File this under “Things You Didn’t Know You Needed.”
Since another Oscar season has come and gone, and since — once again — nary a superhero flick was even in consideration, I’m sharing my Superhero Oscar list with you.
For the last several years, I’ve been keeping a running tally of all of the Batman and Superman alumni who have either won or been nominated for an Academy Award. This all started in 2006 when Nicole Kidman handed George Clooney the statue for his supporting turn in Syriana, and I realized, “Hey, these two were in (admittedly crappy) Batman movies!”
So I did what any Batfan with an internet connection and access to IMDB would do, I compiled a comprehensive list of all the cinematic Bat-actors and their Oscars. And it’s a long one! Last summer, in advance of the release of Man of Steel, I created a similar list for the cinematic Superman alumni as well.
A couple things stood out the most when I started compiling this list. One, shockingly, Gary Oldman (Commisioner Gordon from Batman Begins) had never been nominated for an Oscar — that injustice was finally rectified in 2012. Secondly, Clooney’s 2006 win marked the first time a Batman won the golden statue. Christian Bale would take the prize five years later for The Fighter. And Heath Ledger’s posthumous win in 2009 was the first time an actor had won an Oscar for a role in a superhero movie. Also, who knew Danny DeVito was nominated for an Oscar for producing Erin Brockovich? IMDB, that’s who!
I decided to start up a list for the Superman alumni because — like the Batman one — there are actually a lot of Oscar nominees and winners in that franchise too. In fact, one of the reasons I’m not hating on Batfleck is because it allows me to add a couple slots to both lists1. Huzzah!
Anyway, click here for the lists. If you’re wondering, I included movies like Supergirl and Catwoman because as much as they suck, they’re still part of the canon. Hell, I would have included Steel too, but alas, there are no Oscar-caliber actors in it. Shocking, I know.
Also, I’ve considered doing similar lists for the Marvel movies, but honestly, I don’t think I care that much to do it. Let me know in the comments if you think I should reconsider though.
- The only reason he’s not on the list now is because Man of Steel 2 a.k.a. Batman vs. Superman a.k.a. Why Don’t You Just Call It Justice League Already doesn’t exist yet. Once it does, Affleck (and Jesse Eisenberg and Jeremy Irons) will def be on the list. ↩
I’m amazed at how the main cast of American Hustle have played parts in superhero flicks. But as for a Superman or Batman flick ever winning an important Oscar award – not in these times. Although Man of Steel has been nominated for Best Comicbook Adaption in the Saturn Awards.
The Dark Knight had the best shot at a Best Pic nom (and should have gotten, actually. It’s one of the reasons the Academy expanded from five to ten nominees every year.)
In competition with nominees of 2009, I find that very hard to believe. It had one film set in World War 2, another during the Nixon administration, another covering decades of a man’s life, and another on gay rights struggle in California. Finally there is the winner, Slumdog Millionaire.
At last Man of Steel has been nominated for MTV’s Best Hero award and in the Saturn Awards’ Best Comic Book movie category.
I think the conventional wisdom is that “The Reader” should not have been nominated in 2009. A lot of Oscar pundits were in agreement that TDK was a contender that year, and this Grantland piece talks about the “Nolan Effect” and how the Academy actually over compensated for not including TDK in its top five in 2009 by expanding the pool.
I don’t see much pointing commiserating on the past like that. There are many films that could contend for the Oscars but as one director said on BBC’s Hardtalk, the film of best picture are chosen by how they represent American culture or its values. Which is why I think more specific awards, like the Saturn Awards, are better suited for superhero-based movies.
Man of Steel won Best Hero at the MTV Movie Awards! See? It got one!