Nominations for the 87th Annual Academy Awards are out and—as is usually the case this time of the year—everybody is rife with frustration and confusion over many well-deserving talents and films being snubbed for contention of the prestigious award. Here are my top Oscar snubs this year.

---

The Lego Movie
Snubbed of: Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Perhaps the biggest upset going by social media. The Lego Movie was one of the front-runners for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year and so widespread among speculation; to see it omitted is an utter travesty. Variety have compiled a list of why they believe it was snubbed, but at least it was recognised by the Golden Globes and at the BAFTAs.

---

Lana Del Rey
Snubbed of: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

There are numerous options for what is a fairly open race for Best Original Song this year, but Lana Del Rey’s ‘Big Eyes’ was—what I and apparently many others believed to be—one of the safer bets. But at least Lana—who has wanted to break into the movie industry for some time—garnered her first Golden Globe nomination. It’s a shame to see her snubbed, but with Young and Beautiful, Once Upon a Dream and now both Big Eyes and Come Fly With Me already under her belt, I’m sure Lana’s time will come.

---

Jake Gyllenhaal
Snubbed of: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Personally, my most shocking snub. Jake Gyllenhaal was a sure bet for Best Actor in a Leading Role, at least until now. Bradley Cooper has arguably taken his place in quite an upset, considering—unlike Gyllenhaal—Cooper wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA or Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance. Perhaps Gyllenhaal will acquire his second nomination for Southpaw next year; the man is a powerhouse of an actor who completely commits himself to his work. A complete farce he wasn’t recognised by the Academy this year.

---

Gone Girl
Snubbed of: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Many speculators considered Gone Girl as one of the front-runners for Best Adapted Screenplay; this snub comes as a huge surprise, especially considering Whiplash is up for the award when it isn’t even an adapted screenplay (it was conceived as an original screenplay and was then made as a short film before the director got funding for the feature-length version — the BAFTAs got it right; they nominated it for Best Original Screenplay). It doesn’t end there, however. Gone Girl has received only a single nomination (Best Actress in a Leading Role — much deserved for Rosamund Pike), but is such a superb piece of film-making that it’s shocking to see it absent from other categories, such as Best Achievement in Directing and Best Original Score. The cinematography was stunning, too. It wouldn’t even be out of place in the Best Picture category.

---

Nightcrawler
Snubbed of: Best Motion Picture of the Year

If Jake Gyllenhaal’s snub wasn’t enough, Nightcrawler is another film with just a single nomination (Best Original Screenplay). Many considered Nightcrawler a fairly certain contender for Best Picture, but it’s sadly absent. At least the film garnered four BAFTA nominations, but to my surprise, the starkly beautiful, dead of the night cinematography has gone by unnoticed on the awards circuit. Was there anyone else who adored the aesthetics of Nightcrawler?

---

Those are my shocking absentees for this year, but it isn’t all bad. I’m glad to see Eddie Redmayne up for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Rosamund Pike up for Best Actress. It’s also nice to see Whiplash nominated for Best Picture and fantastic that Jóhann Jóhannsson looks set to dominate the Best Original Score category. The Academy Awards will take place on February 22nd — I wonder if there will be any more shockers then. Do you have any snubs you’re particularly miffed about? Let me know!