The 2011/12 awards season is now in full swing, with nominations and winners being announced in the run up to the Oscar climax.
After this year’s mega-earning, critically acclaimed, grand finale, Deathly Hallows Part 2, Potter fans were hoping the series would finally get the recognition it deserves and pick up a few big Academy Awards, and distributor Warner Bros. has been putting on a big campaign to try and help it along.
And while you will find Harry Potter scattered through the nomination lists released thus far, it’s mainly in the usual second tier technical categories. Of course everyone would be very grateful for recognition in these areas (art direction, visual effects, sound, etc), but many people, including surely the critics who gave it 96% positive reviews, thought this year we could break into the big ones – directing, writing, best picture.
We’ve also heard people crying out that the likes of Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith and Dan Radcliffe deserve to take home acting awards.
But those names are all absent so far, and these early awards are usually a good indication of where Oscar votes will go too.
Anyway, here are the nominations we have at this moment in time:
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Critics’ Choice Awards
Best Art Direction – Stuart Craig, Stephanie McMillan
Best Makeup
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound
San Diego Film Critics Society awards:
Best Adapted Screenplay – Steve Kloves
Best Production Design – Stuart Craig
Best Score – Alexandre Desplat (Update: Winner!)
Best Ensemble Performance (Update: Winner!)
Houston Film Critics Society:
Best Score – Alexandre Desplat (Update: didn’t win )
American Film Institute awards
There was confusion as to Harry Potter’s eligibility for these. The series will be presented with a special award honouring the whole franchise.