2015 Oscars

[cranberry]

I thought Jake Gyllenhaal should have been nominated for best actor for his role in Nightcrawler but what the heck... not the kind of movie the Academy typically appreciates.

Oscar Nominations 2015: See The Full List

 

[bigpern23]

I'm surprised Selma got nominated for Best Picture but David Oyelowo didn't receive a nom for Best Actor. It's kind of incredible that the film could be considered for best picture when the actor playing Martin Luther King Jr. did not turn in a performance worthy of a best actor nod. Seems like the film would kind of hinge on his performance.

I haven't seen a single best picture nominee, which is kind of depressing. As for the animated feature category, I was surprised to see The Lego Movie snubbed, particularly since I haven't even heard of two of the films nominated. "How to Train Your Dragon 2" was the best animated feature I saw this year pretty handily.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I wonder if "The Lego Movie" was ineligible because there was too much live action?

 

[LongTimeListener]

**** Poop is going to win for cinematography.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

It will be interesting if there are any upsets in the acting categories...

It sure seems like Moore, Keaton, Arquette and Simmons are the overwhelming favorites to win.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I'm surprised Selma got nominated for Best Picture but David Oyelowo didn't receive a nom for Best Actor. It's kind of incredible that the film could be considered for best picture when the actor playing Martin Luther King Jr. did not turn in a performance worthy of a best actor nod. Seems like the film would kind of hinge on his performance.

I thought Selma was a disappointment and Oyelowo was the reason.

Playing MLK is a insanely tough role, but he didn't pull it off, IMO. I don't know if anybody could, but I didn't buy him as MLK for a second.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I thought Jake Gyllenhaal should have been nominated for best actor for his role in Nightcrawler but what the heck... not the kind of movie the Academy typically appreciates.

Oscar Nominations 2015: See The Full List

I really liked Nightcrawler. But of the performances I've seen in that category (Carell, Cooper) they were certainly deserving of nominations.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Whiplash is the best of the four best picture nominees that I've seen.

American Sniper is tremendous as well, but I would have a hard time believing that the Academy would vote Eastwood another Oscar. I could be wrong.

I found Selma disappointing (still good, but disappointing).

I see Boyhood as more of a tremendous accomplishment than a great film.

I'm looking forward to seeing the others.

 

[bigpern23]

I thought Selma was a disappointment and Oyelowo was the reason.

Playing MLK is a insanely tough role, but he didn't pull it off, IMO. I don't know if anybody could, but I didn't buy him as MLK for a second.

I've heard similar takes (although, to be fair, I've also heard he was excellent), but regardless, it seems incongruous that a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr. could be nominated for best picture while the actor portraying him does not get nominated. How does the film overcome a lackluster performance by the guy playing MLK to be among the best eight films of the year? Seems like they either should have both been nominated, or both been snubbed.

The explanation might be as simple as Selma was the sixth-best movie, and Oyelowo was the sixth-best actor, thus the film was nominated, but he was not. Still, it's just odd to see the lead actor in an Oscar-nominated biopic not get nominated.

 

[Buck]

So if you're not nominated for an Oscar than your performance was "lackluster"?

 

[Buck]

then

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I've heard similar takes (although, to be fair, I've also heard he was excellent), but regardless, it seems incongruous that a biopic about Martin Luther King Jr. could be nominated for best picture while the actor portraying him does not get nominated. How does the film overcome a lackluster performance by the guy playing MLK to be among the best eight films of the year? Seems like they either should have both been nominated, or both been snubbed.

The explanation might be as simple as Selma was the sixth-best movie, and Oyelowo was the sixth-best actor, thus the film was nominated, but he was not. Still, it's just odd to see the lead actor in an Oscar-nominated biopic not get nominated.

I wonder if there is a recent instance where a biopic was nominated with no actors or the director from it were nominated. Very strange.

 

[bigpern23]

I wasn't saying his performance was lackluster. I haven't seen the film. I was responding to RecoveringJournalist's assessment of Oyelowo's performance and asking how the film overcame it to become a best picture nominee. I noted in the following graph that he may have simply delivered the sixth-best performance.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

First time since 1998 that no African Americans were nominated in any of the acting categories.

 

[bigpern23]

I wonder if there is a recent instance where a biopic was nominated with no actors or the director from it were nominated. Very strange.

Exactly, RJ. A biopic is just a different animal when it comes to the Oscars because the film is so centrally based on that particular character. Hell, how many films overall have been nominated for best picture without receiving a single nomination in the acting and directing categories?

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I wasn't saying his performance was lackluster. I haven't seen the film. I was responding to RecoveringJournalist's assessment of Oyelowo's performance and asking how the film overcame it to become a best picture nominee. I noted in the following graph that he may have simply delivered the sixth-best performance.

I'll be curious what others think of Selma after they see it. With all of the great movies that are out I was annoyed with myself for choosing to see that over Birdman and The Theory of Everything.

 

[bigpern23]

A friend of mine who saw an advanced screening came out of it saying every American should see it. So I've seen a pretty varied reaction to it so far. I'm interested to see it and judge for myself.

 

[Buck]

I haven't seen 'Selma.' I just think you can have a best picture without a best actor or actress.

 

[Buck]

I'm shocked by 'The Theory of Everything.' I didn't think much of it.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I haven't seen 'Selma.' I just think you can have a best picture without a best actor or actress.

Absolutely. But when it's a biopic, I think that changes things a bit because the film usually hinges on the lead performances.