Oscar nominations: Five key takeaways

Nominations for the 94th Oscars were unveiled Tuesday, and ‘The Power of the Dog’ led the pack with a dozen nods.

Here are five key takeaways from the announcement, ahead of the Academy Awards gala on March 27: 

Couple of couples

This year’s nominations feature two couples: Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz scored nods in the best actor and actress categories, respectively, for ‘Being the Ricardos’ and ‘Parallel Mothers.’ It is the fourth nomination for each, and both have won once.

Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons earned supporting nods, playing a couple in moody Western ‘The Power of the Dog.’ It is the first nomination for both actors.

Directing history

Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg made Oscars history again Tuesday, with a best picture nod for ‘West Side Story’ making him the first producer to earn a staggering 11 such nominations. 

He also bagged an eighth best director nod, placing him alongside the great Billy Wilder, and behind only William Wyler (12) and Martin Scorsese (nine).

Jane Campion became the first woman to receive two best director nominations, 28 years after ‘The Piano.’ 

And multi-hyphenate Kenneth Branagh is the first person to be nominated in seven different categories, earning his first original screenplay and best picture nods.

EGOT for Lin-Manuel? 

The nominees for best original song are a who’s who of music, and each storyline is compelling. 

With his second Oscar nomination for the Spanish-language song ‘Dos Oruguitas’ from Disney’s ‘Encanto,’ Lin-Manuel Miranda has another shot at the coveted EGOT status -- completing the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony cycle. 

But he faces stiff competition. 

Pop megastars Beyonce (‘King Richard’) and Billie Eilish (‘No Time to Die’) are also in the running with their first nominations, as is veteran rocker Van Morrison (‘Belfast’).

And rounding out the category is hitmaker Diane Warren with the song ‘Somehow You Do’ from the film ‘Four Good Days’ -- it is Warren’s 13th nomination, but she has never won. 

Three for ‘Flee’

Denmark’s ‘Flee,’ an award-winning film about a gay Afghan refugee undertaking the perilous journey to Europe, made Oscars history with an unprecedented trilogy of nominations.

In addition to best international feature, the hybrid film was recognized in the animation and documentary categories.

The movie uses simple cartoons and sketches, veering from the sinister to the playful, to tell the real-life story of Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s childhood friend .

Gaga ‘snub’

A major leading actress was always going to miss out on an Oscar nomination on Tuesday The pop star-turned-actress famously immersed herself in the ‘House of Gucci’ role but missed a Oscar nomination.