Joaquin Phoenix, Florence Pugh, And Barack Obama React To Their 2020 Oscar Nominations

It's that time again. As award season starts drawing to a close with the announcement of the 2020 Academy Award nominations, the stars are looking toward February's big night with hope in their hearts.


This year, films like Joker, Marriage Story, and The Irishman swept the nominations this year, with actors like Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, and Florence Pugh securing Best Actor, Actress, and Supporting Actress nominations.


Meanwhile, fans were mad by a shut-out for females in The perfect Director category once more, and also a couple of snubs, like no recognition for Jennifer Lopez for her work in Hustlers or Adam Sandler's breakout film Uncut Gems.


Here's how the nominees, hopefuls, and fans reacted to the news.


From Best Picture Nominee, Joker


Todd Phillips, nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay


"Joker started as an idea, an experiment really— could we take a “indie approach” to a studio film by inverting it into a character study to resemble the world around us? Explore what we’re seeing and feeling in society, from the lack of empathy to the effects of the absence of love. I am deeply honored by the overwhelming recognition of the Academy this morning, and I want to thank the genius that is Joaquin Phoenix, and all my incredible collaborators. We are in back of humbled that our peers in the filmmaking community have embraced the film and its message."


Joaquin Phoenix, nominated for Best Actor


"I feel honored and humbled to have been nominated by my fellow actors. The Academy’s encouragement helped ignite and preserve my career and I am incredibly grateful for that support. I’d like to also congratulate my fellow nominees for being recognized for their inspiring performances that have enriched our art form."


Hildur Guðnadóttir, nominated for Best Original Score


"I’m truly honored and delighted to be recognized with a Academy Award nomination for my work on Joker. Being invited into this illustrious categorize of talent and getting to take part in telling this story means the world to me. Todd Phillips is a master of his craft and it also was excellent to experience how he trusts and empowers his collaborators so they can deliver their best work possible. We visualize that in the way every element of the film has its space to shine, because he gives each element real weight. The brightest shining these needless to say being Joaquin Phoenix's efficiency, which was simply otherworldly. I’m grateful for having been invited on this journey of a lifetime with them and I congratulate all of my fellow nominees on their nominations."


From Best Picture nominee, Little Women


Saiorse Ronan, nominated for Best Actress


"!!! I’m just so thrilled that our Little Women has been recognized by the Academy. Greta made something so special that I’m just thankful to have been a segment of, let alone nominated for. Thank you to my academy peers for loving and appreciating this film that is so close to my heart."


Florence Pugh, nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role


Amy Pascal, Producer


"We are profoundly overwhelmed and honored to have procured all these nominations from the Academy, and to have made history by being only the third movie ever to be nominated for Best Picture that's written, directed and produced exclusively by girls. This film is a testament to the brilliance of Greta Gerwig. She is the most perfect creative talent working in our industry today, and we are thrilled that she and our pretty film have been recognized."


From Best Original Song and Best Actress nominee, Harriet


Cynthia Erivo, nominated for Best Actress, Best Original Song


"To receive two Oscar nominations for a film paying tribute to Harriet Tubman, a person whose heart and spirit are the embodiment of courage, makes this morning’s news in back of anything I could have ever believed. This is more than a dream come true. If I got the possibility to play this incredible woman, I felt truly honored that Kasi and our producers saw fit to have me play the part; being asked to co-write and perform the song in the film was the icing on an already fantastic cake. I continue to feel overwhelmed with gratitude today to the Academy for recognizing my efficiency and our song ‘Stand Up.’"


From Best Picture nominee, 1917


Sam Mendes, nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay


"I couldn’t be more thrilled. This movie was a labour of love for several people – myself included – so to be able to see it recognized in this way is very moving for all of us. I would like to thank the Academy on behalf of my fellow producers, and on behalf of almost every person who put their heart and soul into this film. Thank you."


From Best Original Screenplay nominee, Knives Out


Rian Johnson, nominated for Best Original Screenplay


"In per year with so much good writing, I'm honored and thrilled to be on that list with people I admire and respect. Love and gratitude to my fellow writers in the Academy!"


Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Drysdale


From Best Documentary Feature nominee, American Factory 


Directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, nominated for Best Documentary Feature


"Trusting someone to tell your story is no small thing. We were trusted by excellent people who work at a factory in our strong and scrappy hometown, Dayton, Ohio, and by Fuyao’s maverick Chairman, Cao DeWang, to tell the story of American Factory 美国工厂. We are profoundly grateful that this movie has resonated with the Academy. We, and our small although mighty team, are over the moon at today’s news. We’re deeply grateful to the astonishing people at Participant Media, Higher Ground Productions and Netflix for elevating the stories of working class people. The fate of working people around the globe is under excellent pressure and duress, and we hopeAmerican Factory can give voice to their journey."


Barack Obama, Producer 


 


Meanwhile, Adam Sandler responded to his own shut-out from the Oscars, lamenting he got "no love from the Academy" however congratulated friend Kathy Bates on her nomination.


Fans also took to social media to voice their in general displeasure a lack of females directors, Jennifer Lopez's nominations, along with an assortment of oversights.


It's going to be an interesting cap to awards season, that's for sure.