ASC Nominations for Best Cinematography & Adjacent Oscar Histories
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 3:25PM 
John Seale and George Miller on the set of Mad Max Fury Road. Two 70somethings showing everyone how its done. The American Society of Cinemotagraphers have voted on the best of 2015's theatrical features. It's a year that can only be described as a filthy rich in terms of this artform. One only has to peruse the work of lower profile contenders that didn't make it to feel staggered by the abundance of worthy creative work being done in the field.
But the rising talents -- and even some of the older giants -- in this arguable new golden age of the artform will have to wait another year for ASC and possibly Oscar honors. The guild went with a murderer's row of international legends this year. The ASC Nominees hail from five different countries (UK, Poland, Mexico, their average age is 62½ and between them they've amassed 31 Oscar nominations, 5 Oscar statues, 8 BAFTAs, and 5 Spirit Awards. That's a whole lotta statuary honoring their influential careers.
Cinematography history and more on the nominees after the jump...
The Feature Film ASC Nominations
• Roger Deakins, Sicario
The British legend best known for his work with the Coen Bros and a huge influence on the modern filmed look of animated features has received 13 previous ASC nominations with 3 wins (plus a lifetime achievement award). The only one of his ASC nominations that did not translate to an Oscar nomination was for Revolutionary Road (2008).
• Janusz Kaminski, Bridge of Spies
This Polish DP, a two time Oscar winner best known as Steven Spielberg's regular DP (and Holly Hunter's ex!) has received 5 previous ASC nominations though he hasn't yet won his guild's top prize. Oscar likes him a bit more than his own guild since he's won twice with the Academy and has also been nominated once more than at the guild (for War Horse, 2012)
• Ed Lachman, Carol
This US cinematographer received 2 previous ASC nominations for his work on Todd Haynes projects. Other famous titles on his resume include The Virgin Suicides, Desperately Seeking Susan, and Ken Park. Though he's well respected he's not always a nominee when he should be: see that bizarre miss for his beautiful work on Best Picture nominee Erin Brockovich.
• Emmanuel Lubezki, The Revenant
"Chivo", Mexico's most lauded cinematographer, rose to fame with the director Alfonso Cuaron but he's since become a major auteur catch and has worked with Terence Malick, Tim Burton, and the Coen Brothers among others. He won the last two cinematography Oscars back-to-back on projects with Mexican auteurs (Iñárritu's Birdman and Cuarón's Gravity.) Lubezki has received 5 previous ASC Nominations with 4 wins. Though he wins more often when nominated at the ASC, Oscar nominates him more frequently. Oscar nominations that were not foretold by the ASC include his work on A Little Princess (1995) and The New World (2005)
• John Seale, Mad Max: Fury Road
This Australian Oscar-winner (of The English Patient fame) was coaxed out of retirement by George Miller for this revitalizing action masterwork. He has received 4 previous ASC nominations with 1 win (plus a special international award from the guild)
Will this be Oscar's list as well?
It's looking strong for a 5/5 transfer though this guild usually matches Oscar only 4/5 ...and Oscar's cinematography nearly always chooses more wisely then the larger guild if they make a change. Recent history...
Past Ten Years
2014 Oscar replaced The Imitation Game with Ida
2013 Doesnt count since the guild was wishy-washy naming 7 nominees. Naturally 5 of those were accounted for come Oscar time.
2012 Oscar replaced Les Miserable with Django Unchained
2011 Oscar replaced Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with War Horse (okay they biffed that one)
2010 5/5 match
2009 Oscar replaced Nine with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
2008 Oscar replaced Revolutionary Road with Changeling
2007 5/5 match
2006 Oscar replaced The Good Shepherd and Apocalypto with Pan's Labyrinth and The Prestige (a win/win for eyeballs everywhere!)
2005 Oscar replaced King Kong with The New World
If someone is knocked out the safest best for a spoiler is probably Robert Richardson (The Hateful Eight). Oscar has a known fetish for Richardson with 8 previous Oscar nominations and 3 wins under his belt and he's also got the attention grabbing hook of the new western's 70 mm roadshow rollout even if this work doesn't remotely rival his other outings. Strangely Richardson's very best work with Tarantino (Kill Bill Vol. 1) was ignored by both ASC and AMPAS
Long shot candidates that could surprise to knock out one of these men if Richardson doesn't: Darius Wolski (The Martian) who has weirdly never been nominated despite working on many high profile technical challenges: Yves Belanger (Brooklyn) a Canadian DP who has been on quite a roll lately (Wild, Demolition, Laurence Anyway); Maryse Alberti (Creed) who is amazing and one day -- though it might be in the far future -- the Oscars will deign to nominate a female DP; Those hoping for one of those occasional foreign film nominees in this category should give up the dream this year. Mark Lee Ping Bing of The Assassin would be (theoretically) the most likely recipient if that were to happen except for the fact that the film was not on Oscar's official eligibility list for some reason when that went out suggesting that perhaps the film didn't bother submitting for eligibility outside of foreign film (where it did not make the finals).
Who are you rooting for and do you think Roger Deakins will have to settle for a lifetime achievement Oscar rather than a competitive one?
Reader Comments (13)
It's VERY hard to come up with a better slate for Oscar. These 5 are all amazingly photographed!
Why has Tangerine's wonderful cinematography gone completely unnoticed this awards season? Even by the Indie Spirits!
I think Wolski for Kaminski or Lachman is the safest bet for spoiler. Chivo, Deakins and Seale are locked in.
I think maybe 4 out of the 5 will make it, with Bridge of Spies and (to my dismay) Carol being in the weakest position for a possible Oscar shortlist conversion. What, or whom will take the last slot? My heart yearns to see Maryse Alberti in the conversation for Creed, but the film in general is looking to be only contending for Sly's gold watch Oscar. My money is on The Hateful Eight. They love Richardson as you mentioned, and if he can make it in for Django imagine what the Academy thinks of a 70mm presentation of a film also directed by Tarantino who is another Academy pet as of late. Pontificating about possible nominees aside, this race is all about Chivo versus John Seale. Do they love Lubezki enough to award him for a third year in row, albeit for a phenomenal piece of artistry on his part and his use of natural light? Or, will they give it to Seale for his balls to the wall comeback, as part of a way to award Mad Max without having to give it Best Picture/Director? Cinematography is going to be a fun category to watch without a doubt.
That is an excellent line-up. I'm betting John Seale will take it, but I would love it if Ed Lachman or Roger Deakins won.
This has gotta be the Oscar short list. It's perfect.
wait - have the oscar never nominated a female dp??? can anyone confirm? shocking but not surprising :(
Yep, seem like these'll be the Oscar nominees as well.
I'd personally replace Bridge of Spies/Janusz with something more daring but they could do a lot worse. I'm just never really wowed by Kaminski anymore.
Carol made it!
Phew that's all I care about really.
Charles-that is correct. Cinematography is the only category (aside from obviously the male acting races) where a woman has never been nominated.
God, I really hope Deakins win the Oscar this year.
I really hope for an amazing showing for Creed (Director, Actor, Picture, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Editing, tbh even the Score was amazing for its perfect use of the original theme). This probably won't happen smh.
Hoping this is John Seale's to lose. Honestly, how has Deakins never won one yet?
ken s, that's been the big question mark of awards season for me, too. I mean, I get the big guys not going for Tangerine, but the indie groups should have been all over the cinematography of the film. It's gorgeous and enhances the power of so many of the scenes, like the car wash and the Christmas Cabaret.