Surprises Could Include Barbie, Saltburn & More

Put your pencils down, and pass your ballots to the front. The nominations voting period for the 96th Academy Awards is now closed. The latest influences on the race came from the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, where Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” topped both groups. However, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” has shown considerable strength, and films such as Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” and Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” are picking up momentum.

Variety spoke with dozens of voters from all of the Academy’s branches, asking what films and performances were resonating with members and their acquaintances.

Here are six things I’ve learned from discussions with AMPAS members.

AMPAS could see a record-breaking showing in best picture for female directors.

The Producers Guild of America nominated three movies directed by women: “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie” and “Past Lives.” If the three translate to the Oscars‘ Best Picture lineup, it will be the most films directed by women to be nominated. Only 19 movies helmed by female filmmakers have been recognized by the Academy. Of those, only four Oscar lineups have included two female-directed movies — 2009 (“An Education” and winner “The Hurt Locker”), 2010 (“The Kids Are All Right” and “Winter’s Bone”), 2020 (“Promising Young Woman” and winner “Nomadland”) and 2021 (“The…