The Academy has announced the ten films that made their final shortlist for the Best Visual Effects category at the 2014 Oscars and I can’t say this category ever really surprises me with what’s in versus what’s out, but to see films such as Man of Steel, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Oz the Great and Powerful not make the cut does make you wonder just what exactly does it mean to have the “best” visual effects.
Here’s the ten that will compete for the five nominees, which will be determined after all members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Thursday, January 9, 2014. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.
- Elysium
- Gravity
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- Iron Man 3
- The Lone Ranger
- Oblivion
- Pacific Rim
- Star Trek Into Darkness
- Thor: The Dark World
- World War Z
I have updated my predictions for the category following the announcement and my top five didn’t really change other than to have films move up one slot as The Great Gatsby was previously in my top five but is no not eligible:
- Gravity
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- Pacific Rim
- Oblivion
- Iron Man 3
I really don’t think there is any chance Gravity doesn’t win this category, but if you’re up to making an argument for another film I’m all ears.
Oscars nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT.
