Why this summer’s action blockbusters could be Oscar contenders come awards season
Logan, Wonder Woman and War for the Planet of the Apes could all secure nomination for awards in 2018, but has the Academy done enough to ensure blockbusters actually get a look-in?
There’s no doubting that Ryan Reynolds sought more than just laughs with Deadpool ’s unconventional “For Your Consideration” video campaign for an Oscar nomination in 2017. Despite his pleads going unheard, with the popular film being overlooked by the Academy, it does not change the fact that Deadpool was a serious contender to be the first superhero film to earn a best picture Oscar nomination in 2017.
“The award tides for blockbuster and comic book movies seem to be turning,” says Pete Hammond, Deadline.com awards columnist. “There’s a feeling that the film academy is too snobby for these types of movies. But this year, there are a lot more potential [nominees] already. Maybe one of these big movies can come up and defy expectations.”
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Here’s why things are looking up for summer blockbusters in the next award season:
The movies are unusually strong
For every critically derided No. 1 this year ( Transformers: The Last Knight ), there are shining examples of quality with mass appeal. Logan brought a gritty end to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine X-Men character, and earned a thumbs up from 93 per cent of critics on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman won rave reviews from 92 per cent of critics, and generated excitement as the first female-centric superhero movie directed by a woman.
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Spider-Man: Homecoming heads into cinemas this week with a 92 per cent approval rating, followed by Matt Reeves’ War for the Planet of the Apes (out July 13 in Hong Kong) with a favourable 96 per cent score.