Oscar nominations: The five biggest snubs

AS USUAL, it’s the names that weren’t called out that have tongues wagging. Here are the five most glaring Oscar snubs of the year.

NOMINATIONS for the 88th annual Academy Awards have been announced and many of the names called out were foregone conclusions.

Spotlight for Best Picture, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant for Best Actor, and Cate Blanchett in Carol for Best Actress.

But as usual, it’s some of the names that weren’t called out that really have Tinseltown tongues wagging.

Here are the five most glaring and inglorious Oscar snubs of the year.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens:

The newest (and highly anticipated) chapter in the long-running saga received stellar reviews and is breaking box office records. With the expanded Best Picture field now including up to ten nominees, The Force Awakens looked like a real contender. Alas, the highbrow Academy overlooked it for both Best Picture and Best Director for J.J. Abrams. Star Wars did manage to snag five nods in various technical categories, including John Williams for his dazzling score. When it comes to fighting the Dark Side, The Force Awakens seems to have lost with the Academy.

Daisy Ridley, right, as Rey, and BB-8, in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

2. Ridley Scott:

He led The Martian to an impressive seven nominations, including Matt Damon for Best Actor. But the acclaimed, veteran director failed to reap a bit himself — his slot likely taken by dark horse Lenny Abrahamson for the independent drama Room. It’s somewhat surprising that the Academy didn’t make room for Scott. He previously competed for noteworthy films like Thelma and Louise, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. At 78 years of age, many considered this to be his last chance to finally take the prize. Oscar or no Oscar, Scott is still regarded as one of the finest directors on the planet — and the entire universe.

On location in Jordan, director Ridley Scott reviews a scene with Matt Damon for The Martian.

3. Will Smith:

The one-time rap star has been a box office heavyweight for more than two decades, with blockbusters like Independence Day, Men in Black and I Am Legend all under his belt. While he may not be considered a thespian legend, he does have two previous Academy Award nominations for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness. His latest release, Concussion, earned him the best reviews of his career for playing the real-life doctor who exposed the brain injury dangers faced by professional football players. Smith was recognised by the Golden Globes and had an aggressive Oscar campaign. But for now, his pursuit of Oscar will have to continue.

Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion.

4. Straight Outta Compton:

The biographical film about the hip hop group N.W.A. was both a commercial and critical success, making a number of year-end top ten lists. With key nominations from both the Producers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, most pundits (including myself) predicted it for a Best Picture nomination. But Compton failed to make the cut, earning just one bid for Best Original Screenplay. Was the subject just a little to unnerving for older members of the Academy? The organisation has long been considered to be out of touch with the movie-going public. Acknowledging Compton in the most prestigious category would have been a good way to set the record straight.

Aldis Hodge, from left, Neil Brown, Jr. Jason Mitchell, O'Shea Jackson, Jr. and Corey Hawkins in Straight Outta Compton.

5. Johnny Depp:

A three-time Oscar also-ran, Hollywood’s favourite pirate seemed to be sailing towards an Academy Awards nomination with a well-received turn in last fall’s Black Mass. As the notorious mob leader Whitey Bulger, Depp was virtually unrecognisable in the starring role. Most observers praised the performance, with many calling it his best work to date. A Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors Guild nominee, the former Jack Sparrow seemed like a logical bet for a Best Actor Oscar nod. But alas, the Academy overlooked the film entirely. A black day indeed for Depp’s masses of fans.

Johnny Depp portrays Whitey Bulger in the Boston-set film, Black Mass.

Full list of Oscar nominations:

Best Motion Picture:

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

Best Actor:

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Matt Damon, The Martian

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Best Actress:

Brie Larson, Room

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years

Best Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Rooney Mara, Carol

Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale, The Big Short

Tom Hardy, The Revenant

Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Director:

Adam McKay, The Big Short

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant

Lenny Abrahamson, Room

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Best Animated Film:

Anomalisa

Boy and the World

Inside Out

Shaun the Sheep Movie

When Marnie Was There

Best Documentary Feature:

Amy

Cartel Land

What Happened, Miss Simone?

The Look of Silence

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

Best Sound Editing:

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Sicario

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Costume Design:

Carol

Cinderella

The Danish Girl

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Revenant

Best Sounds Mixing:

Bridge of Spies

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Original Song:

Earned It

Manta Ray

Simple Song No. 3

Till It Happens to You

Writing’s on the Wall

This article was originally published on Fox News.

Originally published as Oscar nominations: The five biggest snubs