LOS ANGELES: Netflix movie Roma and British historical romp The Favourite from Fox Searchlight led nominations for the Oscars on Tuesday with 10 nods apiece in a history-making best picture lineup. They will compete for the top prize of best picture with musical romance A Star is Born, superhero movie Black Panther, 1960s segregation-era comedy Green Book, Spike Lee’s racial injustice movie BlacKkKlansman, political satire Vice and rock musical Bohemian Rhapsody. The Oscars, the highest honours in the movie industry, will be handed out in Hollywood on Feb 24.

The best picture nomination for Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical tale Roma was the first for streaming service Netflix Inc. Shot entirely in Spanish and an indigenous Mexican language, it will also compete in the foreign language field. Roma was recognised in every key category, including director, lead actress Yalitza Aparicio as a domestic worker, supporting actress Marina de Tavira, screenplay, and multiple technical fields.

The Favourite, a bawdy comedy set in the court of 18th-century British monarch Queen Anne, had a better than expected day, garnering nods for its British star, Olivia Colman, and supporting actresses Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos was also nominated.

Many of the films nominated this year for the top prize — best picture — proved big box-office hits, including Walt Disney Co superhero movie Black Panther, which won seven nods on Tuesday and became the first superhero movie ever to win a best picture nomination.

A Star is Born, starring best actress contender Lady Gaga in her debut in a major movie, earned eight nods, including for Gaga’s hit song ‘Shallow’.

Bohemian Rhapsody was nominated for five awards, including Rami Malek for his role as late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, and has also proved popular at the box office.

Veteran actress Glenn Close, who has yet to win an Oscar, will compete for the seventh time, this year for her lead role in The Wife. In the lead actor field, Malek and Cooper will take on Christian Bale, who plays former US vice president Dick Cheny in Vice, Willem Dafoe for playing artist Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate, and Viggo Mortensen for Green Book. Green Book, about the friendship between a black pianist and his white driver, also won a nod for supporting actor Mahershala Ali.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2019