The nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards, or Oscars, were recently announced.  The best films and actors will be chosen on February 9 on ABC. 

Hit movie “Joker” led in nominations with eleven, including Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Director, Original Score, Film Editing, and Makeup and Hairstyles.  The other movies battling for the Best Picture title are “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women,” “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” “Marriage Story,” “Parasite” and “1917.” 

There has been controversy over the fact that no women were nominated for Best Director.  There were many notable movies this year that were directed by women who did not get nominated, for example, Greta Gerwig, who directed “Little Women,” a movie nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture.  Other women who failed to receive a nomination for their acclaimed work are Marielle Heller for
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Lulu Wang for “The Farewell,” Melina Matsoukas for “Queen & Slim,” and Lorene Scafaria for “Hustlers.” 

One of the more interesting categories will be Best Supporting Actor where Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci both from  “The Irishman,” and Brad Pitt will contend. 

In other Oscars news, Scarlett Johansson was nominated both for Actress in a Leading Role and Actress in a Supporting Role for her parts in “Marriage Story” and “Jojo Rabbit,” a rare feat.  Following in suit of last year, there will be no host for the Academy Awards this year.