark horse. Initially overlooked for its lack of mainstream appeal, it has since emerged as a serious contender. Is it possible that, from an artistic perspective, this film could be the true Best Picture of the year?

This shift is reflected in its nominations for Best Film Editing and Best Screenplay. In fact, Hugo, The Descendants, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo all received nods for Best Film Editing, a category often regarded as an early indicator of potential Best Picture nominees. Notably, Hugo, Descendants, and Tree of Life were also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, further solidifying their status as top contenders.

The Best Screenplay category saw its own surprises. For Best Original Screenplay, Midnight in Paris, A Farewell, Shanghai Tongyu, Bridesmaids, and The Artist made the cut, while the Best Adapted Screenplay nominees included The Descendants, Hugo, Moneyball, Presidential Kill, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. One standout in this category was Bridesmaids, which broke the mold of recent years, continuing the trend of commercially successful comedies breaking through at the Oscars.

Yet the omission of Anti-Cancer Me—which many had expected to be a major contender—sparked significant controversy. Despite its widespread optimism, Anti-Cancer Me failed to secure a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, marking a disappointing turn in its campaign.

As for the films that emerged with multiple nominations, The Descendants and Hugo stand as the only two films with nominations in all major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Screenplay. Other contenders, such as The Artist, Midnight in Paris, and The Tree of Life, missed out on one or more core categories, indicating the unpredictability of this year's race.

The chaos is far from over, but the path ahead is beginning to take shape. The upcoming stages of the Oscar campaign will determine which of these films ultimately prevails.

The Battle for Acting Nominations

This year, attention has shifted from the films themselves to the strength of the actors. With the industry's focus moving away from the works and toward individual performances, the public relations battles have intensified, particularly in the acting categories.

In the Best Actress race, the competition is fierce. The nominees include:

Meryl Streep for The Iron LadyViola Davis for The HelpMichelle Williams for My Week with MarilynGlenn Close for Albert NobbsRooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

At 26, Rooney Mara stands as the youngest nominee, having gained significant recognition for her role in The Social Network last year. This marks her first Oscar nomination, signaling a bright future ahead.

Meanwhile, Michelle Williams, at 32, is nominated for the third time in as many years, and Glenn Close, with her sixth nomination, is looking to finally claim an Oscar after decades in the industry. Meryl Streep, of course, continues her legendary career with her 15th nomination.

The most compelling battle, however, is between Viola Davis and Meryl Streep. Viola, who has shown outstanding versatility, leads the charge, buoyed by the success of The Help. In a notable competition in 2008, Davis and Streep faced off head-to-head, each holding their own. Viola's standout role in The Help positions her as a strong contender for the win.

Supporting Actress and Actor

In the Best Supporting Actress race, the nominees are:

Octavia Spencer for The HelpJessica Chastain for The HelpJanet McTeer for Albert NobbsMelissa McCarthy for BridesmaidsBerenice Bejo for The Artist

The inclusion of Melissa McCarthy, known primarily for her comedic roles, came as a surprise, marking her second Oscar nomination after Bridesmaids. Meanwhile, Berenice Bejo's nomination for The Artist shows the increasing strength of the film's supporting performances, giving it a boost in the race for Best Picture.

In Best Supporting Actor, the nominees include:

Christopher Plummer for BeginnersKenneth Branagh for My Week with MarilynJonah Hill for MoneyballNick Nolte for WarriorMax von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

While Jonah Hill's nomination, like McCarthy's, is seen as a surprise given his comedic background, the real battle lies between Plummer, Branagh, and Nolte. Plummer, who is the frontrunner, faces stiff competition from Nolte and Branagh, both of whom have long and illustrious careers.

Best Actor

Finally, the Best Actor race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years. The nominees include:

Leonardo DiCaprio for J. EdgarBrad Pitt for MoneyballGeorge Clooney for The DescendantsJean Dujardin for The ArtistGary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

This year's showdown is already proving to be one for the history books, with each nominee bringing their own unique qualities to the table. DiCaprio's portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover, Pitt's understated turn in Moneyball, Clooney's heartbreaking role in The Descendants, Dujardin's charm in The Artist, and Oldman's complex performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy have all garnered praise, making this a wide-open race.