In some years, Oscar nominations are an occasion to celebrate our most famous accomplishments. Consider Matthew McConaughey’s Dallas Buyers Club and Renee Zellweger’s Judy nominations—both possible wins—or even a Best Picture nomination for Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. Heck, last year we had nominations for humble locals Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons for their work on Dog Power.
The 2023 Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning. This year, you need to look closely to find connections with Austin. But honestly, it’s not that close! Here are 10 local connections, anyway. The 95th Academy Awards will air on March 12 at KVUE.
1. “Everything and everywhere at once”
The indie sci-fi success story has gone from a fan favorite of 2022 to an awards season darling culminating in 11 nominations. Possible Oscars include Best Picture, Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Ke Hui Quan, Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis or Stephanie Hsu, and Best Director for Daniels (aka Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert).
“Everything, Everywhere” had its world premiere on March 11 at the Paramount Theater in downtown Austin during South by Southwest. Yeoh, Kuan, Hsu, Curtis, Kwan and Scheinert walked the red carpet and talked to the American statesman.
“There were many sides of me in this film that I didn’t know about,” Yeoh said on the red carpet. “But it was a good challenge. I’ve been in this business for over 30 years and I love the fact that I’m still learning, I’m forced to learn, I’m challenged endlessly. which.”
Curtis spoke out in defense of transgender Texans facing Governor Greg Abbott’s discriminatory policies: “I will do everything in my power, along with millions of others, to support and defend the rights of these trans youth.”
We also asked Kwan what his starter Pokemon was as he was wearing a Pokemon T-shirt. Answer: Squirtle.
Review by Eric Webb:In Everything and Everywhere at Once, Michelle Yeoh fights for his life at SXSW.
2. “Elvis”
Baz Luhrmann’s fantasy biopic about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll received several nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Austin Butler. But that doesn’t count as a connection to Austin.
Is this a real local connection? Austin native and blues superstar Gary Clark Jr. has a brief but pivotal role on Elvis as Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, a Mississippi blues musician who was one of Elvis Presley’s musical inspirations.
Review by Eric Webb:From Austin Butler’s high end to Tom Hanks’ Tupelo, “Elvis” mostly lands with grace.
3. Top Gun: Maverick
The big-budget blockbuster that took Tom Cruise back to the skies after his iconic role in 1980s Top Gun received some academy recognition, including a Best Picture nomination. We’re thrilled to star Glen Powell, who grew up in Austin, went to Westwood High School and went to the University of Texas before he felt the need for speed as a badass executioner pilot.
“I’m going to take what Tom Cruise taught us and use it in every movie I make for the rest of my life,” Powell told us last year.
Review of Eric Webb’s “Top Gun: Maverick”:High praise for a dangerous clone
4. Banshee of Inisherin
The historical drama/comedy/allegory/kind of fantasy written and directed by Martin McDonagh won Oscars in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (for Colin Farrell), Best Supporting Actor (for Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan). and Best Supporting Actress (for Kerry Condon). The Banshee of Inisherin premiered in the United States during Fantastic Fest on September 24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
5. Triangle of Sorrow
Another Fantastic Fest success story. The black comedy premiered in the US at the Austin Genre Film Festival on September 29 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. It received Ruben Östlund nominations on Tuesday, including Best Film, Director and Original Screenplay.
Celebrity visits and theater reshuffles:Film News A Year in Austin
6. Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro
The Academy loves del Toro, whose The Shape of Water won Best Film and Best Director in 2018. This year, his interpretation of a familiar fairy tale earned him a Best Animated Feature nomination.
What you may not know is that del Toro lived in Austin early in his career when he filmed The Devil’s Backbone in 2001. In 2015, the Austin Film Society inducted him into the Texas Film Hall of Fame as an honorary Texan. (The author was born in Guadalajara, Mexico.)
While living here, del Toro “became an important player in the Austin film community, working with filmmakers here to take their next creative steps,” AFS’s Holly Herrick said in 2015.
7. “Marseille-shell in shoes”
A brilliant adaptation of Dean Fleischer-Camp’s beloved viral clam video was also nominated for Best Animated Feature. Featuring the voices of Jenny Slate and Isabella Rossellini, the film premiered in Texas at SXSW last year. And it’s not for nothing that the Statesman (hello) named it the best film of 2022.
Other works by Eric Webb:These are the 10 favorite films of 2022 according to the Statesman.
8. “To Leslie”
Among the more viral moments of Tuesday’s nominations announcement was Andrea Riseborough’s Best Actress award for the relatively obscure drama To Leslie. Riseborough received a publicity blitz at the end of the game from notables such as Kate Winslet, Amy Adams, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The film was a little less obscure to Austin moviegoers – it had its world premiere at SXSW last year.
9. “Ice Dealers” and “My Year of Members”
The two were nominated for Best Animated Short Film and both screened at SXSW 2022, the Texas premiere of The Ice Dealers and the world premiere of My Members Year.
Review by Eric Webb:Sinister ominous catastrophe “Kita”
10 And A Few More At The Austin Film Festival
Last fall, the City Film Festival of the same name screened several Oscar-nominated films in 2023, including Keith (Best Actor for Brendan Fraser, Best Supporting Actress for Hong Chau and Best Makeup/Hair), Talking Women (Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay by Sarah Polley), After the Sun (Best Actor by Paul Mescal), The Road (Best Supporting Actor by Brian Tyree Henry), Glass Bow: Mystery of Knives (Best Adapted Screenplay by Ryan Johnson) and the live-action short Red Suitcase.
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