5. Costume Design - Captain America: The First Avenger
Going by the fact that they've been throwing awards at the damn things for years, the Academy loves period pieces. Which is why the WWII-set Captain America: The First Avenger, with 1940s-era costume designs by the Oscar-nominated Schindler's List and The Pianist designer Anna B. Sheppard, would seem like the perfect choice for recognition in the Costume Design category. Obviously, Sheppard got nothing. The Oscar isn't going to go to a comic book film for its superhero costume design any time soon (though it's unclear why - the Oscar for Costume Design rewards intricacy, and just as much effort and creativity goes into designing an appropriately iconic superhero outfit). But in a fair Oscars game, in a year where the awful likes of Anonymous and W.E. made the category cut, Captain America should've been included. Sheppard's designs for the film are flawless - she nails not just the factual (the military and civilian clothing from the time period), but the fictional as well (the HYDRA uniforms, the retro Captain America costume).
Brogan Morris
Contributor
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
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