For the 85th Academy Awards, we'll see what, who, and why, our favorite (or not) movies were the best of 2012. Some walk away winners, and others win permanent spots in home video collections as a salute for a job well done.
First, a shoutout to gamechangers: the youngest nominee, Quvenzhane Wallis, for Best Actress; Lincoln dominating the scene with 12 nominations; followed by Life of Pi (11). Les Miserables and Silver Linings Playbook scored eight.
Controversies & Confusion
The Academy Awards have been noted for alienating audiences by singing the same ole song. But, this year's Best Original Song nomination includes "Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from Ted--which might generate the same reactions as Hustle & Flow's win for ‘It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp’. Perhaps Ted will prove that it's "exactly what an Oscar-nominated song should be — integral to the film — not thrown in at the last minute just to vie for that extra nomination" (Popkin, 2006).
Some wonder why Silver Linings Playbook landed so many nominations, while movies like The Master was overlooked for ‘Best Picture’. The film may tell a great story of life and love, but was it that good. Chris Tucker fans are shocked by his refusal to conclude the Friday franchise, but supports a film that didn’t challenge or catapult his career.
Another side-eye goes to Leonardo DiCaprio not being nominated for his titanic reversal of the charming, sensitive actor we’ve grown to know. Although the film challenged his ethical limits, he convincingly portrayed a villain in Django Unchained. Christoph Waltz, for the same movie, and Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) were recognized for their supportive roles.
Dark Knight Rises didn’t receive credit in any category: visual effects, editing, mixing. This is surprising because those categories usually go to blockbuster action films: Iron Man 2, Transformers, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, (visual effect nominees); The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Bourne Ultimatum (editing winners); Salt (sound mixing). For the ‘Top 20 Action Movies of the Past 20 Years’, go here.
View the complete nominee list here.
The Academy Awards, or ‘The Oscars’, will air on Feb. 24 on ABC.
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