Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2014

Welcome to a returning weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub was the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed. With the 2014 Oscar season wrapped, it’s time to take a look back at the past year.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2014

The Lego Movie for Best Animated Feature
Why it was all set to happen: Forget “Selma,” its director, or its star. There were indicators that many people didn’t see that film and that it might be left out. This film, on the other hand, was a resounding success right off the bat. It was the first out of the gate with an early February release. By the time awards season got started, it was splitting votes with “Big Hero 6” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2” for industry prizes, but there’s no denying the originality and cleverness of its format and plot.

Why it probably didn’t: This comes down to the same thing that got 2012’s Big Snub, director Ben Affleck, omitted from the race: everyone presumed that someone else was voting for the obvious choice. The Best Animated Feature category has included more diversity in recent years in terms of international films, and both the foreign contenders, “Song of the Sea” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” managed to break through, leaving this film out in the cold.

Who took his place: Those two were joined by this film’s top competition, “Big Hero 6,” the eventual winner, and “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” The fifth slot went to “The Boxtrolls,” which bested its fellow Golden Globe nominee “The Book of Life.”

Consolation prize: The film’s signature tune, “Everything is Awesome,” which was snubbed by Golden Globe voters, did earn a nomination and made for one of the most memorable performances of the evening.

Come back next week for a look at our next feature: The Surprise Inclusion of 2014. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. There a few contenders for this one, so chime in if you have a pick!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2012

Welcome to a returning weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub was the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed. With the 2013 Oscar season wrapped, it’s time to take a look back at the past two years.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2012

Ben Affleck (Argo) for Best Director
Why it was all set to happen: Affleck took home an Oscar with his good friend Matt Damon at the age of twenty-five for penning the original script for “Good Will Hunting.” After that, his acting choices didn’t necessarily improve, though he did earn a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as George Reeves in “Hollywoodland,” but he ventured into more behind-the-camera efforts which proved productive. His first two directorial efforts, “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town,” earned positive mentions and earned one supporting acting Oscar bid apiece. Now, Affleck made what was easy to perceive as the strongest film of the year, a solid crowdpleaser with some historical context and drama to boot. There wasn’t even a possibility that it wouldn’t happen – he was the frontrunner to win.

Why it probably didn’t: This one has been analyzed before, and the simplest answer is that everyone assumed someone else was voting for him. Another locked nominee – Kathryn Bigelow – was likely snubbed because her film, “Zero Dark Thirty,” was under fire for its controversial portrayal of torture. Affleck inexplicably got edged out because there were too many underdogs competing for his spot. The tow heavyweights – Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee – had no trouble getting in because they were both respected before and their films were perceived as well-rounded and more than competent. David O. Russell rode the buzz of his “Silver Linings Playbook” to earn a place even without a DGA or Globe nomination.

Who took his place: And then there was a throwback to the “lone director slot” that used to exist when only five films were up for Best Picture, and it happened with two films. Both Michael Haneke and Benh Zeitlin, for “Amour” and “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” respectively, rallied enough voters to earn them spots. That led to the bizarre scenario of it being the first time since 1989 that a Best Picture frontrunner wasn’t even nominated for Best Director.

Consolation prize: Affleck still claimed a Best Picture prize for producing the film, which also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing, the three most significant trophies aside from the elusive Best Director. Everyone knew that it was a symbolic win for his directorial efforts, even though the snub surely stung worse than happy moment.

Come back next week for a look at our next feature: The Surprise Inclusion of 2013. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. There a few contenders for this one, so chime in if you have a pick!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2013

Welcome to a returning weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub was the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed. With the 2013 Oscar season wrapped, it’s time to take a look back at the past two years.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2013

Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips) for Best Actor
Why it was all set to happen: Hanks earned his first Oscar nomination in 1988 for his light performance in “Big,” and won back-to-back trophies for his second and third tries in 1993 and 1994 for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” He was nominated again in 1998 and 2000, for “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away.” Now, thirteen years later, he delivered a performance that didn’t look very much like his earlier work yet still showed a considerable amount of effort. He was also in one of the bigger crowd-pleasers of the year, “Saving Mr. Banks,” a film which didn’t end up earning much Oscar traction and also saw its lead star, Emma Thompson, another popular 90s Oscar choice, snubbed on nominations day. When it became clear that Hanks would definitely not be a double nominee, it seemed even likelier than he could earn one leading nomination with nothing to draw away from it and his film poised for a big Oscar haul.

