Summary

They Cloned Tyrone should have been recognized at the Oscars. It’s a brilliant story with entertaining chemistry and witty dialogue written by Juel Taylor. Francine Jamison-Tanchuck’s costume design for the film was masterful but was snubbed by the Academy. Saira Haider’s editing in They Cloned Tyrone was precise and impactful, deserving of an Oscar nomination.

On the morning of Jan. 23, 2024, nominees were announced for the 96th Academy Awards. Critical darlings like Oppenheimer, Poor Things, and Killers of the Flower Moon were nominated in numerous categories, with all three of those films receiving more than ten nods in total. While these are well deserved, everyone and their mother could’ve predicted this success.

However, after the nominees were announced, film fans were up in arms against the Academy for snubbing several worthy contenders. From Barry Keoghan and Rosamund Pike in Saltburn to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie for Barbie, numerous notable names in Hollywood were seemingly robbed of Oscar nominations at the 96th ceremony. But if there’s one movie from 2023 that should have been recognized and wasn’t, it’s They Cloned Tyrone by the talented Juel Taylor.

A creative premise, the film follows a trio of characters — played by John Boyega, Teyonah Paris, and Jamie Foxx — as they explore the hidden depths of their neighborhood. From there, unexpected twists unfold: the three unravel a government conspiracy that revolves around human cloning. It’s an entertaining plot, with wit embedded in every page of the impressive original screenplay.

Best Original Screenplay
Juel Taylor

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The script for They Cloned Tyrone was penned by Juel Taylor, the aforementioned director, alongside Tony Rettenmaier, his writing partner. The two adhered to a strict story structure while running a gamut of emotions. A science-fiction mystery thriller, They Cloned Tyrone features comedic undertones around every corner of its plot, creating a motley tone that resonated with audiences around the world.

While providing nuanced performances that define their respective characters, the three lead actors share entertaining chemistry. The film’s humor can frequently be traced to their contributions. But really, Juel and Tony stole the comedic show, penning hilarious lines of dialogue that move along at a rapid pace. Their story also features keen thematic resonance, partly inspired by the devastating events of the real-life Syphilis Study that went down in Tuskegee, Alabama.

The nominations for Best Screenplay are admirable picks, particularly, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari for Anatomy of a Fall, David Hemingson for The Holdovers, and Celine Song for Past Lives. But Juel and Tony crafted a brilliant story that focuses on an array of eclectic characters: Fontaine, Yo-Yo, and Slick — played by Boyega, Paris, and Fox, respectively. While the screenwriters are responsible for their creation, the characters were memorably brought to life through various means of production.

Best Costume Design
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

Though you aren’t likely to recognize her name, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck has put in great work as a costume designer since debuting with Glory (1989), a war film by Edward Zwick. More recently, she’s labored on films such as Just Mercy (2019) and One Night in Miami (2020), and in 2023, Jamison-Tanchuck also designed the costumes for The Color Purple. That’s quite a diverse collection of well-known movies, and even then, They Cloned Tyrone is arguably her masterpiece.

These characters are instantly recognizable thanks to their distinct dialects and colorful personalities. But they also wear eye-popping attire, flashy jackets with signature colors that speak to their personas and social statuses. Inspired by 1970s blaxploitation films, Jamison-Tanchuck dons these figures in leopard fur coats and three-piece lavender suits. She put great thought into the clothes of each character, yet somehow, she was snubbed at the Academy Awards.

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Without a doubt, both Jacqueline Durran and Holly Waddington deserved nominations for their work on Barbie and Poor Things, respectively. Jacqueline West put forth admirable efforts for Killers of the Flower Moon, and the same thing goes for Ellen Jirojnick with regard to Oppenheimer. Also nominated were Janty Yates and Dave Crossman for Napoleon, when, in reality, Jamison-Tanchuck should’ve been in their spot.

She also could’ve beaten Jacqueline West for Flower Moon and even Jirojnick for Oppenheimer. The latter accrued more nominations than any other film at the 96th Academy Awards, including one for Best Film Editing. With good reason. And while Oppenheimer was worthy of the nod, that marks yet another category in which They Cloned Tyrone was arguably snubbed.

Best Film Editing
Saira Haider

Thanks to Saira Haider as the editor, They Cloned Tyrone was pieced together with passion and precision. Cuts and fades are used to tremendous effect, whether to thrill audiences by leaving them on a cliffhanger or to induce laughter with well-timed punchlines. Not a single shot went to waste in the editing room, and frankly, Haider should have been recognized with an Oscar nomination.

Granted, most of the nominees for Best Film Editing were all deserving, as well. Laurent Sénéchal for Anatomy of a Fall, Kevin Tent for The Holdovers, and Yorgos Mavropsaridis for Poor Things — all three of these editors utilize brilliant tactics of continuity transitioning to create perfectly paced projects overall. Not many film fans will argue those selections.

Related: Oscars 2024: Every Best Picture Nominee, Ranked

Alas, this masterful sci-fi thriller came up short yet again. From Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier to Francine Jamison-Tanchuck and Saira Haider, almost everyone involved with They Cloned Tyrone provided career-defining efforts. Although none of them were recognized at the Academy Awards, each of those names should forever be proud of the product they created. One of the greatest films of last year, They Cloned Tyrone is also the most snubbed.

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