Oscar Campaign Bust: 2012 Films

More For Your Consideration ads are being released for this year's films, but some are clearly out of Oscar contention. Ultimately, I don't see any of the following films getting nominated.

   

Oscar Campaign Bust #6: Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace

007 has received no Oscar love since For Your Eyes Only (1981).

Skyfall is finally opening in the U.S. this week. Since it is getting some Oscar buzz, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the last two campaign efforts in the Bond franchise.

Oscar Campaign Bust #5: J. Edgar

In early 2011, Leonardo DiCaprio was finally going to receive his fourth Oscar nomination, and possibly win the whole thing for his riveting portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover. A full campaign was launched to nab this generally generic biopic a Best Picture nod, and director Clint Eastwood's film looked primed for at least some technical nominations and a nod for Best Actor. The film was pushed on voters, and sometimes that's all you need. As the award season played out, DiCaprio was nominated by the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes, and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The film even took home top ten awards from the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. Everything was lined up for Leo. Then the Oscar nominations were announced without his name being called. 

Did it deserve to be nominated? Certainly not for Best Picture (or even Best Makeup), but DiCaprio's performance - one of his best - deserved more consideration. Then again, so did Michael Fassbender's in Shame.

Oscar Campaign Bust #4: I've Loved You So Long

I haven't done one of these since April, so I thought I'd finally post a fourth entry. You can see the previous ones here, here, and here.

In 2008, this French film starring Oscar nominee Kristin Scott Thomas was released to rave reviews. As a woman returning to society from a lengthy prison stint for murder, Scott Thomas gave a devastating, heartfelt performance, backed by a strong performance from Elsa Zylberstein as her sister. Both actresses received some awards recognition, and Scott Thomas even received BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Cesar nominations. The film also had Sony Picture Classics backing it, which only improved its awards campaign. Despite these credentials, it did not receive much Oscar consideration, because The Class - by rule - was the only film that France could submit for Best Foreign Language Film. So, the film's best shot was Best Actress, and it came up just short. 

Did it deserve to be nominated? Yes, if not for Best Foreign Language Film, then at the very least for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

Oscar Campaign Bust #3: Shutter Island

Since I haven't posted an entry into this series in months, I thought it was time to revive it.

This 2010 psychological thriller from Oscar winner Martin Scorsese had technical prowess and a fantastic performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, a three-time Academy Award nominee. It was a stylish throwback to classic movies, and it seemed to be ripe for Oscar notice. But it was supposed to be released in the fall of 2009. Instead, it was moved to a February 2010 theatrical release. Though it would become Scorsese's highest grossing film in the U.S., critics could not reach a consensus, and the film was relatively forgotten when awards season came.

Did it deserve to be nominated? Yes, at least for Best Actor, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography.

Oscar Campaign Bust #2: The Libertine

This 2005 film about John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, featured a phenomenal performance from Johnny Depp, great costume work, and a haunting score by Michael Nyman. The film was yet another product of The Weinstein Company that came and went ignored by Oscar's radar.

Did it deserve to be nominated? Yes, at the very least a Best Actor nod for Johnny Depp in what I consider to be the finest leading male performance of the Aughts.

Oscar Campaign Bust #1: Breaking and Entering

This 2006 drama featured a great cast with an Oscar-winning director at the helm, and was even distributed by The Weinstein Company (who just backed The King's Speech in 2010) in a December release. Despite these pluses, the film fell flat with most critics and awards groups and was not nominated for any Oscars.

Did it deserve to be nominated? Yes, at least for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress (Binoche in the correct category), and Best Original Screenplay.