It’s Oscar season but make it Philly! The Oscar nominations are in and Philadelphia is shining bright. In fact, Philadelphia natives Da’vine Joy Randolph and Colman Domingo each received their very first nomination in very coveted categories. Montgomery County’s own Bradley Cooper is also nominated this year bringing their combined total of nominations to an impressive five.
The 96th Academy Awards will take place March 10 however the full list of nominees were revealed January 23, 2024 and Philly was front and center.
Oscar Nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Mt-Airy native and Temple University graduate Da’Vine Joy Randolph is nominated for best supporting actress for her role in The Holdovers-fresh off of her recent Golden Globe win for the same category.
In The Holdovers, Randolph portrays Mary Lamb. Mary, a cafeteria worker at a New England boarding school, is mourning the loss of her son. Over the Christmas break, Mary strikes up a friendship with a curmudgeonly teacher and mischievous student who are also dealing with personal battles.
The movie shows how we can find togetherness and healing in people and places we’d least expect.
Randolph will compete against Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer), America Ferrera (Barbie), Jodie Foster (Nyad). and Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple),
Oscar Nominee Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo, an overbook native and Temple alum, is nominated in the best actor category for his role in the film Rustin.
In the biopic Rustin, Domingo portrays Bayard Rustin, the often-forgotten but pivotal advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The openly-gay advisory was smart, tenacious, and instrumental to organizing the historical 1963 March On Washington.
Furthermore, the film highlights civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and how often important figures in history can be overshadowed or completely forgotten about.
Interestingly, Domingo is nominated in the same category as Montco’s Bradley Cooper.
He will compete against Cooper, Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) for best actor.
Nominee Bradley Cooper
Next, Cooper scored a best actor nomination for his role in the film Maestro. The film follows the life and career of Leonard Bernstein.
Comparatively, Cooper –who co-wrote, produced, and directed the film– is also nominated for best original screenplay. Although born in Jenkintown, Cooper doesn’t shy away from his love for Philadelphia. An avid Eagles fan, he even recently opened a cheesesteak shop in NYC.
For original screenplay, Cooper and co-writer Josh Singer (of Ambler) will compete with Justine Triet and Arthur Harari (Anatomy of a Fall), David Hemingson (The Holdovers), Celine Song (Past Lives), and Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik (May December).
The Oscars will air March 10, 2024. However, you can see the full list of nominees here.