Last week while reading about The Last of the Mohicans (1992), an astonishing 20 years old now, my mind lept back to early 1993. Even in the pre-internet fueled days of Oscar watching, when we obsessives were fewer in number -- or at least disconnected from each other -- you knew that it was bizarre that such a super, handsome, well acted period epic that made a new Oscar winner (Daniel Day-Lewis) into a much bigger mainstream star would receive only one Oscar nomination (Best Sound). The Last of the Mohicans Oscar performance was shameful but then 1992 was something of a hot mess over at AMPAS largely due to their need to honor Scent of a Woman (wtf?) and the scandal that drowned out the brilliance of Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives.
But let's not get distracted from the main point. That happens when we get stuck in retro Oscar loops.
Past Iron Man films have won Visual Effects and/or Sound Editing nods. Will The Avengers follow suit?
The sound categories generally come up with shortlists that are not unlike every other category's finalists; a mix of "Most = Best", "Best Picture = Best" and a random genuinely discerning one-off (or two) of the "wow I'm happy they noticed" variety. See, for example, last season's Drive nomination which was its sole bid.
So while I was thinking about Sound Mixing and Editing and the Oscars I chanced upon this FYC ad*, via Devour and SoundWorks for The Avengers. I haven't embedded it here because it's one of those videos that starts immediately without you pressing play (hate those!) but it's worth a watch if you click over..... Oscar trivia follows!
*Oh relax, literalists! I know it's not an actual FYC ad but that's what all such behind the scenes chats double as!
As I briefly mentioned in the post script of my Avengers review, Oscar has never been all up in Marvel Studios grill when nomination time rolls around. Will the superpowered global money-devouring success of The Avengers force their (voting) hand.
COMPLETE OSCAR HISTORY OF
COMIC-BOOK* BASED FILMS and ORIGINAL SUPERHEROES
*includes graphic novels. If I forgot something you'll let me know
THE FIFTIES
Superman and the Mole Men (1951) -ignored
THE SIXTIES
Batman (1966) - ignored
THE SEVENTIES
Superman (1978) -3 noms (Editing, Score, Sound) 1 special Oscar (Visual Effects). You will believe a man can fly. This is the film that essentially started it all. It was a massive hit and even had a single by Maureen McGovern. Anyone remember that? I remember my big sister playing it on the piano.
THE EIGHTIES
Superman II (1980) -ignored
Condorman (1981) -ignored
Swamp Thing (1982) -ignored
Superman III (1983) -ignored
Supergirl (1984) -ignored
Superman IV: A Quest for Peace (1987) -ignored
Batman (1989) - 1 nom/win (Art Direction *won*)
The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) -ignored
The Punisher (1989) -ignored
THE NINETIES
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) -ignored
Darkman (1990) -ignored
Dick Tracy (1990) - 7 noms/3 wins (Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Art Direction *won*, Costume Design, Makeup *won*, Sound, Song *won*)... maybe it shouldn't be on this list but I love it.
The Rocketeer (1991) -ignored
Batman Returns (1992) -2 noms (Visual Effects, Makeup)
The Shadow (1994) -ignored
The Crow (1994) -ignored
The Mask (1994) -1 nom (Visual Effects)
Batman Forever (1995) -3 noms (Cinematography, Sound, Sound Editing)
The Phantom (1996) -ignored
Batman and Robin (1997) -ignored
Spawn (1997) -ignored
THE AUGHTS
X-Men (2000) -ignored
Unbreakable (2000) -ignored
Ghost World (2001) -1 nom (Best Adapted Screenplay)
Spider-Man (2002) -2 noms (Visual Effects, Sound)
Hulk (2003) -ignored
X2 (2003) - ignored
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) -ignored
Daredevil (2003) -ignored
Catwoman (2004) -ignored
The Punisher (2004) -ignored
Spider-Man 2 (2004) -3 noms / 1 win (Visual Effects *won*, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing)
Hellboy (2004) -ignored
Elektra (2005) -ignored
The Fantastic Four (2005) -ignored
A History of Violence (2005) -2 noms (Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay)
Batman Begins (2005) -1 nom (Cinematography)
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) -ignored
Superman Returns (2006) - 1 nom (Visual Effects)
Spider-Man 3 (2007) -ignored
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) -ignored
Ghost Rider (2007) -ignored
Hancock (2008) -ignored
Hellboy II:The Golden Army (2008) -1 nom (Makeup)
Iron Man (2008) -2 noms (Visual Effects, Sound Editing)
The Dark Knight (2008) - 8 noms / 2 wins (Supporting Actor *won*, Cinematography, Editing, Art Direction, Visual Effects, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing *won*)
Punisher: War Zone (2008) -ignored
The Incredible Hulk (2008) -ignored
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) -ignored
Watchmen (2009) -ignored
THIS DECADE THUS FAR
Iron Man 2 (2010) - 1 nom (Visual Effects)
Kick-Ass (2010) -ignored
Jonah Hex (2010) -ignored
RED (2010) -ignored
Thor (2011) -ignored
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - ignored
X-Men First Class (2011) -ignored
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) -ignored
The Green Hornet (2011) -ignored
THE NOW
The Avengers (2012) -TO BE DETERMINED
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) -TO BE DETERMINED
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - TO BE DETERMINED
Lessons We've Learned?
- Oscar likes DC more than Marvel especially if Batman is involved. Which might mean that The Avengers chances -- which look good now due to $$$ -- will be squashed once the Dark Knight returns.
- The studios should really give up on The Punisher after trying three times with various actor/director combos.
- They don't make superhero movies with female leads and when they do they aren't prestige hero films, they don't get "A" directors and they generally turn out terrible (Supergirl, Catwoman, Elektra)
- Oscar has no time for the X-Men. No time at all.
- It pays to be first. Batman and Superman are always taken at least somewhat seriously. If the movies are any good, they'll generally thrown them a golden bone.
- The three years after The Dark Knight suggest that Oscar is sick of the genre and sick of hearing that they should honor it. Either that or their waiting for Christopher Nolan to complete his trilogy.
- The three most superhero friendly AMPAS groups belong to the following professions: sound, visual effects, and art direction.
What do you think we'll see in January as nominations go?
Batman, Spidey and "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" are competing but they won't honor all three.