The Oscars are just around the corner. The red carpet is already being rolled out at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and everything is ready for the most important gala in the film industry to begin. It is one of the final events of awards season and the most important one, ahead of the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ ceremony in Hollywood is the pinnacle of the film world. The 95th edition of the Oscars will take place on March 12. As with the rest of the galas, there will be no shortage of Hispanic nominees:
'Argentina, 1985'
The Hispanic film directed by Santiago Mitre and starring Ricardo Darín is one of the favorites to win in the Best Foreign Film category. It is rivaled only by the German All Quiet on the Western Front, which was one of the most awarded films at the BAFTAs. However, both have won several awards this season, and it is clear that the winner will be one of these two, despite the fact that the Bulgarian Close, the Polish EO or the Irish The Quiet Girl are also nominated.
Argentina, 1985 is a historical drama jointly produced by Argentina and the United States. The film, available on Amazon Prime Video follows the work of prosecutor Julio César Strassera and his team in the Trial of the Juntas, a case in which a civilian court tried the military commanders responsible for leading the Argentinian dictatorship between 1976 and 1983.
Ana de Armas
The Cuban-Spanish actress received her first Best Actress nomination at the Oscars for her role as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Although critics were very harsh on the Netflix biopic (in fact, the film is the clear favorite in the Razzies), no one doubts that Ana de Armas proved her worth by stepping into the 50s star's shoes.
The actress, who became known in the Spanish fiction series El Internado, has spent half of her life dedicated to acting. However, she explains in Vanity Fair, playing Marilyn made her think seriously about the lights and shadows of her profession.
The sad part for me—and the most challenging—is to see not only what happened in the ’40s and ’50s and ’60s but to see patterns continue to happen. It’s definitely made me more protective of myself and set boundaries and know my limits for how much I’m willing to give—and how much I want to keep to myself. But at the same time, it clearly is a place where incredible opportunities happen. I’m very grateful to be working in the industry.
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro, who has had much success during awards season, is the big favorite to take home an Oscar for his film Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. He received a nomination for Best Animated Film for his remake of the popular children's story by Carlo Collodi now available on Netflix.
He will be joined at the ceremony by his two fellow countrymen, Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro G. Iñarritu. The three are known as "The Three Amigos," and it will be the first time in years that these three big names will all be nominated for Oscars. If del Toro wins the Oscar, this new take on an old tale would garner the same accolades as two of his other critically acclaimed films, Pan's Labyrinth and Cronos.
'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek voice Puss in Boots and Kitty Soft Paws, respectively, in the second film of the Puss in Boots franchise and the sixth installment of the Shrek universe. Like Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio, this film is also nominated for Best Animated Film.
In the newest chapter of his tale, Puss in Boots faces a great mission. He discovers that his passion for adventure caused him to lose eight of his nine lives. To avoid losing his final life, he embarks on an epic journey to find the Last Wish and restore his nine lives.
Dreamworks' latest production on the big screen earned more than 421 million dollars at the worldwide box office in the week of Feb. 21, per Collider. According to one of its directors, Joel Crawford, the film's success could lead to the return of both Puss in Boots and Shrek in the near future. However, the director spoke carefully and, as he said in a statement reported by ScreenRant, he cannot yet confirm anything:
I don’t know what’s going on with anything after this, but it was all this hopeful thing of we love these characters. We believe in this story that we’re telling and we hope that audiences will engage with it and demand more stories, both with the Puss and Boots side and also with Shrek. I feel like I can say based on the world’s reception of it, that it does feel like they’ve said ‘Yes, we want more,’ which I’m so happy about. But honestly, I hope to keep getting to tell stories with all of these characters.
Alfonso Cuarón
The second of the Three Amigos, Alfonso Cuadrón, is nominated for the Oscar for Best Short Film for Le Pupille. Cuarón produced this 37-minute drama available on Disney Plus that tells the story of a group of rebellious girls living in a Catholic boarding school before Christmas in the 1940s while Italy was suffering the consequences of the Second World War. It was written and directed by Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher.
Le Pupille is based on a letter sent in 1971 by Italian writer Elsa Morante to her friend, journalist, activist and critic Goffredo Fofi, who is still alive and who wrote a book dedicated to her, Cara Elsa. With the short film, Cuarón could win the sixth Oscar of his career. He has already taken home trophies for Roma, which won three Oscars, and Gravity, which won two.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
With Guillermo del Toro's and Alfonso Cuarón's nominations at the 95th edition of the Oscars, it was only fitting that the last member of the Three Amigos got one too. Alejandro G. Iñárritu could win his sixth Oscar for Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, which is up for Best Cinematography, one of the most prestigious technical categories at the ceremony.
The feature film, available on Netflix, tells the story of a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker who returns to his country. During his journey, he goes through an existential crisis and must confront his identity, his family relationships and even the madness of his own memories.
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths is, by the director, screenwriter and producer's own admission in an interview with Independent, the most difficult film he has made: "This demanded more of me than any other film. It is the personal geography of my existence." For this reason, perhaps, it was also the most complicated project to sell, as he explained in the same interview: "People were afraid. This is not a conventional film. It's a personal film; it's in Spanish; it had no big global stars; I didn't want anyone to read the script."
Nevertheless, he fought to make it and, for that reason, winning the Oscar for Best Cinematography would be a great recognition for his work. The same is true for any of the Hispanic nominees who could soon proudly add the most renowned award in film to their trophy cabinets.