Why it probably didn’t: The simple and unfortunate answer is “American Hustle,” which found its lead actor and least valuable player, Christian Bale, swept along with the rest of his film in a domination of the Oscar field. Hanks had Golden Globe and SAG nods, and his film was a sure thing for Best Picture. As the nicest guy in Hollywood and one who already had two Oscars, he was easiest to pass over. His director, Paul Greengrass, a Globe and DGA nominee, was also snubbed, leaving the film to earn only technical nominations to go with its Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay bids. Hanks did a terrific job of making his part look natural, and that superb ability ultimately made him go unnoticed.

Who took his place: Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio

Consolation prize: Hanks proved that he still cares about giving a good performance and taking on challenging roles, including ones that don’t fit into his typical oeuvre. He helped bring a powerful story to life, and will hopefully continue along in his career as he approaches his 60s.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2012. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. There a few contenders for this one, so chime in if you have a pick!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2010

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed. Since I started this feature back in 2010, I’ll now be filling in the past two years.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2010:

Christopher Nolan for Best Director

Why it was all set to happen: After “The Dark Knight” was shut out in the top categories despite strong precursor performance two years earlier, Nolan finally had a surefire hit that was going to go the distance. His first two DGA nods, for “Memento” and “The Dark Knight,” didn’t lead to anything, but “Inception” was one of the most popular films of the year and had the awards momentum behind it to get there. No one could argue that Nolan was overdue.

Why it probably didn’t: Some people didn’t get the movie, and others probably thought it was overrated. This kick in the pants for Nolan demonstrated that voters only liked the film enough to include in a ten-wide Best Picture field, not to recognize its individual merits aside from technical competence and Nolan’s screenplay. It also didn’t help that the film fits into the science fiction genre, which voters don’t tend to respect, with few exceptions.

What took its place: The Coen Brothers for “True Grit,” receiving their third directorial nomination.

Consolation prize: Two nominations, for producing and writing. If he couldn’t break into the directing race for this, hope isn’t high that he’ll ever be able to do it.

Come back next week for a look at the Surprise Inclusion of 2011!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2011

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed. Since I started this feature back in 2010, I’ll now be filling in the past two years.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2011:

“The Adventures of Tintin” for Best Animated Feature

Why it was all set to happen: In a year where category juggernaut Pixar had a film that wasn’t well-liked, “Cars 2,” just one of a handful of sequels to past nominees that weren’t as popular as their predecessors, this film had a whole lot going for it. Oscar winner Steven Spielberg adapting classic material into an adventure film for the whole family was a great idea, and it even played out well on screen, earning strong reviews. The film beat out “Rango” for the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and a PGA Award, putting it at the head of the pack

Why it probably didn’t: Most people allege a bias against motion capture, and that’s probably a big part of it. Some may also feel that Spielberg is past his prime, and others may have just wanted to reward something else. The inclusion of French kids’ movie “A Cat In Paris” and the very adult Cuba-set film “Chico & Rita” also suggest that this category, which is a mere eleven years old, is ripe for change, ready to include a wider array of animated films rather than just honor the most popular animated films of the year.

What took its place: “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico & Rita”

Consolation prize: A nomination for Best Original Score, one of two marking the career 46th and 47th nominations for John Williams.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2010!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2002

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2002:

Peter Jackson (The Two Towers) for Best Director
Why it was all set to happen: After earning an Oscar nod one year earlier for the first installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Jackson was all set to reap another nomination for the second chapter. He was one of the six directors nominated for a Golden Globe, and made the cut when the list was trimmed to five for the Directors Guild of America. While, based on the trend established during the previous twenty years, there would likely be a “lone director” nominee, a director nominated when his (or her, in the case of Lena Wertmuller) film wasn’t for Best Picture, Jackson was probably safe and another director would be left off to make room for the other guy. The last time that a sequel was nominated for Best Picture, both it and its director won – “The Godfather: Part II” and Francis Ford Coppola in 1974.

Why it probably didn’t: Having been nominated the previous year probably worked against Jackson rather than for him. Knowing that the next chapter would be released the following year also contributed to his snub. Even if the third film wasn’t a hit, Jackson had still been recognized for “The Fellowship of the Ring” and other directors, particularly foreign filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, could be honored while Jackson sat the race out. Stephen Daldry had the “lone director” nominee two years earlier for “Billy Elliot,” and therefore he stayed in the race for “The Hours.” That left the three-way showdown between Roman Polanski (“The Pianist”), Martin Scorsese (“Gangs of New York), and Rob Marshall (“Chicago”), leaving no room for Jackson.

