It’s been a strange road to the 85th annual Academy Awards, this Sunday’s telecast and presentation one of the more unusual the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has ever encountered. By attempting to move up the nomination deadline to presage influence by various critics organization, artists guilds and other awards shows (namely the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs), the Academy inadvertently through things into all kinds of disarray, creating an atmosphere of odd uncertainty this year that has many perplexed.
You’d think this uncertainty would be a good thing, but in the case of the 85th Oscars you’d be hard-pressed to find many who think so. The reason can be summed up in one word (or title): Argo. While the movie received a healthy seven nominations including a nod for Best Picture, Ben Affleck was left out of the Best Director race leading many to assume it’s chances for the top award were suddenly D.O.A. But then came a weird sympathetic backlash decrying this perceived ‘snubbing,’ Affleck and Argo going on to win a seemingly never-ending series of awards from critics and artist guilds alike including taking home the BAFTA for Best Picture, the WGA for adapted screenplay and the SAG for best ensemble.
