Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, Oscar nominees in the categories of best actor and actress in a leading role
The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has nominated on Tuesday in the categories of best actor and actress in a leading role the Spanish Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz for their respective roles in 'Being the Ricardos' and 'Parallel Mothers'. A nomination that makes them the fourth couple to win in the same year. While the composer from San Sebastian, Alberto Iglesias, has made it into the Oscar nominations for the fourth time.
Bardem and Cruz have also added their fourth Oscar nomination. The actor won his first and only Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with 'No Country for Old Men' in 2007, and came close to winning it again with his roles in 'Before Night Falls' and 'Biutiful'. While the actress from Madrid did the same with 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' in 2009, directed by Woody Allen, and fell just short with 'Volver' and 'Nine'.
The good news for Spanish cinema has not ended there. Director Alberto Mielgo and producer Leo Sánchez will compete for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for 'El limpiaparabrisas', co-produced by Spain and the United States. However, the negative note of the day was that of 'El buen patrón'. Fernando León de Aranoa's film, chosen by the Academy to represent Spain, did not make the cut after being among the 15 candidates for Best Foreign Film.
Pedro Almodóvar also missed out on a place among the nominees for best director. Instead, Jane Campion for 'The Power of the Dog', Ryūsuke Hamaguchi for 'Drive My Car', Kenneth Branagh for 'Belfast', Paul Thomas Anderson for 'Licorice Pizza' and Steven Spielberg for the adaptation of 'West Side Story' will fight for the award. With this seventh nomination, Spielberg also becomes the most decorated director in the history of the Oscars.
The Spanish pair will be up against a cast of actors and actresses to beat. Bardem will compete in his category with Benedict Cumberbatch for 'The Power of the Dog', Andrew Garfield for 'Tick, Tick... Boom!' and legends Will Smith for 'King Richard' and Denzel Washington for 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'. While Cruz will be up against Jessica Chastain for 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye', Olivia Colman for 'The Lost Daughter', Nicole Kidman for 'Being the Ricardos' and Kristen Stewart for 'Spencer'.
Jane Campion's 'The Power of the Dog' leads the list with 12 nominations, followed closely by 'Dune'. Denis Villeneuve's film has amassed another 10 nominations. Behind it are 'Belfast' and 'West Side Story' with seven nominations, while 'King Richard' closes the list with six. These will compete for the Oscar for best film with other films such as 'Don't Look Up' and 'Drive My Car'.
The latter will follow in the footsteps of 'Parasites', another Japanese film that won the Oscar for best feature film in 2020, as it will compete in the categories of best film and best international film.
Although it will not be until 27 March when the results will be known. On that Sunday, the 94th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in an atypical gala in which the Academy aims to leave behind the sensations of the last few years, marked by the pandemic. A day in which Spanish cinema could make history.