7. Robert Elswit (Nightcrawler) Instead Of Roger Deakins (Unbroken) - Best Cinematography
This is getting beyond a joke now. Roger Deakins, longtime collaborator of the Coen brothers and Sam Mendes, has been nominated 12 times for the Best Cinematography Oscar without so much as being allowed to borrow the thing for an hour. That's not for lack of trying, with Deakins's past achievements including having Skyfall, The Assassination of Jesse James and O Brother, Where Art Thou? make your eyes pop right out of your head with their sheer beauty. With that in mind, it kind of makes sense that AMPAS would nominate Deakins again this year, in the vague hope that, if he keeps showing up, eventually he'll get given an Oscar for SOMETHING. Still, it's no secret that Deakins's lensing on Angelina Jolie's WWII biopic Unbroken is weaker than his usual stuff. In contrast, regular Paul Thomas Anderson DoP Robert Elswit produced arguably his best ever imagery for Nightcrawler, which is saying something considering he's been responsible for some damn handsome films. Elswit has already won an Oscar for his elegant framing (for There Will Be Blood), but the nocturnal neon desert that LA became in his hands for Nightcrawler should have earned him another nom.
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
