People of Color Making History – Oscars 2017

The nominations for the 89th Academy Awards were announced this morning in a very non-traditional, yet welcomed and artistic manner.  Instead of the usual press conference at 5am.  Former Oscar Nominees and Winners announced the categories.  It was extremely entertaining and informative to see how people who have actually experienced that 33 day hustle to the red carpet felt about one of the most exciting moments in their lives.

Y’all heard it here first!!!   Isabelle Huppert snatched a nomination  as Lead actress for Elle and that the Actress in a  Supporting Role Category would be dominated by my melanin sister’s – including a nod for my sister’ friend Octavia Spencer for her role as NASA mathematician Dorothy Vaughn in Hidden Figures.  Really disappointed that my Howard University Alum Taraji P. Henson didn’t get any love, but her presence in that film along with Spencer and Monae is history making and inspiring to young women around the world.

Another one of my predictions came to fruition was Mahershala Ali, who is on fire this year!!!  Nominated for Supporting Actor in a Leading Role for Moonlight (who is 2nd in the nomination tally only to LaLa Land), this category will be a race to the finish for sure.

Viola Davis and Denzel Washington were sure bet nominations for their stellar work in Fences and Barry Jenkins (an Oscar newbie) racked up noms for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Director Ava Duvernay finally got some Oscar love for here eye-opening documentary 13th, as well as return Oscar nominee Roger Ross for his heart-wrenching documentary Life-Animated about a young man who breaks out of his autism prison through watching Disney animated films.

Speaking of Disney, there are really representing with nods for Moana and Zootopia in multiple categories.  If Lin-Manuel Miranda wins Best Original Song…this will be the second time in history that a Latino songwriter walks away with an EGOT distinction for writing in the Animated Feature category. The last person to do so was my former Avenue Q homie and songwriter Bobby Lopez and his wife Kristen Anderson Lopez for another Disney classic – Frozen.

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES – Announced by Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Demian Bechir

LEAD ACTOR NOMINEES – Announced by Oscar Winner Brie Larson

LEAD ACTRESS NOMINEES – Announced by Jason Reitman

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – Announce by Terrence Howard

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – Announced by Gabourey Sidibe

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – Announced by Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE -Announced by Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

BEST DIRECTOR – Announced by Jason Reitman

For the full list of nominees…please go to oscars.org and stay tuned for interviews and reactions from the nominees right here with The Curvy Film Critic!!!!