Star Wars not nominated for best picture of the year.

[RJ 17]

I agree with the academy awards, The Force Awakens is not close to being among the best pictures of the year, and if we were to start handing awards based on audience enjoyment then Michael Bay would be rolling in oscar statuettes

And yet Mad Max: Fury Road is worthy of a Best Picture nomination based on more than audience enjoyment?

Edit: to be clear, I'll agree that SW probably didn't deserve the nomination (let alone winning the category)...but the fact that Mad Max got a nomination while Star Wars didn't is what makes me call bullshit.

I'd be glad about that if I cared about the Oscars. Mad Max was a much better movie.

I'm not denying that Mad Max was a great movie, just to be clear. Hell, it should probably win the category purely for the fact that it has a meth-head strapped to the front of a truck playing a flamethrowing guitar.

But joking aside: the movie is a 2 hour chase sequence. It's a fun movie, definitely...but "Best Picture" material? While SW doesn't get nominated? Just what criteria are they using to judge here?

In the end I really don't give a damn. Like you I don't really care about the Oscars (or any awards show). Stuff like this, however, stands as evidence as to why I don't care about award shows.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

What in the holy fuck? Is someone seriously advocating for this? No, just no. Why don't we start nominating Marvel movies while we're at it?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

But joking aside: the movie is a 2 hour chase sequence. It's a fun movie, definitely...but "Best Picture" material? While SW doesn't get nominated? Just what criteria are they using to judge here?

Fury Road was a much more adventurous film. It re-invigorated a sub-genre that had all but disappeared from cinemas, and did so with uncommon verve and assurance. I don't think it was the best film I saw last year, but I don't disagree with placing it among the best picture nominees. Especially since we can have up to ten of the fucking things now. The Oscars have a rather tired tradition of sniffing at "genre" films entirely when it comes to the more prestigious awards, choosing instead to favor "safe" films that reflect the values of the institution. This is how warmed over crap like Forrest Gump edges out a landmark film like Pulp Fiction. If there's a stodgy, traditional drama in the nominees, you can anticipate it bringing home the bacon every year.

It's somewhat ironic that we're dismissing TFA as a nominee for being "too safe" when the Oscars are an institution that persistently rewards "safeness". Just not TFA style safeness.

Not that it merited a nomination, just amuses me. If we really want to talk about a sci-fi film getting snubbed, how about fucking Ex Machina? No acting nominations? Suck it, Academy.

 

[Mahorfeus]

Hm. About half the movies that were nominated seem to me like your typical "Oscar bait" films - not to be derogatory or anything. One of the ones that aren't, Mad Max, seems almost out of place on there. To be honest, I hadn't even heard of some of them until recently, but then, I'm not exactly a film buff. The criteria for nominating/winning seem nebulous. Didn't Avatar win a few years back? And that was basically just Dances With Wolves with aliens and a shitton of CGI.

The Force Awakens is one of my favorite movies from last year, but I guess I can understand why it wasn't nominated. While it was a "safe" movie (plenty of Oscar nominees are, especially historical dramas), the acting wasn't really spectacular or anything. That being said, I've never exactly cared about the Oscars, so it's hardly a big deal to me.

It'd be nice to see Leo win one for once, though.

 

[RJ 17]

The Oscars have a rather tired tradition of sniffing at "genre" films entirely when it comes to the more prestigious awards, choosing instead to favor "safe" films that reflect the values of the institution. This is how warmed over crap like Forrest Gump edges out a landmark film like Pulp Fiction. If there's a stodgy, traditional drama in the nominees, you can anticipate it bringing home the bacon every year.

It's somewhat ironic that we're dismissing TFA as a nominee for being "too safe" when the Oscars are an institution that persistently rewards "safeness". Just not TFA style safeness.

As I've mentioned previously: I'm not trying to take away from Fury Road. It was a good film and a very fun movie to watch. But this is pretty much my point regarding "what criteria are they using?" Indeed, they do tend to stick with the safe choices...but apparently they didn't like TFA's version of safe. Yet a movie that was destined to either go down in flames as the ghost of a genre that has long since past or, indeed, reinvigorate the genre to show that if done properly it can still be a smashing hit does get nominated.

