The Oscars have been highly predictable in recent years, but the most unusual year in film history couldn't do without surprises.

Most of the nominees for this year's Oscars were predictable, but there was room for a few surprises.

Best Visual Effects — 'Love and Monsters'

A modest but quite solid film by Michael Matthews is definitely not the kind of work you expect to see among the nominees for such a snobbish award as the Oscars. Nevertheless, the original monster design and quality work with special effects truly deserve attention. So let's be happy for the film and recommend watching it if you haven't already.

Best Original Song — 'Húsavík' ('Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga')

about the most politicized competition received a nomination for the most politicized award. A paradox, if you will.

Roman Kovalev

Review of the film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'

Russian lion, Icelandic elves, and other musical revelations in the film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.

Open material

Best Visual Effects — 'Mulan'

And again special effects, but this time the surprise is a negative one. Only the lazy didn't criticize 'Mulan' for its poor visuals, shoddy graphics, disregard for the laws of physics and common sense. But the Academy members aren't lazy, so they still nominated Disney's work. God be their judge, as they say.

Best Supporting Actress — Maria Bakalova ('Borat Subsequent Moviefilm')

Winning at the Golden Globes is only half the battle. Comedies usually don't make it to the main American award, but exceptions do happen. It's funny that neither the film itself nor the lead actor Sacha Baron Cohen are among the nominees.

Best Director — Thomas Vinterberg ('Another Round')

Last year, the trend of nominating only American filmmakers in the directing category was broken. Recall that the winner then was Korean Bong Joon-ho with the Korean film 'Parasite'. This year, Dane Thomas Vinterberg will unexpectedly contend for the statuette. He won't get the trophy, of course, but the very fact of the nomination is a pleasant surprise.

And which nominee did you not expect to see on the final lists?