If last year’s all-white acting nominations led to the protest hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, this year’s all-white lineup might trigger similar outrage, #OscarsStillSoWhite.
Photo: Will Smith, potential Best Actor, in Concussion
Once again, the Acting branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) did not nominate any black actors to any of the 20 slots in the four acting categories: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Straight Outta Compton
The lack of diversity is also manifest among the top categories. Straight Outta Compton, the drama about the rise of the rap group N.W.A, got an original screenwriting nomination, but failed to earn a best picture nomination, even though the critically acclaimed movie has been recognized by other groups like SAG-AFTRA, which nominated its cast for a best ensemble award.
When it comes to voting for its annual awards, the Academy is at the mercy of the industry itself and whatever films are produced and released in a given year.
Samuel Jackson in The Hateful Eight
Other minority performers, who were perceived as potential contenders, include the Puerto Rico-born Benicio Del Toro, a Supporting Actor winner for the 2000 Traffic. Earlier, Del Toro was considered to be a possible Supporting Actor nominee for his performance as a CIA operative with a private agenda in Sicario, a critically acclaimed film that failed to get a Best Picture nod.
Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
Transgender Actors
As expected, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, the transgender actresses were were nominated for Spirit Awards for Tangerine, were also overlooked.
Idris Elba
Idris Elba was nominated by BAFTA, SAG-AFTRA and the Golden Globes for his performance as an African warlord in Beasts, and Del Toro was nominated by BAFTA for Sicario.
The Academy’s Actors branch, the largest in the organization, had opportunities to recognize actors of color, but again failed to take them.