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.
