VFX Oscar List of Nominees Narrows to 10 Films
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 87th Oscars. There are some pretty heavy contenders in the new short list, but we think it might ultimately come down to a battle royal between Interstellar and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Both seem to have pushed the bounds of VFX technology by developing new techniques for motion capture (Planet of the Apes) and by giving form to blackholes (Interstellar) and advancing the science of theoretical physics. Godzilla had great big monster effects, but they were too few and far between to service the film's drama while Guardians of the Galaxy and the new Night at the Museum are probably not "serious" enough for the usual comedy-averse Academy.
The latest installment of Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction will probably be seen as more of the same; however, The Hobbit may be a dark horse contender given the shear amount of VFX work that exists within the film. Ultimately, the popularity and recent release of Interstellar will probably give it the edge. Peter Jackson may have already won too many awards already. The Academy seems to like to spread the golden statues around a bit. Or it may be X-Men: Days of Future Past with its unique slow motion effects and stadium-lifting-Magneto-style that's a wild card this year. Tell us who your favorites are for the next cut and the eventual winner by commenting below. Also, be sure and check out the short list of Oscar nominated animated shorts.
The films are listed below in alphabetical order:
- 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
