Feb 03 2010
Who Got Snubbed From the Oscars?
The list of nominees for the upcoming Academy Awards has been released and soon enough, Paul and I will make our selections for who we think deserves to win in each of the major categories. Before we get into that, though, I think now is as good a time as any to discuss which movies and actors didn’t receive nominations.
In any awards show or ceremony there are going to be snubs, but of course some stick out more than others. In fact, the omission of some movies or actors can be considered downright egregious. Overall, the list of nominees was pretty predictable and fair (and awesome, I guess, considering that District 9 made the cut) but there were a few movies and/or actors that I felt were unjustly left out.
I thought Moon was pretty good when I first saw it, but the film has really grown on me over the past few months. After marinating in my subconscious for a bit, Moon has emerged as rich, throwback science fiction movie that relies far more on theme of isolation than it does visual effects. In a year when science fiction movies are finally being taken seriously by the Academy, it’s somewhat noteworthy to see that Moon is missing from the list of Oscar nominees.
I don’t necessarily think that Moon belongs in the Best Picture category, but it does deserve some sort of recognition. As usual, Clint Mansell’s score is superb, providing a haunting atmosphere throughout the film. I’m puzzled as to how Mansell was left off the list of nominees for Best Original Score, especially when the score is one of the more memorable aspects of the already quite memorable Moon. I could tell you a lot about my feelings on Sherlock Holmes, but there’s really nothing I can say about its forgettable score. The fact that Holmes is up for best score while Moon sits on the sidelines is perplexing to say the least.
In addition to having a terrific score, Moon is also a visually beautiful film. The simple, minimalist settings do wonders for the feelings of alienation bubbling inside of the protagonist, Sam Bell, and the moon facility itself helps convey a sense of trapped claustrophobia. I don’t mean to pick on Sherlock Holmes (I thought it was decent, but that’s neither here nor there), but again, it’s hard to imagine how that was nominated for Best Art Direction when the immensely more stylish and visually appealing Moon received no credit at all. Finally, Sam Rockwell turned in a hell of a performance, as Moon was essentially a one-man show. A Best Actor nomination would have been entirely appropriate.
Speaking of the Best Actor category, I was disappointed to see that District 9‘s Sharlto Copley did not receive a nomination for his debut role. Maybe I’m a little too infatuated with District 9 (it was my pick for the best movie of 2009), but I thought Copley did an incredible job with a complex role. As Wikus van de Merwe, Copley gave us a layered protagonist who felt like a real person, colored with shades of grey instead of saturated with cliche. Wikus was a loving husband and a friendly guy, but he was also somewhat incompetent and held his position out of luck, not ability. He was the type of guy you’d probably want to be friends with, but his negative attitudes and actions toward the aliens made you question how good of a person he really was. Most importantly, though, is that Wikus undergoes actual development throughout District 9. Copley effectively conveys these changes, along with all of Wikus’ complexities, hangups, and desires. It’s not an easy task to play a believable character in a movie about refugee aliens, and Copley should have received a Best Actor nomination for his work.
Finally – and I know I’m not going to hear any argument from Paul – I felt that (500) Days of Summer should have been nominated for, at the very least, Best Original Screenplay. (500) Days was unlike any romantic comedy I had ever seen and avoided the pitfalls of the horrible ones that have flooded the theaters for years. Instead of cardboard characters involved in a hokey, unrealistic love story, writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber created an original, believable story structured in a way so as to emphasize the heartache and bliss felt by the main character. I’ve mentioned it before, but the “expectations vs. reality” scene was one of the most refreshing I’ve seen in years, and that scene alone should have scored the writing pair a nomination. Hell, simply writing a good, watchable, relatable “romantic comedy” should have been reason enough; Neustadter and Weber practically redefined the genre.
No list of Academy Award nominees is going to please everyone, and overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the list itself. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointment at the omission of Moon, Copley, and (500) Days of Summer from the list of potential Oscar winner.
What movies or actors did you feel were left out? Let me know!
More Unreal Posts
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- Why This Year’s Oscars Might Actually Be Worth Watching
- Unreal Movie Review: Moon
I’ve always found Sam Rockwell to turn in an excellent performance regardless of the quality of the film. I’ll have to check out Moon.
Yah know what I’m surprised about? That It’s Complicated didn’t get nominated for more stuff….I mean I saw it and it was ‘meh’ but it got so much buzz and so forth before…I’m glad it didn’t get pest picture nominations or anything because it didn’t deserve it, I’m just surpised.
I know it had no chance but I REALLY liked Star Trek and I’m in no way a trekkie so I think it’s too bad it didn’t get any major nominations.
(Note: I read too many LOLcat pages; it has caused me to giggle everytime I read the phrase ‘Oscar noms’) =)
Completely agree about Moon. Sam Rockwell easily deserved a nomination. I knew it would not happen, but I actually believe Patton Oswalt should have received a nomination as well for Big Fan. Those are my two best performances of the year for what it’s worth.
Without a doubt Rockwell and Mansell got stiffed. This is because Sony didn’t send out screeners of Moon to the Academy for whatever idiotic reason. You are of course right about 500 Days. And I would submit Zoe Saldana for Best Supporting in Avatar and her ability to act convincingly despite 30 pounds of camera strapped to her face.
@ Bert
Rockwell really is the star of Moon. I wouldn’t say he carries the film because, as I noted, the score and art direction are superb, but he really shines as a solo act.
