Monday
Feb142011
ASC Goes to Inception. Oscar Could Be a Nail Biter.
Monday, February 14, 2011 at 1:09AM 
The American Society of Cinematographer's handed their Cinematography prize to Wally Pfister for Inception. Pfister also won the BFCA Critics Choice prize. BAFTA sided with still Oscar-less legend Roger Deakins (interview) for True Grit. Which man will take the Oscar?
Or is The King's Speech just going to win everything in a massive sweeping Royal Love-In? Even if the acting Oscar categories are relatively undramatic this year, there seem to be a few tight races behind the scenes like Best Director (Fincher or Hooper?), Art Direction (Inception or The King's Speech?), Cinematography (Inception or True Grit?) and isn't Score still a toss up but for the aforementioned love-in?
Reader Comments (9)
I wish Black Swan had a chance in Cinematography, or was at least in the conversation. But having said that, I'm definitely behind Deakins. He's the best in the field.
P.S. Remember his 2007? No Country..., In the Valley of Elah, The Assassination of Jesse James...) WOW
I totally agree with Bryan
I think Deakins still looks good for the Oscar, considering he already has two ASCs and received a lifetime achievement award yesterday, it probably doesn't mean that much that he didn't win here.
I still think this is Deakins' year. Oscar owes him big-time after the Jesse James snub and they have a habit of reward the right person at the wrong time.
perhaps I'm worried for nothing but it just seems like, if there's no way that Best Nominee is in the conversation, (Libatique) sieze the moment to finally reward the legend who has never won.
Rax -- good point.
I just don't know if all the Academy voters are sitting there thinking Deakins is a legend, so I must vote for him. Though the popularity of True Grit is undeniable. Yet it's hard to deny Pfister's amazing work in Inception.
One other thing. Deakins name isn't on the Oscar ballot for Cinematography. It just says True Grit.
No, Pfister's work on Inception was at best a good, not great, piece of work. He's done great work (The Prestige and Memento in particular) but a cinematog win for Inception would be questionable.
I think the main reason Deakins will win is not because of his own long career (that hasn't helped him win any so far...), but because True Grit needs to win something. It has 10 nominations. FIlm with that kind of tally generally win something by default, unless there's some sort of scandal, real or imagined (i.e. the Marty overreach in Gangs of New York, the arguable racism against The Color Purple). Cinematography's the perfect way to reward the film, since there's no other obvious nominee crying out to take it. Even if Hailee or someone else from the film wins, I think cinematography comes first, since it's the obvious choice.