Oscars 2019: This year's snubs, shocks, surprises and curiosities

Every list of Oscar nominations throws up its share of snubs, surprises and curiosities, and this year's is no exception.

Here's a rundown of some of the most interesting.

1) Marina who?

Out of Roma's whopping 10 nominations, none is more surprising than Marina de Tavira's inclusion in the best supporting actress category.

While Yalitza Aparicio was widely expected to get a best actress nod for playing the Mexican maid in Alfonso Cuaron's film, few tipped her co-star, who played the mother, to be in the running as well.

It's a sign of just how highly Cuaron's semi-autobiographical portrait of a Mexico City household is regarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

And it puts paid to fears that its members might take against it for its association with Netflix, the subscription giant whose inroads into film have not been universally welcomed.

The three nominations received by the Coen brothers' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, another Netflix title, is a further boost to the streaming company's Hollywood aspirations.

Roma's best picture nomination, meanwhile, marks the first time a Netflix title has been shortlisted for the top prize.

2) Did A Star Is Born direct itself?

The eight nominations received by A Star Is Born include two nods for Bradley Cooper in the best actor and adapted screenplay categories.

Yet Cooper didn't land a best director nomination for his work behind the camera - an omission that does not bode well for his film's chances of winning best picture.

Only two films in Academy Awards history - Driving Miss Daisy and Argo - have won best picture without also getting a nomination in the best director category.

The same logic would seem to hobble Green Book, whose five nominations do not include a best director nod for Peter Farrelly.

Farrelly is nominated as one of Green Book's producers and co-writers, so hardly has reason to feel resentment towards the Academy.

One does wonder, though, if his recent apology for flashing his genitals might have lost him the votes he needed to get his solo efforts recognised.

The real winner here? Cold War's Pawel Pawlikowski, who is no doubt as stunned as anyone by his best director nomination.

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