It’s about time, you might say, after 90 years: Rachel Morrison become the first female director of photography to receive an Oscar nomination, for Mudbound.
She had achieved a similar milestone with the American Society of Cinematographers, which nominated “Mudbound” work earlier this month.
“I’m glad that people are recognizing the craft of it and not making decisions based on tokenism; Rachel’s work is on the screen,” “Mudbound” director Dee Rees said. “Go to Sandi Sissel, go to Ellen Kuras, go to Rachel Morrison— women have been making interesting images for a long time.”
Morrison won the New York Film Critics Circle’s cinematography prize in December, and was also nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award.
Mary J. Blige: Double Nominee
“Mudbound” was also nominated for best supporting actress (Mary J. Blige), best adapted screenplay and best original song, making Blige a double nominee.
The other cinematography Oscar nominees were “Blade Runner 2049” (Roger Deakins’ 14th nomination to date, the most among active lensers), “Darkest Hour,” “Dunkirk” and “The Shape of Water.”
Morrison’s work can next be seen in Marvel’s “Black Panther,” hitting theaters in February.