The awards race just stepped up a gear with the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations.

The Academy's latest shortlists have already sparked discussion thanks to an all-male Best Director line-up (repeating a precedent set by the Golden Globes and the Baftas) and a lack of diversity in many major categories.
Here are some of the biggest omissions and surprises ahead of the biggest night in Hollywood...
Issa Rae said it all when she followed up the all-male Best Director slate with “Congratulations to those men.” Gerwig, who previously received a directing nomination for 2018’s Lady Bird, is just one of the talented women directors who have been locked out of the awards conversation this year (you could replace her name with Lulu Wang, Lorene Scafaria, Marielle Heller, Melina Matsoukas). She has, however, picked up a nod in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.

This was meant to be J. Lo’s year, but despite picking up a slew of critics’ awards (and inspiring fervent social media support) for her turn as stripper Ramona in Hustlers - giving what is surely a career-best performance - the buzz has failed to translate into major nominations, her Golden Globe nod aside. The Supporting Actress statuette is now surely Laura Dern’s for the taking.
