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Filed under: Kudos to You

Oscar Visual Effects Short List Revealed

You don't have to be a good movie to get nominated in this category

BY: Brad Brevet | December 12th 2008 at 2:31 PM

The Academy has announced its list of 15 films selected as semifinalists for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 2009 Oscars. Looking over the list there is no immediate way to decide which film will get the nod as so many employ some fantastic visual effects work. I certainly hope, and expect, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to get a nod, if not for its great visual effects for the snubbing of Zodiac in the same category last year that say The Golden Compass beat out Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean 3.

I would also expect Hellboy II to get a nomination. Even though I don't like the film, the effects are phenomenal. And I will guess the third spot will go to The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor for no other reason than because the Academy loves to throw a mediocre film in the mix. Last year it was Golden Compass, before that it was Click and before that it was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It's just the natural order of things. On top of that Roger Ebert called it "the best in the series." That has to count for something doesn't it?

  • Australia
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  • Cloverfield
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • The Dark Knight
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still
  • Hancock
  • Hellboy II: The Golden Army
  • The Incredible Hulk
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  • Iron Man
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
  • Quantum of Solace
  • The Spiderwick Chronicles

The 81st Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Keep track of everything Oscar in the RopeofSilicon "The Contenders" section.


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Post #1
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who do you suppose will be the 2 most likely candidates for the top spot? i'm predicting iron man & benjamin button.

- RIPsquishy
( December 12th, 2008 | 2:39 pm )
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Post #2
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Probably The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Iron Man and Hancock.

- Garrett
( December 12th, 2008 | 4:10 pm )
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Post #3
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The Fall ….. ????

- Peter Cat
( December 12th, 2008 | 7:18 pm )
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Post #4
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The fall surprisingly had little special effects.

I am hoping for a Hellboy victory, though I hope Button and Iron Man get nominated.

- adu
( December 12th, 2008 | 11:52 pm )
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Post #5
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Can I make a plea for "Cloverfield" to get a nomination? Please? That film cost maybe a quarter of what it made to make all the rest of the films here, and IMO it is one of the best looking films of recent times. I think I'm just an apolegetic fan of the movie, but I really want it to at least get nominated. Though I would like "Hellboy II" to eventually take the statue if nominated.

- Vince
( December 13th, 2008 | 6:22 pm )
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Post #6
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WTF? Speed Racer got ROBBED!!

- seriouslydude
( December 14th, 2008 | 2:18 pm )
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Post #7
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WHY ISN"T JUMPER< SPEED RACER AND TWILIGHT ON THAT LIST?! the visual effects were great

- Trebor
( December 15th, 2008 | 8:59 am )
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Post #8
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The following films have been robbed:
Death Race
Jumper
Nim's Island
Speed Racer
Max Payne
Twilight
Eagle Eye
Traitor
Tropic Thunder

- Craig
( December 15th, 2008 | 10:08 am )
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Post #9
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Ill Have To Say:
The Dark Knight
Hancock
Quantam Of Solace

- Craig
( December 15th, 2008 | 10:09 am )
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Post #10
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I'm frankly, quite shocked that Tropic Thunder didn't make it onto the list; however, I'm sure it will get a Best Makeup Oscar.

Also, I just finished watching Australia and I cannot believe that it is on the short list – the cattle stampede was possibly one of the cheesiest visual effects seen in recent memory.

- Quake82
( December 15th, 2008 | 5:26 pm )
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Post #11
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I Also Beleive That They didnt include
X-Files:I Want To Believe
Wanted
Get Smart
Meet Dave (it sucked but it was cool the way they made Eddie a Spaceship!!)
Bedtime Stories

- Trebor53
( December 15th, 2008 | 7:01 pm )
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Post #12
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Speed Racer And City Of Ember.

Those 2 Had Good Visual Effects

- Oscar
( December 15th, 2008 | 7:06 pm )
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Post #13
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No Speed Racer or Spirit? Does the Academy have something against green screen environments? I felt the same snub for Sin City a couple years back.

- Stuart
( December 24th, 2008 | 10:38 am )
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Post #14
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"because the Academy loves to throw a mediocre film in the mix. Last year it was Golden Compass, before that it was Click and before that it was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

What do you mean "Click" in 2006? Click was not nominated. The three films were Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Winner), Poseidon and Superman Returns. Click didn't even make it to the top 7.

In my opinion, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had amazing visual effects.

I do agree with your comment about The Golden Compass, though. :)

- Tyler
( December 30th, 2008 | 11:16 am )
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Post #15
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The nominated could be:
– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
– The Dark Knight
– Iron Man

- James
( January 5th, 2009 | 4:23 pm )
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