As was expected, the announcement of the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards has provoked some head-scratching amongst some members of the movie-loving community and some outrage amongst others. I like to place myself in the middle of these two factions; rather more perplexed with what I disagree with and mildly contented with what I find acceptable.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Snub of the Decade So Far?
This one really is a shocker. After receiving SAG, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, Jake Gyllenhaal looked like he was certain for an Oscar nod for his portrayal of sociopathic video journalist Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler. It seems as though Bradley Cooper's Academy-friendly performance as decorated navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle in American Sniper has usurped Gyllenhaal's wonderfully realised character. Now, although appreciative of the subdued nature of Cooper's performance I am still baffled at his inclusion over Gyllenhaal. Although getting a lot of Oscar buzz, in my opinion this can also be said for Eddie Redmayne's somewhat skin-deep portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Snub of the Decade So Far?
This one really is a shocker. After receiving SAG, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, Jake Gyllenhaal looked like he was certain for an Oscar nod for his portrayal of sociopathic video journalist Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler. It seems as though Bradley Cooper's Academy-friendly performance as decorated navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle in American Sniper has usurped Gyllenhaal's wonderfully realised character. Now, although appreciative of the subdued nature of Cooper's performance I am still baffled at his inclusion over Gyllenhaal. Although getting a lot of Oscar buzz, in my opinion this can also be said for Eddie Redmayne's somewhat skin-deep portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
However, are the Academy Moving in the Right Direction?
Apologies for the pun ladies and gents.
In all seriousness, with the exception of Best Original Screenplay, I think the directorial nominations make up the most solid category of this year's nominations. Whilst Richard Linklater (Boyhood) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman) were always expected to get nominations, the inclusion of Bennett Miller for Foxcatcher was an extremely pleasant surprise. Although winning an award for direction at Cannes, his snubbing in both Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations left his prospects at an Oscar nod unlikely.
It also seems that the Academy has finally gotten over itself and decided to embrace the vibrant and ultra-stylised film-making of Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel). Often derided by some as suffocating due to his attention to detail, Anderson has finally received his first nomination for directing after a nomination for writing The Royal Tenenbaums more than a decade ago.
No Best Picture nomination for Foxcatcher
If I had to pick a film that met all my expectations in the best way possible this year then it would be Bennett Miller's vivid look into the male psyche, Foxcatcher. Although brilliantly acted and elegantly directed with a sparse darkness that did justice to the crime that inspired the film, the Academy felt Foxcatcher wasn't worthy of a Best Picture nomination whilst giving it nominations for Best Director (Bennett Miller), Best Actor (Steve Carrel), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Original Screenplay (E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman) and Best Hair and Makeup. Clearly the Academy did not see Foxcatcher as the sum of its parts.
Although not completely shocking, I was disappointed Channing Tatum was not nominated alongside his co-star Mark Ruffalo for his naturalistic and visceral performance as Mark Schultz. I know this may seem like blasphemy but it was these two qualities that reminded me of Robert De Niro's Oscar-winning turn as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull.
Strong Year for Best Original Screenplay
It's pretty rare that the Academy get it this right and it's quite surprising that they've acknowledged the qualities that make these films such a joy. The over-the-top nature of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Richard Linklater's knack for parlance in Boyhood, the chaotic frenzy that is Birdman and Foxcatcher's and Nightcrawler's darkness and brooding. Riotously entertaining, earnestly voice-acted and featuring some of the most unique animation of the 21st century but not nominated for Best Animated Feature? That's right, The Lego Movie was snubbed in favour of titles such as How to Train Your Dragon 2, Boxtrolls and Big Hero 6.
However, the Academy did choose to give 'Everything Is Awesome' a nomination for Best Song. Seeing as the song is intentionally generic, the Academy either appreciates the song's satirical nature or the Academy clearly has no sense of irony.
The First Time Anyone Was Ever Shocked Over the Best Editing Nominations
Ok, it's fair to say that the technical awards are a bit of an oddity to the general public. They're the strange awards given to the people we've never heard of before the big name stars get their turn at their cringe-worthy speeches. A kind of warm-up act. However, if I was Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione, I would be a bit pissed.
"Who?" you ask. It is understandable if you do not recognise the names of the editors of Birdman. What is not understandable is that their beautiful quasi one-take editing that made Birdman the fluid masterpiece was not recognised by the Academy.
The First Time Anyone Was Ever Shocked Over the Best Editing Nominations
Ok, it's fair to say that the technical awards are a bit of an oddity to the general public. They're the strange awards given to the people we've never heard of before the big name stars get their turn at their cringe-worthy speeches. A kind of warm-up act. However, if I was Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione, I would be a bit pissed.
"Who?" you ask. It is understandable if you do not recognise the names of the editors of Birdman. What is not understandable is that their beautiful quasi one-take editing that made Birdman the fluid masterpiece was not recognised by the Academy.
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