Who took its place: Pedro Almodovar (“Talk to Her”)

Consolation prize: Jackson is probably the luckiest victim of the Big Snub. “The Two Towers” still reaped six nominations, including one for Best Picture, and two wins. The following year, “The Return of the King” won all eleven categories in which it was nominated, and Jackson took home the Best Director prize.

Come back next week for the first installment of the next series of the Wednesday Oscar Retrospective! I’ll be taking a look at the surprise inclusion of 2009 to start.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2003

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2003:

Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen) for Best Actress
Why it was all set to happen: There were a number of snubs this year – like “Cold Mountain” and Maria Bello – but this one strikes me as the most surprising. Wood was a young actress (only sixteen years old when the film came out) who performed tremendously in a very difficult, disturbing role. She earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her hard work, and even managed to be classified as the leading actress while past Oscar winner Holly Hunter was rightly relegated to the supporting category. Wood was the only Globe nominee who made it over to the SAGs with winners Charlize Theron and Diane Keaton, cementing her as a frontrunner…

Why it probably didn’t: …but there were too many other contenders at play. SAG-nominated but Globe-snubbed Naomi Watts made it all the way to the Oscars, while Samantha Morton, who had early on been named as a potential nominee but lost steam as the race went on, took another slot for her performance in “In America.” The biggest surprise, which also served as a slap in the face to Wood, was to promote the definitive star of “Whale Rider,” Keisha Castle-Hughes, who was nominated for a SAG in the supporting category, to lead actress. With Theron and Keaton taking up the other two slots, there was no room for Wood. This situation is probably most similar to 2007 with Angelina Jolie, albeit minus the shock of a thirteen-year-old scoring a nom for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also possibly hurting Wood was the fact that some guilds, like the Satellite Awards, recognized her and costar Nikki Reed together, as if they delivered only one performance.

Who took its place: Keisha Castle-Hughes & Samantha Morton

Consolation prize: Sadly, none. Hunter did earn a supporting actress nomination, but didn’t win. Wood hasn’t had a part anywhere near as good as “Thirteen” since, the closest being a starring role in “Across the Universe” and a guest spot on “True Blood.”

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2002. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. This one’s a no-brainer, although I suppose it could be argued for two different people (one’s an actor, the other’s not).

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2004

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2004:

Paul Giamatti (Sideways) for Best Actor
Why it was all set to happen: One year earlier, Giamatti earned positive reviews for his starring role in the little independent film that could, “American Splendor,” but only got as far as a National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor. This time around, Giamatti was the inarguable lead of a surefire Best Picture nominee and riding the wave of a genuinely liked and, as a plus, more widely seen film. He may not have been any competition for Jamie Foxx at the Golden Globes, but he made it to a SAG nomination along with the four eventual Oscar nominees – Foxx, Don Cheadle, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp. His chances for a nomination weren’t up for a debate – he was a lock.

Why it probably didn’t: This one is a bit of a mystery. Giamatti had everything going for him but ended up the surprise snub on nomination day simply because he was pushed out by a wild card. When actors direct popular movies that get nominated for Oscars, they often ride the hype of the film to a matching acting nod. It happened in 1990 with Kevin Costner, an actor who most sane people would never nominate for any kind of acting award save for a Razzie, for “Dances with Wolves.” Two years later, it happened again with Clint Eastwood for “Unforgiven.” It turns out the latter instance wasn’t a one-hit wonder, but would repeat again in 2004 for “Million Dollar Baby.” Giamatti was likely most vulnerable because his film was a comedy, and many probably considered supporting thespians Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen easier to accommodate in their respective categories.

Who took its place: Clint Eastwood

Consolation prize: Giamatti did earn an Oscar nod the following year for “Cinderella Man,” and even picked up the SAG Award for his performance. Additionally, he won a handful of prizes for his turn as John Adams in HBO’s miniseries.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2003. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. There a few contenders for this one, so chime in if you have a pick!

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2005

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2005:

“Walk the Line” for Best Picture
Why it was all set to happen: Let me first preface this by saying that this is likely to be the least convincing installment of this series. 2005 was not a year big surprises, and I thought that saying “a lone director nominee” or “Star Wars Episode III” for Best Visual Effects wouldn’t have held up in court. This is instead the major omission that surprised me back in January 2006 when nominations were announced. The PGA lineup preserved only three of the Golden-Globe nominated Best Pictures, adding “Capote” and “Crash” into the mix. The DGA list matched that, but left “Walk the Line” off in favor of Steven Spielberg’s “Munich.” With those four films vying for three slots alongside “Brokeback Mountain” and “Good Night, and Good Luck,” three seemed to have an advantage because of their stars who were getting nominated for and winning awards, leaving “Munich” out in the cold with no attention for lead actor Eric Bana. “Walk the Line,” on the other hand, won all three of the Golden Globes it was nominated for (Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical, Best Actor, Best Actress) and Reese Witherspoon had also won the SAG Award several days before the nominations announcement.

