Entertainment

Oscar Nominations Rewarded 'Mad Max' & That's Huge News For Feminism

by Zoe Balaconis

It's hard to imagine a dystopian, comic-book spinoff cleaning up at the Oscars, but this year not only was it possible, it was the theme of the announcement. In a surprise move, the Academy awarded Mad Max: Fury Road with 10 Oscar nominations. And guys? That's huge, huge news for feminism! Given the desert mayhem and visual stunts of the film it makes sense that it would be awarded in more technical categories, like Best Visual Effects, but it was also awarded for larger categories, like Best Picture.

Here is the full list of Mad Max's nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (George Miller), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. It's a huge honor for a film that's anchored in feminism and has a kickass woman at its core.

It may be worth noting that even though Tom Hardy was not nominated for acting in Mad Max, he did receive a nomination for The Revenant. It's a bummer his acting chops weren't honored by the Academy, but he's having a good year, and odds are, come the awards ceremony, he's going to have a very good night.

Speaking of odds, compared to the other nominees, Mad Max has a great chance in the sound and visual categories, but does it stand a chance to win Best Picture? It's tough to say, but just being nominated is an honor to a "genre" film that is very much outside of the Oscar's normal tastes.

Mad Max's Oscars accolades also help give weight to the idea that the Academy might be changing its tune when it comes to its nominee pool. Last year's #OscarsSoWhite hashtag was proof that the Academy is in desperate need of a huge overall in representation — lacking sorely in bringing visibility to a diverse field of actors and actresses who's work in documentaries and films alike is often ignored. But Mad Max's is also about a woman, and having such a phenomenal actress like Charlize Theron at its epicenter is an important distinction for women in film too.

Here's hoping they clean up at the show.

Image: Warner Bros.