LA Times discusses Harry Potter's Oscar credentials



The LA Times newspaper has published an article questioning why Harry Potter has never been a strong Oscar candidate, wondering whether the final two films will win over the voters, and making a good argument as to why it does deserve an Oscar win or at least a nomination in one of the major categories. Here are some quotes from the article, or you can read the whole thing here.

Think about it. Six films and no Oscars. None. Moving staircases, talking pictures, heart-stopping Quidditch games, villains that scare even adults and no Oscars. There have been nominations — for art direction, score and costume — but no wins, which, frankly, is hard to fathom. How could none of these films have won for costume? Screenwriter Steve Kloves, an Oscar nominee for "Wonder Boys," has adapted all but one of the books, a feat unprecedented in the annals of the Writers Guild, and he's never been nominated for them. Ditto any of the directors. Or actors.

That's right, none of the actors in six of the most popular films of all time has been nominated for an Oscar for their "Potter" roles. It's not surprising that the young leads — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint — have been passed over; the academy prefers to nominate children in supporting roles and even then only in such scrappy emo-heavy indies as "The Piano" or "Little Miss Sunshine."

Granted, none of the adults have a lot of screen time, but if Judi Dench can win supporting actress for uttering five lines and wearing an enormous side-bustle as Queen Elizabeth in "Shakespeare in Love," then Gambon's death scene, Broadbent's combination of hubris and shame, or Rickman's pained fury deserve at least a nomination.

Unfortunately, while the academy loves a good high-brow costume drama, it has never been too fond of fantasy...

It's ironic, or infuriating, depending on what side of the screen you're on, because the key to great fantasy is characters who are both extraordinary and utterly human. It's one thing to play a serial killer or a corrupt company gal; it's another when that character also has to be believable as an evil wizard or officious witch. Putting real meaning into an actual curse is way tougher than uttering an expletive, and waving a deadly wand in all seriousness takes more guts — and more acting finesse — than firing a gun.

Perhaps the academy is waiting until the final "Harry Potter" just as it waited for the third "Lord of the Rings." Or maybe now with 10 best picture nominees there will be room not only for animated films but for fantasy as well. Either way, there must be some acknowledgment not just of the success of this film franchise but also of the brilliance and effort it has required of so many.

Accio, Oscar.


What do you think? Do you think Harry Potter deserves an Oscar? And do you think it has any chance of ever getting one?


Posted on 04 Dec 2010 by Tom
5 Comments

Annso
I don't know if HP deserves an Oscar...I've never thought about it! I think Emma Watson definetely deserves one, though, she is the best actress in the whole movie! And Alan Rickman should get one as well ;)
Watch family Guy
I am Glad i found this blog.Added hpsupporters.com to my bookmark!
Suzaku
Harry Potter never winning an oscar is beyond outrageous. It's definitely the most popular series of books and movies in the world! And not only does its success deserve recognition, but the amazing effort that is put forth for it. A complete sham and farce, the oscars.
Luis
Alan Rickman is the best villian ever! He really deserves and Oscar for his role as Snape, I think he's brilliant! Also Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, and some others are great actors and have done a wonderful work! It's well known that most of hollywood actors wanted to perform at Harry Potter series but they just couldn't, and it's because it is not at easy as it seems.
This franchise has the best visual effects, music, costume, make up, performances, picture, and direction of the time. Even though I like the Academy Awards, I think it is all bullshit because they are letting a side a 'Worldwide Phenomenon" and the most successful franchise ever.
Luis
Alan Rickman is the best villian ever! He really deserves and Oscar for his role as Snape, I think he's brilliant! Also Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, and some others are great actors and have done a wonderful work! It's well known that most of hollywood actors wanted to perform at Harry Potter series but they just couldn't, and it's because it is not at easy as it seems.
This franchise has the best visual effects, music, costume, make up, performances, picture, and direction of the time. Even though I like the Academy Awards, I think it is all bullshit because they are letting a side a 'Worldwide Phenomenon" and the most successful franchise ever.
What do you think? Write your comments here...

Name:
Smilies: smile wink wassat tongue laughing sad angry crying 

| Forget Me


See some of the latest Harry Potter news below...
Content Management Powered by CuteNews

JK Rowling talks personal life, The Casual Vacancy, future books with The Guardian

As the release of her first post-Potter book The Casual Vacancy approaches, Jo Rowling has begun a series of interviews and appearances with a lengthy piece in The Guardian in which she discusses her life before, during and after Harry Potter, and politics and society and how it ties into the new book. And she says that having dreamed up Harry Potter on a train, the idea for The Casual Vacancy came to her on a plane this time! She also reveals that her next book to publish will most likely be another children’s story, and that the long awaited ‘political fairytale’ is still sitting on her laptop, almost finished.

The video below summarizes the interview nicely, but you can read the whole thing over on the Guardian website. Spoiler warning: the article contains a lot of detail about the contents of The Casual Vacancy. We’ve included some highlight quotes below.


Get the whole story »

Chamber of Secrets chapters 1-4 now available to everyone on Pottermore!

We’ve waited patiently for almost a year, and now book two on Pottermore, Chamber of Secrets, is finally being opened. Chapters 1-4 went live yesterday for House Cup winners Slytherin, and today they are accessible for all other students too. Head over to Pottermore now to have a look at the new features and content by JK Rowling!

The website currently states that subsequent chapters will be available ‘shortly’.

Cover art for JK Rowling’s ‘The Casual Vacancy’ revealed!

Publisher Little, Brown just released the cover art for JK Rowling’s new book The Casual Vacancy! See that below. They also released an updated synopsis and the prices in dollars. Strangely, since the initial announcement, the name of the deceased character Barry Fairweather has been changed to Barry Fairbrother, put down to error by Little, Brown.

Little, Brown and Company releases the cover for The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling, along with updated cover copy, details of the audio reader, and confirmed page count.

Published worldwide in the English language on September 27, 2012 in hardcover ($35.00), large print hardcover ($39.00), e-book ($19.99), unabridged audio download ($29.98), and on CD ($44.98)

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity, and unexpected revelations?

A big novel about a small town, The Casual Vacancy is J. K. Rowling’s first novel for adults. It is the work of a storyteller like no other. Get the whole story »