Sinners breaks the record for Oscar nominations with 16 nominations
In a historic first that shook the global film industry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) announced on Thursday the final list of nominations for its awards this year, with the historical horror film “Sinners” achieving an unprecedented feat by winning 16 nominations, thus becoming the most nominated film in the decades-long history of the award.
An achievement that surpasses cinema legends
This new number breaks the previous record of 14 nominations, which was held by three of the most prominent works in the history of cinema: the film “All About Eve” released in 1950, the romantic epic “Titanic” in 1997, and the musical film “La La Land” in 2016. With this achievement, director Ryan Coogler makes his own mark in the annals of Hollywood, surpassing the greatest directors and filmmakers throughout history.
A horror story deep in the American South
The film "Sinners" unfolds as a gripping drama blending psychological horror with the supernatural. Set in the American South during the 1930s, a historically sensitive period preceding World War II and marked by the Jim Crow laws, the story is set against a backdrop of blues music that captures the spirit of the era. Michael B. Jordan delivers an exceptional performance as twin brothers engaged in a bitter struggle against supernatural forces on one hand, and against the deeply entrenched racism of the time on the other.
Complete dominance over categories
The film not only received a Best Picture nomination, but its dominance extended to nearly every technical and artistic category, from its masterful script to its powerful score. Among its most notable nominations was Michael B. Jordan's Best Actor nomination for his complex and nuanced performance. The film also made its mark in a newly introduced category, "Best Casting," the first such category added by the Academy in over twenty years, reflecting the exceptional casting and chemistry of this monumental production.
Competition and the reality of production companies
In the competition, "One Battle After Another" came in second with 13 nominations, including one for Leonardo DiCaprio in the Best Actor category. Interestingly, both leading films are Warner Bros. productions, demonstrating the studio's continued artistic prowess despite its current administrative and financial struggles, as Netflix and Paramount vie for control of the venerable film industry.
In the rest of the list, “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” and “Sentimental Value” each received nine nominations, while “Hamnet” received eight, foreshadowing a heated awards season and fierce competition at the upcoming ceremony.
