Despite his status as an A-list auteur, Wes Anderson has never had a film nominated for Best Picture. Even other relatively ignored contemporary greats, such as Christopher Nolan, have managed to have their films nominated for Best Picture even when they themselves have failed to receive recognition for their directorial work. Anderson's distinct style, which is seen as all-too hip and quirky in some quarters, admittedly isn't one that is likely to appeal to the older crowd that makes up the Academy, but with the concerted effort on the Academy's part to become younger, this may have changed. Two years ago Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom was likely on the cusp of a Best Picture nomination as the film was a frequent nominee for Best Picture in many precursor awards, although it could not pull off the trick with Oscar. The Grand Budapest Hotel though is Anderson's highest grossing film to date. The film's faux historical setting, taking place in a fictional European country before the onset of the Second World War, may give it some appeal to the older members of the Academy who haven't appreciated Anderson's contemporary work. The biggest hurdle for the film may be its early release, because after all, March isn't exactly the month when Best Pictures are made. Depending on how many of the prestige films pan out in the next few months, and how long the Academy's memories can stretch, don't be shocked if The Grand Budapest Hotel finally gives Anderson his much overdue first Best Picture nomination.
A film fanatic at a very young age, starting with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies and gradually moving up to more sophisticated fare, at around the age of ten he became inexplicably obsessed with all things Oscar. With the incredibly trivial power of being able to chronologically name every Best Picture winner from memory, his lifelong goal is to see every Oscar nominated film, in every major category, in the history of the Academy Awards.
