Certain things enter into the collective culture, and it’s very hard to shake them. So when a lot of people say “Emma Thompson will be nominated for Saving Mr. Banks” for a performance that nobody really loves or “Inside Llewyn Davis will be nominated because the Coens are never not nominated” for a film that most people hate, these things tend to stick. Even though they’re mostly meritless declarations. So now I’d like to look at this year’s Oscar nominations and break down the people everyone thinks are snubbed and then talk about the people who actually got screwed.
Best Picture
Who People Think Got Snubbed: “Inside Llewyn Davis” is the most frequently talked about as getting “screwed” out of a Best Picture nomination, but why? The film is always described as a “love it or hate it” film, nobody thinks it’s one of the Coen Brother’s best, and it wasn’t shown any love from the guild awards. Did people think just the Coen name could propel this to the top of the pack?
Who Got Lucky: “Philomena”
Who Actually Got Snubbed: There’s really not one. Nine movies were nominated and I would argue that when “Philomena” makes the cut, they’re searching for nominees to fill out the list. I mean, when people are grumbling about “Saving Mr. Banks” as a possible snubbee in this category things are a bit desperate. Still though, I would have loved to have seen one true indie-underdog make the cut like “Fruitvale Station,” “Before Midnight,” or (especially) “All is Lost.” Why not fill out the tenth possible slot with a little-film-that-could?
Best Director
Who People Think Got Snubbed: The Coen Brothers, but again, why? Also, Paul Greengrass for Captain Phillips, even though this was a tough category and his direction may have been snare-drum tight but wasn’t as innovative as some others that have been snubbed.
Who Got Lucky: Alexander Payne for “Nebraska.” I’m sorry, but this nomination is just out of respect for his name more than he really deserved to be nominated over, say…
Who Actually Got Snubbed: Spike Jonze for “Her.” A romantic science-fiction film is an almost impossible thing to pull off, and Jonze does it without ever sacrificing his quirky, intelligent, or non-violent tendencies (there’s not a killer robot or laser gun in sight). In fact, he’s a perennial snubee who’s never actually won this category before. But the real loser here is spontaneity, where are the wild card pics like last year’s directors of “Amour” or “Beasts of the Southern Wild?” It would have been nice to see one crazy pic in there.
Best Actor
Who People Think Got Snubbed: Tom Hanks for “Captain Philips.” I loved this performance, but it was a really competitive category this year and this performance just wasn’t my favorite.
Who Got Lucky: Bruce Dern for “Nebraska.” Why pass up Redford for this performance?
Who Actually Got Snubbed: Sure people are talking about Robert Redford’s snub, but he really did get screwed. It’s disgusting that he was left out because he didn’t campaign as much as the others or because Leo is a bigger star right now. But I also would have loved to see Joaquin Phoenix nominated for “Her,” and it’s an equal shame he’s not included.
Best Actress
Who People Think Got Snubbed: Emma Thompson for “Saving Mr. Banks.” An unlikable character in a movie that most people are just lukewarm about. It really shouldn’t have been that big a surprise.
Who Got Lucky: Meryl Streep for August: Osage County. This is also an unlikable character in a movie that most people are just lukewarm about. This could have been an equally likely snub, and probably should have been.
Who Actually Got Snubbed: Spontaneity. There’s not one real wild card nominee in this category, and I would love to have seen Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Color), Julie Delpy (Before Midnight), or Brie Larson (Short Term 12) nominated. Wouldn’t a nomination for one of these have been a little more exciting than the 400th for Streep or Judi Dench?
Best Supporting Actor
Who People Think Got Snubbed: This was always a pretty fluid category, and that’s apparent in the fact that there’s no general consensus on exactly who got screwed. Some people say Tom Hanks in Saving Mr. Banks (which I actually agree with since his Walt Disney is the best thing in the movie), some say James Gandolfini in Enough Said (which I really agree with), others might say Jeremy Renner in American Hustle (always a long shot), and even Will Forte in Nebraska (preposterous). The loudest squawking are those saying Rush’s Daniel Bruhl was snubbed, but that’s singularly stupid and they should stop saying it.
Who Got Lucky: This is tough, because the most unexpected nominee is Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street and yet I’m thrilled he was nominated. He was so much better here than in his slightly overpraised work for Moneyball, and I’m glad he was included.
Who Actually Got Snubbed: It would have been great to see James Gandolfini nominated for Enough Said. It was a completely unexpected side (vulnerable, romantic, and sensitive while still being macho) of the guy who played Tony Soprano.
Best Supporting Actress
Who Got Lucky: Julia Roberts for August: Osage County and Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine. Neither one of these performances were anything special. [Roberts wasn’t even the most impressive supporting actress in her own movie…]
Who People Think Got Snubbed AND Who Actually Got Snubbed: Oprah Winfrey for The Butler and Margo Martindale for August: Osage County. I loved both of these performances, and really wanted to see them included. Martindale might have been if Roberts weren’t getting a much stronger push from their movie.
The day the Oscars snub (do not nominate) Meryl Streep for anything is the day they cancel the show. And that is a fact, not an opinion.