Ryan McNeil
The last few years I’ve had precious little to argue with when it came to Oscar nominations…yesterday morning I really missed that feeling.
While the academy managed to get one or two nods right (congrats go out to Richard Jenkins and Melissa Leo), they left so many of the year’s best standing on the platform while the subway pulled away without them. Consider…
- No Sally Hawkins
- No animation nod for WALTZ WITH BRASHIR
- No Bruce Springsteen
- No Clint Eastwood (or any love at all for GRAN TORINO)
- No Christopher Nolan…or any sufficient love for THE DARK KNIGHT
As you’ve likely read by now, the leading nominee is THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON with a whopping 13 (any besides me find it funny that a 3 hour movie gets nominated for best editing?). My thoughts on the movie are well known by now, and if I’m preparing myself for inevitably having to say that I didn’t much care for this year’s best picture winner. Only three movies have ever scored 13 nods and not taken the big prize.
These omissions might have been bad enough on their own, but adding insult to injury is the sudden love for THE READER which has caught many off-guard (To be fair – I haven’t seen it, though that will be corrected in the next few days).
What bothers me most about its place amongst the best picture and best director nominees, is how it unquestionably came as a result of a hard-pressing “For Your Consideration” campaign courtesy of The Weinstein brothers. Remember the days when movies like CHOCOLAT and THE CIDER HOUSE RULES somehow managed to score Best Picture nods in place of more deserving flicks? Welcome back to the age of jive.
Of course, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t think THE DARK KNIGHT deserved that fifth spot. That said, I can also think of half a dozen other movies that could have likewise taken its place (WALL-E and THE WRESTLER to name a pair).
So yes, I find myself disappointed with this year’s crop…and wish The Academy could have continued its forward thinking (like awarding a dark film like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) instead of cowering back into its shell the way it has this year.
I’m sure someone out there is ready to argue with me…let’s hear it folks – comments welcome!
Sorry Hatter, but I think you’ll find precious few people to argue with you this year. I know I don’t. Although, let’s all be honest with each other, The Dark Knight was never going to get ‘The Big Nod’. That said, you’re right. There were certainly a significant number of other movies that would have done in it’s place (Doubt, Rachel Getting Married, The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Changeling, just to name a few)
That’s the thing though T…while TDK was still a longshot, in the last few weeks it built a lot of momentum by landing on the shortlist of the producers’ guild, the directors’ guild, and most surprisingly the writers’ guild.
Oscar nom or no, it still landed more acclaim amongst moviemakers than any comic book movie before it.
I’m just left wondering, if The Academy found it within themselves to nominate STAR WARS, LORD OF THE RINGS, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST…why leave this one out?
regardless, TDK or no TDK, the Weinstein FYC campaign still disappoints me.
I wonder how much hype-money the producers of Benjamin Button spent to get 13 noms. I can’t believe what a juggernaut that movie became, it bored me to tears. And I love Cate and Tilda.
TDK, Wall-E and the Wrestler would all be better choices for that spot in the Best Picture category.
Sally Hawkins got a Globe, I think the problem was few people saw Happy-Go-Lucky here in the States. At least The Visitor got a nod.
Yeah Tommy – I’m still mystified by the Button-fest myself, and I love all Fincher’s other movies (even ZODIAC).
Academy voters honoured performers from smaller flicks like THE VISITOR and FROZEN RIVER. There’s no excuse for missing out on HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.
I was upset about Sally Hawkins too. And the snubbing of Kristen Scott Thomas. And about how boring Benjamin Button was. Gah. The Academy is lame.
I’m not going to disagree on a few things.
I’m not surprized The Dark Knight didn’t get a best picture nod, and to be honest I’m happy. I don’t think it should have gotten one.
I’m surprized The Reader got so many of the big nods – I really thought those would have gone more to Revolutionary Road.
Gran Torino nominations? Wha? Nope, I don’t think so. Had some interesting stuff not sure it was even on anyones top ten list this year.
Yes, Sally Hawkins won the Globe but remember there are 10 noms for best actress there as they have the drama and comedy/musical. I’m surprized she didn’t get in over Angelina Jolie but then again when its a US Drama vs UK Comedy it’s not that surprizing.
agree on my of your ideas. I think Nolan should have at the least been nominated for Best Director. I hope Fincher wins it though since that guy has made plenty of great movies and he really deserves it.
p.s just saw The Wrestler and its a great film.
I think Slumdog Millionaire WILL win – not Ben Button – even though like you said 13 noms is a good predictor. The reason why – is because BB was able to pick up some acting noms – if you put in a couple of the great performances from SM you are right there. But since SM wasn’t filled with the award worthy types – they get no love in that category.
Being a big Eastwood fan – I am saddened that Gran Torino didn’t get any love – I felt a nod for acting was well deserved. I also felt that TDK deserved a little more respect – with times changing and LOTR being able to get some solid love – why not? I also think that In Bruges was completely dissed for acting – Farrell should’ve picked up a nom for the best performance of his career. And I think it’s a flippin’ shame that they don’t qualify Wall-E as a film – and they still cop out to the ‘best animated’ – because it’s clearly one of the best films of last year.
Sorry Hatter, I was a little late to the game on this one (I didn’t sign up for subsequent comments – my bad).
Look, I’ve said this to you before and I’m saying it again: Star Wars was nominated because it was the first of its kind and because it comes from a part of human mythos that is so visceral that the story would have rung true space guns or no. SW would never be nominated now. LOTR was nominated because it comes from a “respectable” source, plain and simple. Beauty and the Beast was another ‘no one had ever seen anything like that’, but again had roots in literature.
Bottom line, nothing that comes from a comic book will ever be nominated for best picture. Just ain’t gonna happen.
As for your ‘losing momentum’ speech, I absolutely do not think that they will let a young man with a wee baby daughter pass them by as an opportunity for ratings. I said it earlier and I’m sayin’ it now. I WILL BUY YOU DINNER IF HEATH LOSES, because that is absolutely not going to happen.
“Only three movies have ever scored 13 nods and not taken the big prize”
Make it four. I will be shocked – SHOCKED – if Ben Button wins the top prize. Most everyone knows it’s out of place even in the conversation; I think there will be downright outrage if it wins it all, and there isn’t even a superb contender for it to snatch it from.
Wise money has to be betting on Slumdog as the favorite, with Milk as the “Eff you, California for voting the wrong way on Prop 8” possible surprise winner.
I’d put Button third, Frost/Nix 4th and The Reader 5th if I were handicapping it.
Then again, I’m not exactly an expert at doing such, either, so what do I know?