Oscars 2021 Nominations: Biggest Surprises And The Worst Snubs

One Night in Miami is perhaps the most obvious example this year of a direct 'stage to screen' adaptation. In a year rife with plays being adapted into screenplays (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and The Father), this one struggles to escape its 'stagey' roots as the characters noticeably stay confined within one room.

While this at time feels like we are just watching the play itself, albeit within an actual motel room, it is to the credit of director Regina King that the performances are outstanding. It is peculiar that King herself was side-lined (along with Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7) when it came to Best Director despite getting four amazing performances out of her actors, including the Oscar-nominated Leslie Odom Jr..

In the case of Aaron Sorkin's lack of Best Director nomination, it does make sense as despite his competency as a director he is ultimately a much better writer and received a nod for Best Original Screenplay. However, King's snub for directing does feel like a mistake especially given Thomas Vinterberg's surprise addition to the list of Best Directors, who arguably failed to get as many good performances out of his actors as King did.