"Wow" just about sums up my reaction to this year's Oscar nominations. As they always do, the Academy reminded us that they really do go their own way when it comes to what they see as 'the best'.
Predictably, "American Sniper" really did prove that the Academy loves Clint Eastwood (and movies about sociopath white males with guns, but more on that later); it managed a surprise nomination for lead actor Bradley Cooper, who is the first actor since Russell Crowe to manage 3 consecutive Best Actor nominations. The film was also recognized for its screenplay and technical aspects, while Eastwood was left off of the Director shortlist.
And speaking of director, the Academy's branch went with Bennet Miller of "Foxcatcher" as the surprise nominee, with DGA nominees Richard Linklater, Morten Tyldum, Wes Anderson and Alejandro González Iñárritu all present. Anderson and Iñárritu's films led the nomination count with 9 each.
The biggest surprises though were the inclusion of Laura Dern from "Wild", Marion Cotillard from "Two Days, One Night" and the exclusion of "The Lego Movie" and Gillian Flynn the author/screenwriter of "Gone Girl". Speaking of Gone Girl, its only nomination was in leading lady Rosamund Pike. The film couldn't find love in the Best Picture category, nor Original Score, or even editing. American Sniper seems to have stolen a lot of its thunder, which is disappointing because Flynn was the only female screenwriter with a solid shot or any recognition this year, and the Academy snubbed her anyway.
Cotillard was the most pleasant surprise for me, however. Though I loved her work in "The Immigrant" a bit more, her work in Two Days, One Night is a revelation. The early critical favorite who was subbed by the Globes, SAG and the BCFA must've really struck a cord with the actors. If Jennifer Aniston had to be left off the shortlist for anyone, I'm glad it was for Cotillard (though Felicity Jones wins the weakest nominated performance award in that category 2x over).
Dern had received 0 industry support, from critics or the other awards bodies, so her nomination is sort of a shocker. That 5th slot was extremely volatile, it seems, because everyone had a different nominee in their respective nomination lineup. SAG went with Naomi Watts in "St. Vincent" (still don't get that one), the Globes chose Jessica Chastain and BAFTA went with Rene Russo from "Nightcrawler". Dern's father Bruce was a Best Actor nominee last year; people really love them, so I guess in hindsight it's not too much of a shocker. I was a huge fan of Dern's work, and a huge fan of hers in general, so it's well deserved.
The biggest injustice, remains how horribly "Selma" was represented by the Academy. The film only 2 nominations: Best Original Song and Best Picture (the latter was definitely a token of sorts). Its cinematography, acting, directing (perhaps the most maddening), production design... all ignored, making this the whitest Oscars we've seen since 1998 (not a single acting nominee is a person of color, and the only person of color in a major category is Iñárritu).
As I wrote a few days ago, this comes as no surprise, nor is it all that different from their voting pattern. Every so often, the Academy rewards a dark, challenging film, and in the years following they go on to reward safe, conventional filmmaking until it's time to be 'audacious' and 'challenging' again. It happened in 2009 with "The Hurt Locker", and in the years following we had "The King's Speech", "The Artist" and "Argo". Last year we had "12 Years A Slave", and this year will give way to "Boyhood".
Not to say that Boyhood isn't audacious, or great filmmaking; it's certainly a way better movie/winner than Argo or The King's Speech. But the point is, that it's a story we've seen and heard and rewarded 100 times over. Selma is a much more challenging, accomplished and socially relevant film. Even "Nightcrawler" is a more audaciously made film; Boyhood really is gliding to a win on the sentiment for being a project that took 12 years to make, and if you can't admit that, you're lying to yourself. The fact that David Oyelowo's gripping performance as Martin Luther King Jr. couldn't be recognized this year says it all. The Academy remains an old boys club... a white, rich, old boys club.
Take a look at the full list of nominees here.
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