Cinapse is squarely focused on discussing film, not reporting news flashes and casting rumors or speculating about the business side of things. So when a big story breaks, we’ll do our best to not simply regurgitate what you can read elsewhere, but rather offer meaningful reflections and insights. That’s when we turn to jerks — Knee Jerks!
Ahh, the Oscar nominations. So much digital ink and rage has already been spilled today, upon the announcement of the 2014 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominees, but below you’ll find a range of the Cinapse team’s reactions to the 2014 Oscar nominations. Some of us will highlight the things are are excited to see nominated, some will express frustrations over what went unacknowledged, and some will simply say: “F–k The Oscars”.
Included below our collected thoughts is a full listing of the 2014 Oscar nominations pulled directed from the Academy’s listing in largely plain text, in case you’d like to see the complete announcement we are discussing.
And without further ado, the Cinapse team’s knee jerk reactions to the 2014 Oscar Nominees!
Ed: Everyone’s got their opinions. Myself included. And on the one hand, none of it really matters because eventually we film fans all learn to put the Oscar nominations into proper perspective. Who cares what the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thinks, with their nepotism, old fashioned ideas, and massive resistance to change, right? Well, the problem there is that most of America has no concept of how the awards are selected or doled out, and they DO give more attention and credence to nominated and award winning films.
For that reason, I’m personally upset that director Ava Duvernay, actor David Oyelowo, and cinematographer Bradford Young were not nominated for their work on Selma. The film won’t be seen or discussed by as wide of an audience as it would have been (with more nominations) and should have been (what with being perhaps the most important film of the year that could still have a remarkable cultural impact if it finds a large enough audience). The Academy saw fit to nominate Selma for best picture, and rightly so, but it could’ve made history with the nomination of Ava Duvernay as the first African-American female director nomination. Instead we get another fairly boring year of nominations.
On the plus side, and in spite of the blatant white-washing and male domination, I’m pleased to see a few things. Boyhood is history in the making, with Richard Linklater’s visionary writing and directing being well deserving of attention and Patricia Arquette’s supporting nod is thrilling. The Grand Budapest Hotel is also among the year’s best, and apparently Wes Anderson’s nomination for best director is his first, which is absolutely unfathomable.
Now to see who takes home the statues and then go back to being simple film fans who love cinema regardless of prestige. (@Ed_Travis)
Jordan: Congrats ahead of time to Patricia Arquette for her guaranteed Best Supporting Actress win! ‘What’s this? Jordan possesses the power of foresight?’ It’s called deduction, people. And it’s plain as the prosthetic witch nose on Meryl Streep’s face. Let’s go at this alphabetically:
Birdman: I LOVE that I now get to say ‘Academy Award nominated Emma Stone’. But for this? She was fine, sure, but not ONCE did I lose myself in her performance. She was always just Emma Stone with painted tats, fried hair, who’s cocaine skinny. Pass.
The Imitation Game: Look. If I had to cast a beautiful, brainy, selfless supporting woman in my own life, I’d go Keira Knightley. She’s great. But does her Joan Clarke even have an arc? She’s simply the Sympathetic Shoulder incarnate. Pass.
Into The Woods: The Oscars are like Passover in that, instead of Jews leaving an empty chair for Elijah, voters leave an open nod for Meryl. It’s tradition. It’s like the pj pants that Mom/Santa sticks in my stocking every year. I don’t need new sleepwear just like Streep doesn’t need new a trophy. Pass.
Wild: Welcome to the race, Laura Dern. Of all this year’s women, you MIGHT’VE been the best bet at taking Arquette down in your own small way. ‘Small’. Sadly, it’s also a word I could use to describe your chances. With nods in only Dallas, Detroit, and D.C.’s Critics Circles and a Satellite to spread your praise, you just don’t have enough steam to beat the Boyhood bullet train. Probable Pass.
So, again: Congratulations, Ms. Arquette. Enjoy your win. Thanks for laying down such a worthy role. (@ProblemPasture)
Jon: As is often the case, the Oscar nominations are more about who didn’t get nominated rather than who did. This year the standout seems to be overlooking Selma (notably for direction), which I haven’t seen so cannot dwell on. Sure, race and diversity is something that is often overlooked by the Academy but to be honest it’s more a case of them voting for the same, bland shit year after year. Some younger, diverse and more adventurous types may take it as a compliment to not be nominated. The whole landscape of the Oscars needs to shift radically if it is to stay (become) relevant.
I’m pleased for the Birdman and Grand Budapest nominations. Not so pleased that the “Travis Bickle-esque” performance of Jake Gyllenhaal in Nightcrawler was overlooked, and more angry at the lack of a nomination for Jodorowsky’s Dune. But most significantly, what the hell is up with The Lego Movie not being up there? Everything is awesome, except for the dumbasses who overlooked one of the most joyous and creative films of the year. (@Texas_Jon)
Malachi: Even with the notorious nature of the Academy, I am baffled by this year’s snubs. Both Selma’s Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo are egregious omissions. Oyelowo, in particular, elevates a film that could have very well been awful. In the same category as Oyelowo, Fiennes’ absence for The Grand Budapest Hotel is glaring. As for best supporting actress, where in the hell is Agata Kulesza for her work in Ida?
And all of this is a shame, because it may precipitate a backlash against The Grand Budapest Hotel, which was the best film of 2014. (@CinapseMalachi)
James: Far be it for me to care about an awards ceremony that, like most, lacks any kind of credibility thanks to the wrong-headed decisions they frequently make, but I’m surprised at the lack of love for Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher (or Foxcatcher in general), and the absence of both Ralph Fiennes and Jake Gyllenhaal from Best Actor list. I guess clever mimickry is favoured over carefully constructed and insightful characterisation.
The snub for The Lego Movie is a surprise but The Tale of Princess Kaguya should win anyway as it’s one of the films of the year (animated or otherwise).
And I cannot understand the love for Birdman. I understand why critics and awards juries are falling over themselves in praise of it. It’s good. But I personally thought it was all surface, no feeling.
If we are to have these annual back-slapping events, at least be fair, and consistent, and logical. Overall, once again the noms are safe and predictable.
Then again, I think I’m expecting too much from a jury comprised of a monkey wielding a marker pen, a man obsessed with his own genitals, and Joan Collins.(@JCOnThaGrid)
Rhea: [Culled from Tweets at Rhea’s account]. The Grand Budapest Hotel was entertaining — I saw it twice — but it definitely did not deserve NINE Oscar nominations. And where are the women? Selma director Ava Duvernay certainly deserved to be on the list. Seriously, if they did not divide the Best Acting Oscar nominations on the gender binary, I doubt women would make it into those nominations, either. (@Rheabette)
Wilson: Yay Budapest, Boyhood, and Marion Cotillard! Boo for snubbing Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo and for nominating The Theory of Everything for anything at all. Also, take out Whiplash and add Inherent Vice to Best Picture noms. Eh, forget about it Wilson. It’s Oscars-town.
Also who really cares, because fuck the Oscars. (@SailorGoodspeed)
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