Oscar Nominations 2024: 8 Ups & 9 Downs

Ups...

8. First Best Actor Nominations For Paul Giamatti, Cillian Murphy, Colman Domingo & Jeffrey Wright

On the balance of things, the single most satisfying group of nominees this year was Best Actor, where we saw Paul Giamatti, Cillian Murphy, Colman Domingo, and Jeffrey Wright all receive their first-ever nominations in this category.

It felt like an especially just outcome for Giamatti, who bafflingly missed out on a nomination for Sideways 20 years ago, and has had to be content with a single Best Supporting Actor nod for Cinderella Man ever since.

Meanwhile, Murphy, Domingo, and Wright are all much-loved actors more typically known for their supporting performances, and so to see them all receive their first acting Oscar nominations in any category is hugely satisfying.

While the Oscar is basically Murphy's to lose, it wouldn't be that shocking to see Giamatti pip him to the post, given the huge respect Giamatti commands in the industry and how overdue an Oscar he so blatantly is.