The cast of‘Sinners,’ led by Michael J. Fox, had its big moment Monday at the traditional Oscar nominees luncheon, arriving as the film with the most nominations at the 98th Oscars.
Fox, nominated for best actor; Ryan Coogler, for best director; and Wunmi Mosaku, for best actress, were among the most applauded as they were called to the stage for the traditional pre-gala generation photo, to be held March 15 in Los Angeles.
Although Guillermo del Toro was one of the last to be announced, he was also one of those who generated the most effusive reactions, in a list that included veterans of these awards such as Steven Spielberg (‘Hamnet’), Emma Stone (‘Bugonia’) or Leonardo DiCaprio (‘One Battle After Another’).
Shouting “¡Tamales!”, the Mexican director nominated for ‘Frankenstein’ in the Best Picture category broke the solemnity of the moment and just before the photograph was taken, he unleashed laughter among the more than 200 aspirants competing this year for the coveted golden statuette.
Minutes before, Guillermo Del Toro shared with EFE that he was satisfied with the nominations obtained by his film. “You don’t always have nine nominations,” he said, and assured that he faces the season with peace of mind because his expectations are not personal.
“I know I’m not going to win, but I think my team will,” said director Guillermo del Toro, who joked that he has spent this awards season “en chinga” (very quickly), to the point that he hasn’t even had time to wash his suit.
The Mexican was at the center of the photo and behind him Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson (‘One Battle After Another’), two tough contenders in the best director category and responsible for two of the most popular films of this edition.
“We’re all winners… until it’s the Oscars and we’re not all winners,” Diane Warren, who has 17 nominations for the awards and is currently competing for best original song, told EFE about the festive atmosphere in a ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Jessie Buckley, a favorite in the Best Actress category for ‘Hamnet’, and Amy Mulligan, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Weapons’, staged an effusive reunion between the tables and, amid laughter and hugs, shouted, “I love my job!”.
For his part, Spanish director Oliver Laxe, nominated for ‘Sirat’ in the category of best international film, did not stop talking with celebrities such as Timotheé Chalamet (‘Marty Supreme’) or Jacob Elordi (‘Frankenstein’), with whom he took several pictures and with whom he shares a similar stature.
Elordi commented that he felt “very relaxed” during the chaotic meeting, while Chalamet told EFE he was “very happy to attend for the first time” the event, since, although he was nominated last year, he was unable to participate due to press commitments.
Benicio del Toro, Oscar nominee for best supporting actor for ‘One Battle After Another’, told EFE that he watched the Super Bowl halftime show starring fellow Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and that “his hair stood on end” with his performance, as well as stressing that, as a Puerto Rican, he represents his country every day.
Brazilian director Kleber de Mendonça Filho, nominated for ‘O Agente Secreto,’ described the atmosphere as “full of energy like a power plant,” and told EFE that he was excited to meet Spielberg.
While Wagner Moura, the first Brazilian to be nominated for best actor, told EFE that he was “very excited to represent Brazil”.
The president of the Hollywood Academy, Lynette Howell Taylor, offered the nominees some tips and rules to follow during the gala, such as preparing an authentic speech, avoiding the use of cell phones on stage and, above all, not exceeding the 45 seconds allotted for the acknowledgements.
The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Sinners’ is the most nominated film in the history of the awards with 16 nominations, reported Agencia EFE, followed by ‘One Battle After Another’, which is up for 13 awards.
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