I'm with Total Biscuit when it comes to award shows: they all seem completely arbitrary. That's why I stopped caring about them a long time ago.

Not that it merited a nomination, just amuses me. If we really want to talk about a sci-fi film getting snubbed, how about fucking Ex Machina? No acting nominations? Suck it, Academy.

I'll second that assertion.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

I agree with the academy awards, The Force Awakens is not close to being among the best pictures of the year, and if we were to start handing awards based on audience enjoyment then Michael Bay would be rolling in oscar statuettes

That does beg the question then if audience enjoyment is not a factor, is enjoyment of the film a factor at all?

You want the honest truth? Audience enjoyment and gross income at the box office aren't really factors that work towards a film getting an Academy Award. To be honest it might actually work against a movie with the elitist snobbery that Hollywood is known for.

OT: In all honesty, as many others have said, Star Wars isn't really Oscar material, none of the movies really have ever been anything Oscar worthy. As for the Academy being out of touch? Well yeah it's been out of touch for a very, very long time. An Academy Award is generally a symbol of a movie supporting whatever political agenda Hollywood is pushing at the moment. For several decades that means a movie has to push a blatant left-wing agenda, and be a patronizing politically correct.

What doesn't surprise me is that Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander received nominations for their roles the sickeningly sanitized, fictionalized, and patronizing politically correct cis pat on the back that is The Danish Girl. Nor is it a surprise that movie also got a nomination for best costume design, to improve it's chances of taking home an Oscar. God I hate Oscar bait movies, especially ones that use marginalized communities to play for awards, because that is the only reason that movie got made in the first place. I don't think it's a coincidence that this movie came out the same year as Caitlyn Jenner came out as trans either.

On a side note, Star Wars: The Force Awakens did get three nominations: Best Visual Effects and Best Film Editing twice. Which are generally the the fields Star Wars tends to see nominations in, which is one of the few things about the Academy Awards I'll say is honest at least.

 

[RJ 17]

Hm. About half the movies that were nominated seem to me like your typical "Oscar bait" films - not to be derogatory or anything.

Personally I think they should add a new category to the Oscars in order to trap Oscar Bait movies. The category would simply be Oscar Bait, and the winner would be the "Oscar Baitiest" movie of the year.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

Hm. About half the movies that were nominated seem to me like your typical "Oscar bait" films - not to be derogatory or anything.

Personally I think they should add a new category to the Oscars in order to trap Oscar Bait movies. The category would simply be Oscar Bait, and the winner would be the "Oscar Baitiest" movie of the year.

I think The Danish Girl would have stolen all of the slots in that category this year if they put in that category.

In case no one can tell, yes I am irritated and bitter over that movie.

 

[Entaris]

I agree with the academy awards, The Force Awakens is not close to being among the best pictures of the year, and if we were to start handing awards based on audience enjoyment then Michael Bay would be rolling in oscar statuettes

That does beg the question then if audience enjoyment is not a factor, is enjoyment of the film a factor at all?

You want the honest truth? Audience enjoyment and gross income at the box office aren't really factors that work towards a film getting an Academy Award. To be honest it might actually work against a movie with the elitist snobbery that Hollywood is known for.

OT: In all honesty, as many others have said, Star Wars isn't really Oscar material, none of the movies really have ever been anything Oscar worthy. As for the Academy being out of touch? Well yeah it's been out of touch for a very, very long time. An Academy Award is generally a symbol of a movie supporting whatever political agenda Hollywood is pushing at the moment. For several decades that means a movie has to push a blatant left-wing agenda, and be a patronizing politically correct.

What doesn't surprise me is that Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander received nominations for their roles the sickeningly sanitized, fictionalized, and patronizing politically correct cis pat on the back that is The Danish Girl. Nor is it a surprise that movie also got a nomination for best costume design, to improve it's chances of taking home an Oscar. God I hate Oscar bait movies, especially ones that use marginalized communities to play for awards, because that is the only reason that movie got made in the first place. I don't think it's a coincidence that this movie came out the same year as Caitlyn Jenner came out as trans either.