@ Cheryl
Star Trek was great (in my top 10), but I don’t know if there was one thing that really stuck out to me. The effects were great, but nobody’s going to beat Avatar in that category.
@ Andy
Great call on Big Fan. Oswalt was incredible. I think the screenplay was terrific, too. Very original and well-written.
@ Paul
Yes, Zoe Saldana absolutely should have been nominated. Like you said, she conveyed emotion while being covered in cameras.
Madison, totally agree in whole with your article. Sam Rockwell was robbed big time, as was Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I think that Michael Sheen should have been nominated for “Damned United” and I really think they should have considered Jackie Earle Haley for “Watchmen” for Best Supporting Actor.
You forgot about Viggo Mortensen getting snubbed for the Road. If that isn’t a “WTF!” moment, I don’t know what is.
Count me in for one more vote for Moon. I really enjoyed that movie.
I’ve stated my opinion on 500 days here before but I can definitely agree that it should have been nominated for best original screenplay.
Put me down for 1 vote for Viggo Mortensen for The Road. Seems the man more snubbed than anyone in recent memories.
I have to check out Moon & 500 Days.
This is a really good list, all are good examples and i think the responders all give great examples…The only other i would say is:
Jackie Earle Haley for Best supporting character in watchmen
Actually watchmen over all was pretty well snubbed, but i think he was the standout performance. Maybe it should have been him over Woody Harrelson, though he gives a great performance as well. Regardless I’m still hoping for a Christophe Waltz win in this catagory.
Copley was definitely snubbed. Rarely do my feelings for the protagonist change so much over the course of a movie, and the change wasn’t always in the right direction. He did a fantastic job.
Instead of Freeman, I think Rockwell should of got a nod. And both Moon and (500) Days of Summer for orginal screenplay. Plus some tech and music nods for Where the Wild Things Are should have happened.
I think there were quite a few prominent snubs.
-Rockwell for Best Actor. Obviously.
-Mansell for Best Original Score
-Perhaps Jones for Best Director and Moon for Best Picture, but those would be weak arguments, I think.
-Watchmen should have gotten two, at least. I know it didn’t live up to the hype, but it should have gotten nods for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction without a doubt. I honestly think a Best Director nod would have been worthy as well. It was a landmark in comic/graphic novel adaptations, visually.
-Star Trek was a shoe-in for Best Original Score, I thought. Guess not.
-Sharlito Copley really deserved a nomination for District 9. Sad to see he didn’t get it over Freeman
-Neill Blomkamp probably deserved a Best Director nomination, too (If you can’t tell, I’m not happy with that category. Really don’t think Avatar or Tarantino deserved to be nominated, regardless of how awesome their movies were)
-Lastly, I think Transformers deserved to be nominated for best Special Effects. Really, there wasn’t a single moment in that movie where you went, “Hey… that looks fake.” The way they blended real and giant ass fighting robots was a marvel, even if the movie itself was horrible. If the movie wasn’t as hated as it was, I am sure it would have been in this category. Though Avatar has this one won without a doubt.
@ Josh
I agree with just about all your points, especially Art Direction and Costume Deisgn for Watchmen.
The one point I don’t agree with, at all, is Cameron not deserving Best Director. I’m going to write more about this when I post my picks, but what Cameron has done is unrivaled. A director’s job is to take the acting, cinematography, lighting, sound, etc, etc and put it all together into a narrative and create a film. You can say that the story was derivative and has its flaws – and I won’t object – but the sheer scale of Avatar, taking all these ideas and effects and getting performances out of actors with – like Paul noted – 30 cameras strapped to their faces, and creating, really, something in film that no one has ever even approached before, let alone seen…there are only a handful of filmmakers who could have pulled that off, and I am probably being a bit generous when I say a handful. James Cameron orchestrated the biggest cinematic event in history and has changed how movies will be made. No one deserves the award more than he does.
I can’t believe Blind Side got a best picture nom. I love Sandra Bullock, I think she is a great actress as well as person, but she basically carried the film. Not saying it was bad, but her performance alone was what made the film great, not the film as a whole. Don’t know if that makes sense.
ANTHONY Fing MACKIE for the hurt locker. I just saw this and every second he was on screen I said “Holy Shiite, why was he not nominated.” He was genuinely great and I thought better than Renner. That debate aside, they could have found room for him to lose to Christophe.
Actors should have been
Viggo Mortensen..who should have won
Bridges
sharlto Copley
Sam Rockwell
Renner..ok maybe Firth…here in this spot.
I think instead of Sandra Bullock
Tilda Swinton for Julia .
No Inglorious Basterds for best original screenplay is pretty shocking, and the fact that Moon didnt get on the know massivly diluted ten nominee best picture list is a huge snub, especially given that the Blind Side made it.
@ Josh
I’m pretty sure Inglorious Basterds is loosely based on an older film of the same name, so it probably wouldn’t be eligible for Best Original Screenplay.
I totally agree with you on this one. Moon is an amazing film and Sam Rockwell definitely deserves an Oscar.
I too was disappointed that Sharlto Copley didn’t get a nomination, seeing as i heard that his whole dialog was improvised; in my opinion, he did a great job!
[...] Oscar Snubs for the 2010 Academy Awards [...]
Came to the party but no one was there. I’m still rockin’ out, even if it’s by myself.
Best Actress:
Replace Sandra Bullock with Saoirse Ronan
Replace Gabourey Sidibe with Abby Cornish