Glad to see this has been sorted out. You might recall that when the Best Picture nominations were read out on Tuesday morning, “The Hurt Locker” and “The Blind Side” were both slapped with the vague “nominees to be determined” tag — a stopgap the Academy issues wen there are admin issues to be ironed out.
“The Hurt Locker” initially fell foul of the Academy’s arbitrary (and, for my money, rather misguided) recent rule that permits a maximum of three nominated producers per film. Exceptions, however, can be made: as was the case last year, when “The Reader” was allowed four nominees, including the late Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack.
So I’m happy that the powers that be at the Academy have been equally reasonable about “The Hurt Locker,” ruling that its quartet of producers all have a legitimate claim to a nomination.
Should it win on the big night, then, Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro will go up on stage to claim the statuette. (This, of course, makes both Bigelow and screenwriter Boal double nominees this year.)
Meanwhile, the nominees for “The Blind Side” have been confirmed as Gil Netter, Andrew A. Koskove and Broderick Johnson. Congratulations, all. Press release as follows.
Beverly Hills, CA — Producer credits for 82nd Academy Awards Best Picture nominees “The Blind Side” and “The Hurt Locker” have been determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Producers Branch Executive Committee. Credits are as follows:
“The Blind Side” – Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, producers.
“The Hurt Locker” – Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, producers.Academy rules state that normally no more than three producers may be named as nominees in the Best Picture category. However, the rules allow for an additional producer to be named under extraordinary circumstances. In finding that all of the producers of “The Hurt Locker” had fully functioned as genuine producers of the film, the committee chose to exercise the “extraordinary circumstances” provision of the rules.
Producers for the other eight motion pictures nominated in the Best Picture category – “Avatar,” “District 9,” “An Education,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious Man,” “Up” and “Up in the Air” – were announced on February 2 and remain unchanged.
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10 responses to “Four producer nominees for ‘The Hurt Locker’”
Does anyone know how many of the five Oscar-winning producers of Shakespeare in Love actually earned their place on the stage? Wasn’t it this that made them change the rules re: the number of producers able to win Best Picture?
Even though I love the film it still annoys me that Ed Zwick, who isn’t exactly one of my favourite directors, won an Oscar for it.
“Even though I love the film it still annoys me that Ed Zwick, who isn’t exactly one of my favourite directors, won an Oscar for it.”
That’s a pretty stupid (and hateful) thing to say. First, you admit that you have no idea who actually “earned” it (nevermind the fact that if these people survived academy’s scrutiny they probably did deserve their spot). Then you go on to imply that Zwick didn’t earn it without providing any support. Clearly, you don’t like Zwick but it’s pretty dumb to be “annoyed” that one of the people obviously responsible for the movie you love is got recognized for it.
For the record, I’m stounch Ryan guy but you don’t see me throwing negative remarks toward any of the film’s producers. I happen to like Zwick and happen to know that he’s a terrific producer an am happy for his success.
But then he has always been one of MY favorite directors.
“Wasn’t it this that made them change the rules re: the number of producers able to win Best Picture?”
For the record, no it wasn’t because of this particular movie.
Way to overreact to a throwaway jibe, Maxim.
And, for the record, Nigel’s right that it was controversy over Shakespeare in Love’s producer count that brought the matter to a head for the Academy. Many in the industry were annoyed when Harvey Weinstein claimed credit as one of the film’s five producers, feeling that his involvement wasn’t hands-on enough to merit the award. Following that, the PGA devised a new formula for determining producer involvement and the Academy instigated the three-person rule.
It makes sense that they imposed this rule as all kinds of producer credits were inflating rapidly during the late 90s and onward, especially as more directors started producing their films. There should certainly be leeway, like in The Hurt Locker’s case, but I’m glad there’s a rule imposed.
On the other end, I’m always impressed these days when there is just one producer on a film. Lawrence Bender, Inglourious Basterds, boom, no “fat”.
Zwick is one of my favorite directors. So the fact that there seems to be little chance for him ever winning a Director’s Oscar is nil, I’m just happy he has one, in general. Call me crazy, I always enjoy his movies.
Mark Boal looks exactly like Peter Jackson in the picture above.
Zwick is probably one of those directors whose films could most have benefitted from a 10-film lineup for best picture. None of his films ever made it, but “Glory”, “Blood Diamond”, and “the Last Samurai” would have likely gotten in with 10 best picture nominees, and “Defiance” and “Courage Under Fire” could have mounted a viable campaign.
More ontopic, there is viable cause for the three-producer rule that allows for exceptions, the problem is the academy’s rigidity in adhering to its rules (as we saw last year when TDK was eligible, ineligible, and eligible again for having work by either 2 or 4 composers. By the end of the whole thing people had already started voting).
Then again, try to imagine “Academy award nominee Tyler Perry” for producing (i.e. putting his name on) Precious.
Yet Peter Jackson, despite so-so reviews for “the Lovely Bones,” still becomes an Oscar nominee (his 9th) for producing “District 9.”
Not complaining, but I always find it interesting who produces a film. Hell, back in 2000 Danny Devito became an Oscar nominee for “Erin Brockovich.”
I’m also happy that Ivan Reitman gets a nomination – still can’t understand the bias the AMPAS has towards comedy…
“Mark Boal looks exactly like Peter Jackson in the picture above.”
???
They both have beards, I guess.
Maxim, I never said Ed Zwick didn’t earn his Oscar. It’s just that, as someone who has never been a fan, I find it annoying that he is an Oscar winner. Pure and simple. I’m sure plenty of people have said similar things in the past – hell, look at the number of people who don’t want Sandra Bullock to win an Oscar this year.
Not that I should have to clarify my statement because it was pretty friggin’ obvious what I meant by it.