The Flickering Myth writing team discuss the nominations for the 86th Academy Awards…
On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 86th Academy Awards, which you can check out in full here if you haven’t already seen them, or you just want to remind yourself who’ll be contesting the awards when the Oscar winners are revealed on March 2nd. Naturally this got the Flickering Myth writing team talking, and here’s some thoughts on this year’s nominees…
Thomas Harris: Further proof that “old white people” should probably watch films other than simply assuming that something is good. Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Joaquin Phoenix, Blue Is the Warmest Color, Stories We Tell, Inside Llewyn Davis. A farce really.
Robert D. Spake: 12 Years a Slave was pretty boring so I don’t think it should win Best Picture, although Chiwetel Ejiofor was good in it so I could see him winning. Nice to see Philomena get some love but I’m surprised Saving Mr. Banks didn’t get any recognition.
Anthony Stokes: Fruitvale Station was completely robbed, and Christian Bale’s nomination was undeserved.
Thomas Harris: Quick addition: David O. Russell must have something on the Academy members for American Hustle to garner 10 nominations. Only Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner are vaguely interesting.
Anthony Stokes: I respectfully disagree. I adore American Hustle and would’ve been upset had the leads not been nominated save Bale.
Villordsutch: Yet to see either Gravity or American Hustle, though I feel sorry for Gravity as the world knows that sci-fi and fantasty are only given a nomination out of confusion. The Lord of the Rings films only received their Oscars as somebody pointed out the money they were pulling in for the studio.
Chris Cooper: 12 Years deserves it. Gravity deserved some noms. Hustle had great performances but as a film was highly overrated. Also having just watched Frozen again I support Let It Go being nominated for song.
Matt Spencer-Skeen: Agree with Chris on Hustle, great performances, story dragged. One word for the nominations is predictable. There is a reason ‘Oscar Bait’ has become a term and this year really shows it. [Read Matt’s opinion piece ‘Was Anyone Snubbed?’ here].
Anghus Houvouras: I liked everyone nominated EXCEPT Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Judi Dench also feels obligatory. Everyone else: awesome. [Read Anghus’ opinion piece I’m Getting Sick of Meryl Streep here].
Robert W. Monk: Glad The Hunt and The Great Beauty got noms for Best Foreign Picture. Both excellent examples of European cinema.
What did you make of this year’s Oscar nominations, and who do you think will be taking home the Oscars come March 2nd? Let us know in the comments below…
Originally published January 18, 2014. Updated December 13, 2019.
