Film: And the award goes to …
This year’s Oscar nominations are out and, while a little predictable in some respects, there are also a few surprises.
Let’s talk about four films we have reviewed on PostFeature and how they fared in the race for nominations:
Foxcatcher is one of the most ‘Oscar-buzzy’ of the year! Especially since it includes Steve Carell’s prosthetic-heavy characterization of the psychopathic wrestling enthusiast John Dupont. A straight performance by a comedian in a role that is anything but likeable (and preferably involves an aesthetic change) is always likely to get awards – one need only think of Mo’Nique’s Oscar for 2009’s Precious. Personally, however, I’m sad that Carell was included in the ‘Lead Actor’ category in place of Channing Tatum, who really did act his socks off and has come on so far since his Step Up days!
If you managed to catch PostFeature last week or have seen it on our catch up service, you’ll know exactly how I feel about American Sniper. Content and storytelling aside it is certainly a wonderfully directed and beautifully shot film, so not surprising to see it also in the ‘Best Picture’ category – and obviously half of the American political divide agrees with the source material. Interesting to note that staunch Republican Clint Eastwood is not up for ‘Best Director’, however …
Nightcrawler was creepy and awful. In a very, very good way. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as the desperate, immoral sociopath who blurs the line between observer and participant in this tale of sleazy nighttime news-gathering was stunning. There was a lack of vanity in making himself over as being so utterly unlikable, and an artistry in his inhabiting a character able to make the hairs on the back of an audience’s necks raise from the other side of a screen.
And yet, no ‘Lead Actor’ nomination! The only nomination for Nightcrawler was ‘Best Original Screenplay’ – not even the fabulous Rene Russo got a nod in the ‘Supporting Actress’ category.
In another nominations shocker, Gone Girl, the film that for a few months at the end of the summer had everyone talking (and every couple over a certain age rushing to see it, don’t ask me why) also received just the one nomination. David Fincher’s pitch-black blockbuster only managed to see Rosamund Pike put into the ‘Best Actress’ category and was utterly excluded from many categories it could have sat comfortably in, including ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Cinematography’. I feel most aggrieved for poor Gillian Flynn who expertly adapted her own best selling novel.
Will the right awards go to the right people? Watch Latest TV’s Film News on Wednesdays for more about the Oscars.
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