AWARDS BEAT
“Interstellar,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies” and “Transformers: Age of Extinction” are among the 10 films that have advanced in the Oscar race for Best Visual Effects, the Academy announced Friday.
The other shortlisted films are: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Godzilla,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Maleficent,” “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
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Two shocking omissions were of Biblical proportions: Ridley Scott‘s “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” with its recreation of the parting of the Red Sea and the plagues sent down on Egypt, and Darren Aronofsky‘s “Noah,” which created a menagerie of animals and set them adrift in the flood.
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Other presumed contenders that didn’t make the cut with members of the Visual Effects Branch’s Executive Committee were “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Into the Woods” and “Edge of Tomorrow.”
The presumed frontrunners could include “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Hobbit” and “Interstellar” — but if the last of those films also lands a Best Picture nomination, its rivals have reason to worry. The last time a best pic nominee lost in this category to a non-nominee was 1970, when “Tora! Tora! Tora!” beat “Patton.”
Filmmakers behind the shortlisted films will show 10-minute excerpts to members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch on Jan. 10, 2015, and those members will then vote to choose the five nominees.
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Nominations will be announced Jan. 15.
The shortlisted films are:
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
“Godzilla”
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
“Interstellar”
“Maleficent”
“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”
“Transformers: Age of Extinction”
“X-Men: Days of Future Past”