Why it probably didn’t: Only two of the Golden Globe nominees for Best Picture ended up with corresponding Oscar nominations for the top prize. This was the first time in almost twenty-five years that the Best Picture and Best Director nominees matched up perfectly, mirroring the DGA’s list. Joaquin Phoenix and Witherspoon may have been locked, but “Walk the Line” director James Mangold was never truly in the running to accompany his film. That’s not a deal breaker, but when the main competition is a film directed by Steven Spielberg, who did earn a Golden Globe nod (as well as a mention for Best Screenplay) despite the film’s snub in Best Picture. Without a doubt, it occupied the sixth slot and would have certainly made it in had the field been expanded to ten, or even just six, nominees.

Who took its place: “Munich”

Consolation prize: The film earned five nominations – for both actors, costume design, and sound. Witherspoon took home Best Actress.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2004. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. Unlike 2005, the big snub of 2004 is extremely notable and especially staggering, especially looking back on it six years later.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2006

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2006:

“Volver” for Best Foreign Film
Why it was all set to happen: After first winning an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1999 for “All About My Mother,” director Pedro Almodovar earned a nomination for Best Director for “Talk to Her” in 2002 after the film was not submitted by Spain as their official entry in the foreign film category, and even picked up the award for Best Original Screenplay. While his next film, “Bad Education,” didn’t get very far on the American awards circuit, his latest protect had an actress very well-known in the United States in the leading role. Penelope Cruz was on track to earn her first Oscar nomination, and the film was sure to come along with it.

Why it probably didn’t: “Volver” stood out at the Golden Globes when it was up against not-quite-foreign films by American directors, “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Apocalypto,” and eventual Oscar frontrunners “The Lives of Others” and “Pan’s Labyrinth.” 2006 was a rare year in which almost all of the nine finalists on Oscar’s list for Best Foreign Film were in theaters during or shortly after Oscar season. The competition was stiff – the three aforementioned films, “After the Wedding,” “Avenue Montaigne,” “Days of Glory,” “Water,” “Black Book,” and the unreleased (at the time) “Vitus.” The theory is that everyone thought that someone else would be voting for “Volver” and decided to throw their support behind another equally compelling foreign entry from the rich field that year.

Who took its place: “The Lives of Others” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” were joined by the phenomenal “After the Wedding,” the terrific "Days of Glory," and the awfully boring and inexplicably praised “Water.”

Consolation prize: Cruz earned the first of her three Oscar nominations (and should have won). Unfortunately, their next collaboration fared even worse, as “Broken Embraces” received no nominations at all. At least they’re still producing excellent and wonderful films!

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2005. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments. Suggestions are especially welcome for this year since the nominations announcement was one of the most predictable and uninteresting in recent years.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2007

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2007:

Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart) for Best Actress
Why it was all set to happen: Jolie was previously a one-shot wonder, winning the Best Supporting Actress trophy in 1999 for “Girl, Interrupted.” She didn’t have any Oscar-worthy roles over the next few years, opting instead for action movies like “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and big-budget flops like “Alexander.” Her ultra-serious performance as the wife of kidnapped reporter Daniel Pearl earned her Golden Globe and SAG nominations, setting her up perfectly for an Oscar bid.

Why it probably didn’t: Despite earning positive reviews, her movie carried no other buzz, putting a dent in Jolie’s chances since it was considerably easier for voters to forget about her film altogether. She fell prey to a surprising joint scenario where both an unexpectedly strong nominee and a contender without any precursor mentions both snuck in, ousting her from the lineup while Marion Cotillard, Julie Christie, and Ellen Page were safe.

