The Shape of Water is the Oscar film to beat

The monster romance The Shape of Water led the Oscar race with 13 nominations Tuesday, including best picture, in a field with few surprises. Oscar voters selected eight other best picture nominees: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Lady Bird; Get Out; Darkest Hour; The Post; Dunkirk; Call Me by Your Name; and Phantom Thread. Greta Gerwig became just the fifth woman nominated for best director for Lady Bird, and Mudbound director of photography Rachel Morrison made history as the first female nominee for best cinematography. The 90th Academy Awards take place March 4, and this year the academy has taken steps to prevent a debacle like last year’s when the wrong winner for best picture was announced. The PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants who handle the envelopes are not allowed to use cellphones or social media during the show. The accounting firm on Monday also unveiled several reforms including the addition of a third balloting partner in the show’s control room.