January 6, 2009

Seven Films for the Special Effects Oscar

The Academy has released the short list for the special effects Academy Award for the 2009 ceremonies. Voting members will get to view a 15 minute long clip show from each film before nominating the three that will be in the finals for the award. Here is that short list:


  • Australia
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • The Dark Knight
  • Hellboy II: The Golden Army
  • Iron Man
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Interesting list. Off the top of my head I feel safe in saying the bottom two will not make the final cut. The effects in those movies just were not great. Sure, they were effective, but they are at the bottom of this particular pile.

Next, I would cut Australia. Again, there is some nice work done here, but it pales next to the other nominees. I am sure it will fall by the way side.

That leaves four films and a much tougher decision. Which one will not make the cut? All four of the remaining films have some great work. I think that The Dark Knight will be overlooked in the big categories and will be left to fight for tech awards like this for consolation, so there is one that will make it. The next one to make the cut will be The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, not what you would traditionally look at as a special effects film, but there are a lot and the work done to age Pitt is spectacular, it also has some momentum so it will go through to the final round.

One spot and two films left. I think both of these films have great work in them, with the edge going to Hellboy II, at least in my eyes. However, Iron Man is the bigger film here and I think it will get the go ahead to make it to the big show. This despite my desire of Hellboy II to win based on this bunch.

So, the finals will look like this:

  • The Dark Knight
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Iron Man

And the statue goes to: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, although I would rather it go to Iron Man from this trio.

It will be interesting to see how close I am...

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