Because every film fanatic worth their salt has a deep and undying respect for Steven Spielberg, its easy to see why the Academy felt the need to nominate Bridge Of Spies for a whopping six awards, despite the fact its pretty far from being one of its directors best films. There are a few categories it deserves a chance at winning, particularly the Supporting Role prize, which Mark Rylances show-stealing performance certainly feels worthy of. However, if Bridge Of Spies takes home the Best Picture gong, the Academy could well incite a groundswell of criticism. Although Bridge Of Spies is a very good film, and Spielberg an undeniable cultural icon, giving him his third war movie Oscar (he won Best Director for Saving Private Ryan and Best Picture for Schindlers List) would feel like a clichéd and obvious choice. The Academy should be rewarding something imaginative and original, not patting their old chum on the back for making another movie set very comfortably in his well-established wheelhouse.
