Oscars 2019: 10 Great Films That Didn't Get A Single Nomination (And What They Deserved)
9. Eighth Grade
What It Deserved: Original Screenplay
Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade was an outsider coming into the Oscar nominations, although its hopes were boosted by the fact it picked up a WGA nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Still, it isn't much of a surprise that it went away empty-handed, but it is a shame. Bo Burnham may be better known for his standup, but with Eighth Grade he crafted one of the most authentic takes on adolescence we've seen in recent years.
There's a lot to like about the movie - including Elsie Fisher's lead performance - but its biggest strength in Burnham's screenplay, which brings a remarkable amount of honesty and relatability, without trading on have plenty of warmth and humour as well. He shows a deftness of touch in writing for a teenage protagonist that so many often miss, with the film never patronising or overly simplifying those tough years, nor exagerrating them either. It's a delicate balancing act, but Burnham's script nails it.