On a side note, Star Wars: The Force Awakens did get three nominations: Best Visual Effects and Best Film Editing twice. Which are generally the the fields Star Wars tends to see nominations in, which is one of the few things about the Academy Awards I'll say is honest at least.

I honestly do not think it is Oscar worthy either, but then it's kind of interesting to see what is and isn't comparatively speaking.

 

[RJ 17]

Hm. About half the movies that were nominated seem to me like your typical "Oscar bait" films - not to be derogatory or anything.

Personally I think they should add a new category to the Oscars in order to trap Oscar Bait movies. The category would simply be Oscar Bait, and the winner would be the "Oscar Baitiest" movie of the year.

I think The Danish Girl would have stolen all of the slots in that category this year if they put in that category.

In case no one can tell, yes I am irritated and bitter over that movie.

Think I got that impression when from your litany of posts in the review this site did for the movie.

Honestly though, if we're talking "biggest surprise for not getting nominated for Best Picture", I'd have to say I'm mostly surprised The Danish Girl didn't make the list. Indeed: that seems like the biggest Oscar Bait movie of the year purely for its subject matter.

 

[TakerFoxx]

Well, yeah. It's the Academy Award for Best Picture, not Most Financially Successful Picture, or Most Decent Picture that's Mostly Coasting Along on Nostalgia and Name Recognition. The Force Awakens was okay at best. But just being better than the prequels doesn't deserve an award.

Not that it merited a nomination, just amuses me. If we really want to talk about a sci-fi film getting snubbed, how about fucking Ex Machina? No acting nominations? Suck it, Academy.

Thirding this. If ever there was a sci-fi film that at least deserved a nod, it was Ex Machina.

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

Think I got that impression when from your litany of posts in the review this site did for the movie.

Honestly though, if we're talking "biggest surprise for not getting nominated for Best Picture", I'd have to say I'm mostly surprised The Danish Girl didn't make the list. Indeed: that seems like the biggest Oscar Bait movie of the year purely for its subject matter.

I'm not surprised that The Danish Girl didn't make the cut for Best Picture actually. The movie failed on almost every possible narrative level, from how fictionalized and sanitized the story is, to how it played off Lili Elbe, to it's lack of any conflict. While the subject matter is pretty much dripping in Oscar bait, Hollywood proved it has some integrity, mostly by picking generally good movies for the award apparently.

 

[F-I-D-O]

The Force Awakens was a good movie. I could even argue it was a very good movie.

But it's not a great movie and doesn't really deserve a Best Picture nod, let alone a win.

I talk about it in my review (which you should totally go read because I need people to pay attention to me or I wither away [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.932256-tippy2k2-tells-you-what-to-think-Star-Wars-The-Force-Awakens]) but the movie felt safe. It didn't take any chances or do anything new or exciting with the franchise. It was a shinier version of Episode IV with a Mary S...oh no you don't internet! We don't need to get into that rehash again...let's say boring protagonist (I have softened up on the MS debate with her since writing my review, though that still doesn't make her an interesting character to me).

Like I said, it was a good film that deserves praise for being a very good popcorn blockbuster. It just doesn't deserve Best Picture. That doesn't make it a bad movie, there are just other films that are better.

Pretty much this. The movie was a great experience, and it felt very much like Star WArs had returned. But it doesn't stand up as a Best Picture candidate. There's just too many problems in the execution, as much fun as the laser fights are. And with action sequences, it falls short of the nominated Fury Road (which I'd also argue has a better, tighter story in its simplicity and imagery).

And no, justifications in the book do not fix plot problems in the movie.

In fact, the only awards I see Force Awakens deserving of nominations are Visual Design/Effects, Costuming, and Make up. Best directing could be considered since Abrams went to such great lengths to emulate Lucas's style throughout, but the Academy doesn't judge based off of homages. The acting wasn't best picture quality.

Now, the argument that the Academy is out of touch is another. There isn't a rotating cast of judges, and they don't even have to watch the movies they vote on. I remember multiple judges being quoted as snubbing Wolf of Wall Street as profane and not watching the whole movie. But a movie being "the biggest of the year" as the article posits doesn't give it artistic merits. There's a reason the Marvel films haven't won Oscars, and it's not because the academy doesn't like comic books (I say as a huge Marvel fan).

