We had the official announcement of all the Oscar contenders for 2018 earlier this week and we have to say, the comic book and fantasy movies have been heavily represented… and not before time.
While in the past it’s only really been the visual effects, score, make-up type categories that genre movies perform well in – and there’s strong representation this year there too – it’s been noticeable how the big hitter categories have some fan favourites in there this year.
And we know that many are upset that Wonder Woman didn’t get any nods (hey, if Suicide Squad can lay claim to an Oscar anyone can, amiright?), we have to admit that while we loved it, we never really saw it as a contender. Sorry.
So what have we, as genre fans, got to look forward to seeing represented this year?
Well, in the Best Picture category we have FTN favourite Guillermo Del Toro’s horror fairytale The Shape of Water, which we haven’t seen in the UK yet but we have it on good authority that it may be his best work.
Also we have Jordan Peele’s wonderful Get Out which, while tackling some big racial issues, is, at its heart, a good old-fashioned clever horror movie.
In the Actress In A Leading Role category we have the wonder Sally Hawkins (who we fell in love with in the Paddington movies) nominated for her role in The Shape of Water. Notable mention for Harley Quinn herself, Margot Robbie… although she’s nominated for I, Tonya.
Next up, in the Actor In A Leading role category we have British star Daniel Kaluuya – who we loved in Black Mirror and Psychoville before he became a modern horror icon.
Again, the Director nominations saw Jordan Peele nominated for Get Out as well as, and this tickles us the most, Del Toro who is now in the running for the most famous statuette in the world for The Shape Of Water. Honourable mention too to Christopher Nolan who got his first nod for the wonderful Dunkirk, although if he brings it home, the Dark Knight and Inception fans will finally feel vindicated.
It’s worth noting too that John Williams is up for another Oscar with his Star Wars: The Last Jedi Score as is Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Water.
However, one of the nods that has everyone chatting is the one for Logan which is up for Adapted Screenplay… while we loved Logan we thought it excelled more in the performances and direction, with a story that was – deliberately – simplistic, however a win here would be a big achievement and a game changer.
The Shape of Water and Get Out are both represented once more in the Original Screenplay categories.
We’ve been well represented in the more artistic categories too.
Not unsurprising but definitely deserved:
PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Beauty and the Beast”
“Blade Runner 2049”
“The Shape of Water”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Blade Runner 2049”
“The Shape of Water”
COSTUME DESIGN
“Beauty and the Beast”
“The Shape of Water”
SOUND EDITING
“Baby Driver”
“Blade Runner 2049”
“The Shape of Water”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
SOUND MIXING
“Baby Driver”
“Blade Runner 2049”
“The Shape of Water”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
VISUAL EFFECTS
“Blade Runner 2049”
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
“Kong: Skull Island”
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”
“War for the Planet of the Apes”
FILM EDITING
“Baby Driver”
“The Shape of Water”
So, whatever happens, it’s a safe bet that the fans will be happy in one way or another, providing there’s no mistakes made, after all we all remember the huge mishap last year (below) at the Oscars for Best Picture. Here’s a list of odds that came out once the 2018 nominees did, but we’re confident that the odds are in our favour that, after the ceremony this year, all bets are off for the future of comic book movies, horror movies and fantasy at the Oscars.
And that makes us very happy indeed.
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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