The batch of films and actors that gets nominated at the Academy Awards every year is rarely a surprise, save for a few head-scratchers here and there. This year, however, some surprising picks made the cut into the top categories (inciting more than a few WTF reactions), while many arguably more deserving films were left nom-less. Here’s our list of movies we were sad to see overlooked at the 2012 Oscars.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Despite being a well-adapted and executed film in its own right, with several outstanding performances from the cast (most notably Alan Rickman’s Snape), a historic box office showing, and overwhelming love from critics and hardcore fans alike, the last installment of the Potter films failed to pull a Lord of the Rings and garner big category nominations all across the board. Instead, it was relegated to a couple of technical awards in visual effects and makeup. Needless to say, the fans were not pleased.
50/5o
Will Reiser’s semi-autobiographical script for 50/50 somehow managed to be simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, and it’s baffling that the film didn’t at least receive a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives one of his finest performances to date as the possibly-terminal cancer patient Adam, while Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are terrific supporting players in their respective roles as the perpetually-stoned bromantic partner and therapist-turned-love-interest.
Shame
Maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised that the Academy voters completely ignored Steve McQueen’s bleak film about the life of a sex addict, but not nominating Michael Fassbender for his chilling performance in this movie is perhaps the most egregious omission from any category this year. Fassbender’s Brandon actually has very little to say in the film, yet his portrayal is mesmerizing throughout. One particular scene where he fully breaks down on a deserted pier should have sealed the deal for his nomination.
Young Adult
It’s no surprise that the Academy likes to shy away from comedies, but the last time writer Diablo Cody and Director Jason Reitman teamed up to make the-little-indie-that-could Juno, the movie took home an Oscar for screenwriting. Young Adult is a hilarious but darker and more mature movie from Reitman and Cody, about a thirtysomething year-old woman (Charlize Theron) who returns to her hometown to steal her high school boyfriend from his wife. Theron and comedian Patton Oswalt give terrific performances and the screenplay is witty and universally adored by critics, yet the movie didn’t earn a single nomination.
Drive
LA neo-noir film Drive (which we’re screening on 2/10, lucky you!) is near-perfect in practically every category: Lead Actor, (Ryan Gosling at his best as a racecar driver turned criminal accomplice), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks playing a monster of a gangster), Directing, Cinematography, Writing, and Score (DAT SOUNDTRACK). This movie is a glorious sensory overload, with a slow-building tension that staccatos into bursts of awesome violent energy. Every aspect of it exudes cool, perhaps to a borderline ridiculous level. And unfortunately, the Academy seems to have deemed it too cool to be nominated for anything.
