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A best pic nomination for Wall-E would be a rare honor for animation in general, but it would also be a long over due rarity for another reason: Wall-E would only be the second best pic nominated film in the history of the Oscars to be set in the future. The only one to date is A Clockwork Orange. When you consider how many nominees are period pieces (I didn’t care to count), this represents a massive bias on the part of the Academy. It’s clear that they love the past, but they hate the future.
So says Spout Blog writer Kevin Buist in a smartly realized item. Buist goes on to note seven futuristic AMPAS snubs, but I’m still hung up on the statistic. Really? ONLY one? How bizarre. Considering “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Metropolis” have permanent fixtures on my list of the 10 greatest films of all time, it’s just one more reason for me to be pissy at the Academy.
Get with the program, people! Not that I’m advocating for “WALL-E,” mind you. But it is an intriguing stat.
21 responses so far
1 1-07-2009 at 5:09 pm
JoesBO said...
Recently, “Children of Men” would also fall into this category…deserved but shafted.
2 1-07-2009 at 5:18 pm
Matt said...
“Not that I’m advocating for “WALL-E,†mind you.”
Since it’s the best film of 08, everyone should be.
3 1-07-2009 at 5:28 pm
THE Diego Ortiz said...
I was gonna say “Star Wars” but that takes place a long time ago…
4 1-07-2009 at 5:35 pm
Geoff said...
And, believe it or not, “Star Wars” was nominated for Best Picture. Just the original, not the sequels (or, of course, prequels).
“2001″ and “Metropolis” are good choices. (Did “Metropolis” make the eligibility period for the first Oscars?)
I’d argue for “Blade Runner” and “Aliens.” What other future-set films were worth it?
5 1-07-2009 at 6:09 pm
John Travolta said...
Yes Children of Men should have gotten a nomination for best picture. I can’t believe 2001 a space odyssey didn’t get a nomination
6 1-07-2009 at 6:19 pm
kennya said...
“Since it’s the best film of 08, everyone should be”
Uuhh…not everyone thinks Wall-E is that great….
7 1-07-2009 at 6:35 pm
David R. said...
I think we’re going to see Wall-E become the second future-set pic nominee and second animated best pic nominee as well. I think that Wall-E will replace The Dark Knight in the big top 5, and that everyone is going to be very surprised when Dark Knight doesn’t get that Best Pic nod everyone is anticipating. I just can’t see the Academy nominating a batman movie, and I think they’ve been waiting for a film like Wall-E to nominate a Disney/Pixar film for the big show. Not to say that its necessarily SO much better than Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Incredibles, Shrek, but it certainly has reached the artistic level with such an interesting story (not to mention, sheer beauty) that will help it to gain entrance into that coverted top 5. I certainly would include it
8 1-07-2009 at 6:47 pm
Simone said...
Children of Men was the best movie of 2006. I’m still amazed it did not get a BP nomination.
9 1-07-2009 at 6:54 pm
Chad said...
George Lucas may want us to believe that Star Wars takes place a long time ago but I think for the sake of an argument on a possible bias against futuristic films, it can be counted.
10 1-07-2009 at 7:04 pm
Mark Kratina said...
I love how people say the Academy won’t vote for a “Batman” movie (and all the connotations that apparently go along with a “Batman” move), whatever the hell that means, yet they’re quick to advocate for the Academy voting for an animated robot movie.
I mean, really, if we’re going to say “Batman” movie like it is beneath the Academy to even consider it, then why the hell should it consider an animated Disney movie about a robot.
11 1-07-2009 at 7:11 pm
Tim said...
Children of Men and Pan’s Labyrinth both should have been nominated for best picture in 2006. I think Children of Men suffered more from its late release more than anything and Pan’s Labyrinth probably suffered from being foreign-language and semi-fantasy. Pan’s Labyrinth in particular is one of the best films of the decade, in my opinion atleast.
12 1-07-2009 at 7:14 pm
Tim said...
Oh and I’m hoping TDK and Wall-E both make the top 5 by the way. I’m starting to think that Milk might actually get the shaft and it’ll end up being…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E or Doubt
13 1-07-2009 at 8:55 pm
Scott Ward said...
Exactly Mark K.
And seriously Matt, a forum completely about WALL-E?
14 1-08-2009 at 3:48 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
Heh, that is one nasty statistic there I never realized before. Great observation.
15 1-08-2009 at 3:52 am
Glenn said...
WE’RE NOT IN 2006!!!
Jesus christ.
16 1-08-2009 at 5:47 am
Mark said...
Amazing that ‘2001′ was not nominated. Even more amazing that ‘Oliver!’ won that year. That’s the Oscars for you though. Go figure…
17 1-08-2009 at 7:40 am
Mark Kratina said...
I’m still scratching my head over Midnight Cowboy………. an X rated Best Picture? That film was one depressing watch.
18 1-08-2009 at 7:52 am
A.J said...
The Godfather Part III ends in 1997….
19 1-08-2009 at 5:55 pm
Andre said...
the title of this post gave me a laugh, but this is actually one of these “funny, but true” things.
20 1-09-2009 at 3:00 pm
Troy said...
Brazil, Gattaca, and Stalker are some other quality films set in the future.
21 1-09-2009 at 3:02 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
A.J.: Touche!