The Oscars are still four months away. Nevertheless, the first scandal has already broken out. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has not made it into the shortlist in an effects category
Slowly but surely, the favorites for the 2024 Oscars are emerging. Who will win the most prizes? For many film fans, Oppenheimer is a hot candidate for the evening’s top prize, not to mention many other awards. However, one chance has now been taken away from him.
As Variety reports, the shortlist in the Oscar category Best Visual Effects has been finalized. 20 films are listed on it. However, there is no sign of Christopher Nolan’s powerful work, which was celebrated for its outstanding effects. This is causing uproar and incomprehension on social media
Oppenheimer is not in the running: These are the 20 finalists for the Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category
Below you will find all the films that have been shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Important: These are not yet the final nominations. In the end, only five films will compete against each other.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Aquaman: Lost Kingdom
Barbie
The Boys in the Boat
The Creator
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Indiana Jones and the Wheel of Fortune
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Marvels
Mission: Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning
Napoleon
Nyad
Poor Things
Rebel Moon Part 1: Child of Fire
The Snow Society
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Wonka
Some films have definitely earned their place on the list. The Creator, for example, has received a lot of praise for its excellent use of effects. However, it is less understandable why a film like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania appears on the list, even though it was heavily criticized for its effects
No OPPENHEIMER for Best Visual Effects? How is THIS not some of the finest visual effects of the year? pic.twitter.com/7WOCyY24Fo
– Dan Marcus (@Danimalish) December 7, 2023
In addition to the quality of the effects, it was also about the working conditions under which they were created. Overtime, time pressure and inadequate pay: in the eyes of many fans, this should not be rewarded with an Oscar, especially when a film like Oppenheimer shows that things can be done differently and better
Get it now: Oppenheimer on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K for your home theater
Misconception about Hollywood blockbusters: the best visual effects are not the most visual effects
In addition, the Oscars list reflects a problematic VFX narrative: the most visual effects – and those that are obviously identifiable as such on the big screen – are what count here. However, visual effects work goes much further and deeper than is apparent at first glance.
The myth is still being spread that films such as Top Gun: Maverick and Mad Max: Fury Road were made completely without digital help. All real, all on location. However, these statements undermine the work of the VFX people. It should rather be said: The best visual effects are the ones you don’t see.
Oppenheimer is a very good example of this. An even better one is The Killer by David Fincher, which features countless visual effects and is also missing from the list. Below you can watch a short video that gives you a glimpse into the team’s massive effects work
