Christopher Nolan knows a little something about comic book movies that are big-time awards contenders. He directed The Dark Knight, which remains the most highly-decorated film ever based on superhero comics. There was, however, one major honor that eluded TDK that Nolan believes will not escape Black Panther‘s Vibranium claws: an Oscar® nomination for Best Picture.
If it ends up getting nominated, the Oscars will have lost the tiny bit of credibility they still have. This would be a political nomination, and nothing more.
It probably will. Folks will recall that the quantity of Best Picture nominees allowed was changed after The Dark Knight and Wall-E were left off in 2008. This way you can toss in a few extra “nominees” to pretend movies like Black Panther have a chance, also keeps the “So White” folks off your back.
The do it with the other major awards as well. Everyone knew Gary Oldman was going home with the Best Actor award Sunday night so the other four can just be whoever to shut people up until the show airs. If there’s a runaway this year Chadwick Boseman could fit that bill also.
It’s a great film, but yeah definitely not Oscar worthy. Logan was by far a better film and even that didn’t get to be nominated as Best Picture. Tbf the other nominees were pretty good.
Then again, isn’t Shape of Water secretly a cbm? Hellboy and all that?