In 2015, the Academy proved that it admired innovation and displays of pure filmmaking skill. It did that by making Boyhood, filmed over 12 years by Richard Linklater, one of the frontrunners, and by awarding Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's Birdman, made to appear as if it was filmed in one long continuous take, both Best Picture and Best Director. When Joss Whedon succeeded on meeting the unprecedented challenge of bringing myriad differing characters - taken from their own individually-styled films - together seamlessly for The Avengers, Oscar responded with just one nomination: the obligatory-for-the-successful-blockbuster, "thanks for making the industry loads of money" Visual Effects nom. With the Academy such apparent fans of filmmakers working over-time to tackle colossal undertakings (this was a $220 million movie, remember, with a litany of stars/egos packed into a two-hour-plus running time), Joss Whedon could have been a favourite for Best Director in 2013. It helps that he made The Avengers one of the best popcorn movies of recent times, created by someone with so much nous that he took time off after the shoot by making another completely different film in his back garden. What else has the MCU been denied Oscars for so far? Let us know in the comments below.
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
