The nominations for the 90th Academy awards have been announced, and as ever there are some surprises and snubs. Overall this year seems to have a more balanced selection, with a woman actually nominated in the Best Director category (Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird – the first female nominee since Kathryn Bigelow in 2010), and not all the acting nominations are going to white actors.
There were still some notable omissions in a range of categories, of course. Here are the biggest snubs of 2018's Oscar nominations (in our humble opinion)…
1. Best Director – Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Despite winning the Golden Globe for Best Drama, receiving seven nominations in total, Three Billboards director Martin McDonagh didn't get a nomination for Best Director. As one of the front runners to take the big Best Picture award, this might have set the movie's chances back some.
However, it's not unheard of for a film to win Best Picture while its director isn't nommed – it happened with Argo back in 2013.
2. Best Animation – Lego Batman
The Academy doesn't like Lego movies, it seems. The original Lego Movie was left out of the Best Animation category back in 2015 and now Lego Batman has failed to make the cut too. Even though Boss Baby and Ferdinand are in there.
3. James Franco
After taking the Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy or musical for his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau in The Disaster Artist, Franco didn't make the cut at all in the Oscar noms. This could be related to allegations of sexual misconduct, which he's denied.
4. Wonder Woman
Superhero movies aren't exactly Oscar-bait in any given year but the love for Wonder Woman meant many were expecting it to at least be acknowledged in the line-up. Instead it was totally ignored. No best picture nom, nothing for Patty Jenkins and not even a technical category to make do with. Sorry, Wonder Woman.
5. Best Actress – Jessica Chastain
It might just be us, but we were convinced Chastain was a shoo-in for a Best Actress nod for her role as real life 'poker princess' Molly Bloom in Molly's Game. It's a terrific performance and she's a well-loved actress. But instead Meryl Streep got her 21st nomination for The Post, and Molly's Game is ignored in every category but Best Adapted Screenplay.
6. Battle of the Sexes
Not a mention anywhere. Okay, this is a slightly lightweight comedy but given it's about gender pay disparity, and how well liked last year's Best Actress winner Emma Stone and her co-star Steve Carell are, we thought it might get a bit of love in there somewhere.
7. mother!
Not only did mother! get entirely ignored (we'd thought it might get something like production design at least), but it's been nominated for a bunch of Razzies. Poor old Darren Aronofsky!
8. Spielberg and Hanks
The Post is so Oscar-baity it's almost slightly cynical, pairing Streep and Hanks with Steven Spielberg and telling a true-life historical take of victory over corrupt politicians and the freedom of the press. Streep got her obligatory nomination, and the movie made the Best Picture list, but Hanks and Spielberg missed out on a mention.
9. Best Supporting Actor – Armie Hammer
Timothée Chalamet got a Best Actor nomination for his role in the sensual and sensitive Call Me By Your Name, but Hammer didn't make the cut for Best Supporting Ator despite appearing in various other awards lists. Both Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell got a support nomination for Three Billboards, but Hammer was nowhere to be seen.
