FRC Feature – The 85th Oscar Nominations
I am not usually one to jump on the OSCAR bandwagon. So many other websites do a great job at listing and covering the event. But, this year after the nominations were announced I felt necessary to voice an opinion about the biggest Film award ceremony of the year.
Every year I sit at the computer counting down to the live announcement of the nominations of the academy awards, and every year I sit there disappointed and bored. It is a bit like ordering a medium rare fillet steak at a restaurant and ending up with a well done piece of meat that is full of fat and gristle – essentially it is what I ordered but very disappointing.
This year was no different.
Highlights
Beast of The Southern Wild
It is so nice to see this film getting some great praise from the academy not only for Best Picture and Director but also for Best Actress. Quvenzhané Wallis is not only the youngest ever nomination but she is also stunning in her lead role in this film.
Les Misérables
Nice to see this film (which I loved, read my review HERE) get some well deserved appreciation. I am super happy that Anne Hathaway got a nod as supporting actress, if she got overlooked I would probably have thrown a proper hissy fit.
Amour
Not only up for best foreign language film but also the big one, Best Picture. This says a lot for Haneke’s latest venture into the silver screen. Let us not forget Emmanuelle Riva who is up for best Actress, and also the oldest ever nomination in this category.
Disappointments
Lincoln
I do so hate it when a film seems to sweep the board. I am not doubting that this is an amazing story, well told and superbly directed. But from the outset it felt like Spielberg was aiming at the Academy with this venture. I do so yearn for early Spielberg again, Jaws and Duel are still in my top 20 films of all time.
Argo
What has Affleck done to upset the Academy. OK the film is nominated for many awards, but the one we all wanted to see was Best Direction. Affleck is so deserving of this award. He is becoming one of the best young (ish) directors working in Hollywood today and is now 3 for 3 excellent films. I am so disappointed that he didn’t get a look in for this one. Even if he didn’t win a NOD would have been great for his ego.
The Imposter
Where the hell is it? Arguably one of the best documentaries to come out in the last 12 months and got completely overlooked by the Academy. Reminds me so much of Senna from last year. Tut tut!
The ‘WHAT THE F*CK’
The Dark Knight Rises
OK so this wan’t one of my favourite films of last year, but it still was a well made and well told climax to the trilogy. I wasn’t expecting it to get a BIG nod, but a few technical ones wouldn’t have gone a miss. I mean if the dreadful Snow White and the Huntsman and the mediocre Mirror Mirror can, why can’t BATMAN (this was said in my best BANE voice)
TED
Best original song??? Really? What the? Jeez as Emma Stone said it was just a way to get Macfarlane to actually turn up… Off the back of that, one reason I will probably not watch the actual ceremony will be because of Macfarlane, he annoyed the hell out of me in just 10 minutes!!
(This is a moan that means nothing and I will probably still stay up late and watch the entire show… god I am shallow)
What are your thoughts on this years Nominations? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
I’m pretty eh when it comes to the Oscars. I don’t usually watch a lot of it. Highlights are fine for me. Don’t think they’re a good representation of the past year’s film either.
Saying that, I am disappointed that there were no noms for Ben Affleck. For acting, but most directing. Just wrong.
And kinda very upset about a lack of TDKR. FOR ANYTHING. Snow White can get 2 and while one of the most technically brilliant films of last year gets nothing? Meh.
You said it Jaina.. very MEH indeed.
I’m pretty ok with most of the nominations, although I was very surprised by the Director category, and I also hate the fact that Lincoln is sweeping every awards. Other than that, I’m ok.
Cool, I am glad you are happy Diana!! I just hope the show will be OK.
I don’t care much for the Oscars really, so these nominations don’t mean much to me. Although I think Affleck should have been nominated, Argo was almost perfect.
Indeed it was Nostra, indeed it was
All agreed, Scott. If there’s any justice, Affleck will win the DGA for ‘Argo’.
Thanks Michael.
I don’t care for Oscars myself but I agree that Spielberg Lincoln just so he can get more Oscar statues. I haven’t seen the film yet and I’m sure it’ll be great but when I saw the trailer, I just went yeah that’s Oscar bait for sure.
I’m surprised too that TDKR didn’t even get nominated for cinematography, it’s one of the best looking films from last year. I think the Oscar voters have something against popular directors, they didn’t give Spielberg any love until he mad Schindler’s List. So until Nolan made a film that they deem “important” he won’t get any love from the Oscar folks.
It looks like TDKR is this years Drive or Shame…. Thanks Ted
Yeah, I was surprised that TDKR didn’t get a single nomination. I wasn’t expecting any of the big ones, but surely some of the visual awards (or even best score). Also agree on The Imposter, my favorite documentary of the year.
Thanks Eric, it was a bit of a rant, which I am not normally one to do. But glad I hit some right notes.
Scott, I disagree with the idea that Spielberg was just trying to get an Oscar by doing Lincoln. The movie itself is actually a lot more mundane than you might expect from a movie that’s just trying to get Oscars. It’s more about the process of getting votes than following the standard biopic method. I don’t have a problem with people criticizing the movie, but I get worn-out by criticisms of a movie trying to get Oscars.
That said, I agree with a lot of your comments. I just re-watched The Dark Knight Rises, and I still don’t see how that wouldn’t at least get a Best Score nomination. For my money, it was a lot better than John Williams’ score for Lincoln, and I don’t even remember the score from Argo. It also had great sound, so not seeing it there was a surprise. I’m guessing those categories were very close. I’m also excited to see the nominations for Beast of the Southern Wild. I liked it and think it marks a good trend in Oscar voting.
Cool Dan, I am glad you are here to fight Lincoln’s corner, cos I need more info. I am yet to see it and it is nice to see that peers and friends have enjoyed it… I like to be corrected!
Yeah the SCORE nom deffo should have gone to TDKR
Nice to see you doing an Oscar commentary, matey. We pretty much share similar views, esp. about TDKR. The score should be a given. I haven’t seen The Imposter but I heard from a lot of people how well-done it was, surprised it was not nominated as well. Haven’t seen Lincoln yet, so can’t comment about Spielberg. He certainly knows how to make a biopic though, Schindler’s List is still one of my faves from his work. War Horse though, not so much.
I agree Ted getting that nom is silly. Affleck should be up for best director but at least he did well at the globes. And yeah TDKR should have got something!!!