 

[Squanchy]

I agree with the academy awards, The Force Awakens is not close to being among the best pictures of the year, and if we were to start handing awards based on audience enjoyment then Michael Bay would be rolling in oscar statuettes

That does beg the question then if audience enjoyment is not a factor, is enjoyment of the film a factor at all?

No it does not. First of all, that's not what "Begging the question" actually means. Second, do the two seconds of work on Google to learn what the Oscars are, and which awards are determined by audiences. This isn't hard.

 

[F-I-D-O]

If we really want to talk about a sci-fi film getting snubbed, how about fucking Ex Machina? No acting nominations? Suck it, Academy.

I hadn't checked the notations yet, but that's pretty ridiculous. I'm not sure it was a movie I enjoyed, but those actors deserve soemthing. At least it got writing/visual effect credits.

But a quick check reveals it is nominated for other Oscars, like Best Visual Effects, so it's not being snubbed. Also apparently Matt Damon is nominated for Best Actor with The Martian, what the hell, he basically walked through that movie barely trying.

Even if he walked through it, he's the reason that movie's compelling. It's a one actor show and he sold it, at least for me. Yeah, he's a laid back and dryly sarcastic character, but the delivery and sheer stubbornness to have fun while he's facing death at any point is why he was nominated. I don't think he deserves the win, but making a technical manual interesting for two hours deserves some recognition.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

But joking aside: the movie is a 2 hour chase sequence. It's a fun movie, definitely...but "Best Picture" material? While SW doesn't get nominated? Just what criteria are they using to judge here?

Fury Road was a much more adventurous film. It re-invigorated a sub-genre that had all but disappeared from cinemas, and did so with uncommon verve and assurance. I don't think it was the best film I saw last year, but I don't disagree with placing it among the best picture nominees. Especially since we can have up to ten of the fucking things now. The Oscars have a rather tired tradition of sniffing at "genre" films entirely when it comes to the more prestigious awards, choosing instead to favor "safe" films that reflect the values of the institution. This is how warmed over crap like Forrest Gump edges out a landmark film like Pulp Fiction. If there's a stodgy, traditional drama in the nominees, you can anticipate it bringing home the bacon every year.

It's somewhat ironic that we're dismissing TFA as a nominee for being "too safe" when the Oscars are an institution that persistently rewards "safeness". Just not TFA style safeness.

Well Star Wars is a space opera and if there's one thing every ancient snob critic can agree on, it's that they loathe space operas.

Not that it merited a nomination, just amuses me. If we really want to talk about a sci-fi film getting snubbed, how about fucking Ex Machina? No acting nominations? Suck it, Academy.

That is actually sad, Ex Machina was a great movie. I saw it got nominated for something, I think a makeup award.

 

[Souplex]

While I don't think Star Wars was the best picture, the Academy Awards have never been about quality, it's about making the most "Oscar-worthy" movies, in the same way dog shows are simply about picking dogs that most follow the guidelines for their breed.
If the Oscars were about quality, they would acknowledge that action and comedy were things, and they would take all the awards they gave to Titanic, and give them to Men in Black.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

If the Oscars were about quality, they would acknowledge that action and comedy were things, and they would take all the awards they gave to Titanic, and give them to Men in Black.

Oof. Men in Black?

Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave.

 

[RJ 17]

Think I got that impression when from your litany of posts in the review this site did for the movie.

Honestly though, if we're talking "biggest surprise for not getting nominated for Best Picture", I'd have to say I'm mostly surprised The Danish Girl didn't make the list. Indeed: that seems like the biggest Oscar Bait movie of the year purely for its subject matter.

I'm not surprised that The Danish Girl didn't make the cut for Best Picture actually. The movie failed on almost every possible narrative level, from how fictionalized and sanitized the story is, to how it played off Lili Elbe, to it's lack of any conflict. While the subject matter is pretty much dripping in Oscar bait, Hollywood proved it has some integrity, mostly by picking generally good movies for the award apparently.

Personally I've lost all faith in Hollywood...that's one of the main reasons that I don't go out to movies these days unless someone else is buying my ticket.