Oscar Nominations 2021: 7 Ups & 8 Downs
5. Snub: Mank (Best Original Screenplay & Best Film Editing)
Despite leading the pack with 10 nominations, Mank failed to net two key nominations which are often heavy indicators of a film's major awards success: screenplay and editing.
David Fincher's late father Jack was a hot bet to receive a posthumous Best Original Screenplay nod for the film, while veteran cutter Kirk Baxter was widely tipped to score his expected third Best Film Editing nod
In terms of screenplay, it was edged out by the late-day momentum of Judas and the Black Messiah, and editing was pipped by Frédéric Thoraval's work on Promising Young Woman.
Though Mank's genuine Best Picture hopes evaporated a while ago, and it'll ultimately be lucky to go home with a couple of awards, the film's sharp writing and exacting editing are key components of why it works so well. An odd omission, then, especially for a film about writing and filmmaking itself.