Oscars 2014 Nominations: 10 Things We Learned About This Year's Picks

4. ...But The Weinsteins Retain Some Clout

It's been a year of strife for Bob and Harvey Weinstein. After 'Harvey Scissorhands' apparently needlessly took his editing tools to Korean blockbuster Snowpiercer (a film that awaits release in the UK and US, largely due to the falling out between big Harv and director Bong Joon-ho), the bad press just kept on coming. Weinstein Company films that once seemed like 2014 awards contenders, including The Butler, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and August: Osage County just weren't getting much notice, finding themselves largely shut out in a very strong year. The former giants of Oscar season, who once upon a time fairly won awards by buying all the votes, seemed to be losing their grip. But films of The Weinstein Company go to the 2014 Academy Awards with 11 nominations: four for Philomena, two for August: Osage County, two for The Grandmaster and one apiece for Mandela, Cutie and the Boxer and 20 Feet From Stardom. Congratulations boys, you've done it again.