Who took her place: Cate Blanchett is a force to be reckoned with, going into the awards season with three previous nominations and one win. Most expected the attention for her to be on her supporting role in “I’m Not There.” Her Golden Globe nod for the reprise of her Oscar-nominated performance in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” seemed unimportant because there are many filler slots at the Globes, but her subsequent SAG nod helped translate to double nominations at the Oscars that year (Ryan Gosling in “Lars and the Real Girl” wasn’t so lucky). With Blanchett in rather than out, Jolie lost the fifth slot to a revered actress who hadn’t popped up on many awards rosters that year – Laura Linney from “The Savages,” which also earned a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Consolation prize: Jolie did make it all the way to Oscar the following year, earning a Best Actress nomination for her performance in Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling.” She even had the good fortune of being accompanied by the film’s cinematographer, art director, and set decorator.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2006. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2008

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2008:

“The Dark Knight” for Best Picture
Why it was all set to happen: The most popular film of the year seemed like a sure bet by the time nominations were going to be announced. After Heath Ledger was posthumously awarded a Best Supporting Actor trophy at the Golden Globes, the film’s only nomination, the movie rallied with mentions from the DGA, WGA, and PGA. Ledger was unstoppable in the Best Supporting Actor race, and director Christopher Nolan seemed overdue after being snubbed for both “Memento” in 2001 and “Batman Begins” in 2005. The Best Picture lineup had solidified when “The Dark Knight” and “Milk” knocked out Globe-nominated Kate Winslet films “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader” and joined “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” and “Slumdog Millionaire” as the DGA, WGA, and PGA honorees. In short, the Best Picture lineup appeared to be sewn up before nominations were announced.

Why it probably didn’t: Its “sure thing” status was going to defy the odds. The first Batman film from Christopher Nolan didn’t earn any major nominations. Few sequels have ever earned Best Picture nominations, and none without the first film being recognized as well. Its nomination would also have catered to the idea that the Oscars do in fact represent public opinion in some way, and its snub only served to reinforce the opposite belief.

What took its place: Instead, a movie that grossed almost $500 million less and earned mixed reviews (58 on Metacritic, 61 on Rotten Tomatoes), took its place. In addition to promoting Kate Winslet to leading actress, “The Reader” earned five nominations after having only the Golden Globes as a successful precursor, knocking “The Dark Knight” out of the top three categories.

Consolation prize: “The Dark Knight” was still the third most-honored film, with eight nominations. It won two, for Heath Ledger and for sound editing. Its most significant victory was the expansion of the Best Picture field to include ten nominees the following year, when popular, crowd-pleasing films like “The Blind Side” managed to earn a nomination.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2007. If you have a prediction or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments.

Wednesday Oscar Retrospective: The Big Snub of 2009

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Retrospective. The Big Snub is the second in a series of projects looking back at the past eight years of the Oscars, dating back to the first ceremony I watched and closely followed.

Each year, the Oscar nominations announcement presents several notable omissions. This series is devoted to analyzing the biggest and most shocking snub of all (in any category). It has nothing to do with personal opinion but rather with what seemed likely at the time and what most people were predicting. Once again, this is a film/director/actor who didn’t even earn a nomination.

The Big Snub of 2009:
“Invictus” for Best Picture
Why it was all set to happen: Even though it didn’t score a Best Motion Picture – Drama nod at the Golden Globes, the expanded field of ten Best Picture nominees seemed like it would certainly welcome it in. A Globe snub isn’t a death sentence: “Milk” made it in the previous year, and “Crash” even won without one. Clint Eastwood did earn a Best Director nomination, however, and also took home the National Board of Review prize. In 2006, his film “Letters from Iwo Jima” managed a Best Picture nomination somewhat surprisingly after winning the Best Foreign Film Golden Globe, and his 2004 film “Million Dollar Baby” came out of nowhere in November to eventually take home the Best Picture award. Good buzz for actors Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon made its chances seem even more secure. Some prognosticators even though of it as a safer bet than choices like “District 9” and “A Serious Man,” ranking it higher on their prediction lists.

Why it probably didn’t: There are likely as many Eastwood haters as there are Eastwood lovers in the Academy, and many who felt that “Million Dollar Baby” did not deserve its victory over “The Aviator.” Eastwood’s films are all somewhat alike, and if you didn’t like his previous movies, it’s unlikely that “Invictus” won you over. Another sports movie also emerged, like “Million Dollar Baby,” in the middle of November with no previous buzz behind it, and voters seem to have thrown their support behind a race relations story set on American soil, “The Blind Side.” Freeman already won in 2004 for “Million Dollar Baby,” so it wasn’t as if his excellent portrayal of Nelson Mandela came as a shock to anyone, whereas Sandra Bullock’s first nomination presented an exciting scenario for a hard-working comedienne to finally be honored for a dramatic performance.

What took its place: “The Blind Side”

Consolation prize: Freeman still earned a Best Actor nod, and Damon managed to get a Best Supporting Actor nomination though many had doubted his chances. Neither won.

Come back next week for a look at the Big Snub of 2008. I have a feeling most readers have very strong opinions about this year in particular, so I’m curious to hear your thoughts!