The Cinematographers Have Spoken
The nominees:
"Apocalypto," Dean Semler
"The Black Dahlia," Vilmos Zsigmond
"Children of Men," Emmanuel Lubezki
"The Good Shepherd," Robert Richardson
"The Illusionist," Dick Pope
Huge misstep here for "Dreamgirls," but seeing both Richardson (not terribly surprising) and Zsigmond (what a maligned film) show up here is intriguing. So much so that we can count on at least one of them showing up at the Oscars. My bet is Richardson. Zsigmond, after all, is a legend, so guild support seems about right. Replace him with "Dreamgirls" and that looks like a viable line-up.
"Babel" finally misses a beat in guild support, and poor Tom Stern. "Letters from Iwo Jima" (and "Flags of Our Fathers," for that matter) are so far showing up nil with the guilds. No one has seen the film. No one. One also has to wonder if Michael Ballhaus' receiving the lifetime achievement honor from the guild this year played into his lack of a mention for "The Departed." This is a group that appreciates wonderful camera movement, so at I'm at least a little surprised it missed here. Would have been less so with the Academy.
And I said it last night, folks. Watch out for "The Illusionist." There is a huge wave of love for that flick. Huge.
Comments
Very strange that no likely Best Picture nominees made it in.
Semler and Lubezki (now really with a command on the race) are obviously the two that will make it into Oscar's lineup with ease.
You summed up Zsigmond's status pretty well; he's clearly the most vulnerable but I don't think he's the only vulnerable one.
Richardson has been thrice nominated by the guild when AMPAS has ignored him ("A Few Good Men," "Heaven and Earth," "The Horse Whisperer") so I don't know if declaring him to not be a guild favourite is altogether warranted (though, admittedly, he's yet to win the award).
And yes, "The Illusionist," is really looking like it could be a major force come nomination morning. We'll know very shortly if the writers have followed suit.
Regardless, I think this race is very exciting. Schliessler is in the best position to score; "Phantom" and "Chicago" both missed ASC nods.
Posted by: Gerard Kennedy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 09:37 AM
the big snubs: Dremgirls & Babel... the surprise The Illusionist the FYC campaign did work...
Posted by: CarlinhosBrown![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 09:42 AM
The question is can the Illusionist pull anything shocking out of the hat. I know Supporting is beyond full at this point, but if a combo of love for the film in some places and the need to still give Paul another Make up? I doubt it, but it would be the playback for the Sideways snub if he gets in and both of Clint's movies fell flat.
Posted by: Paul8148![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 10:03 AM
Since 1986, ASC has always nominated the eventual Oscar winner. I think we're finally looking at a win for Lubezki.
I think Richardson and Zsigmond will both miss out at the Oscars. I see Dreamgirls and Babel (or The Departed) taking their spots.
Posted by: RBurton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 10:38 AM
Gerard: Yeah, kind of brain-farted on calling Richardson "not a guild favorite," because I had it stuck in my head that he's never won, disregarding, for whatever reason, that he has seven nods.
Oh - next time you hang up on me - you're FIRED! (Check your email.)
Posted by: Kristopher Tapley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 01:30 PM
This leads me to think...
is someone campaigning against the 2 Iwo Jima movies!
Posted by: redwine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 11, 2007 02:05 PM
Kris,
Don't be so mean to Gerard..or you'll lose him to other blogs like The Hot Blog!
Posted by: numberina![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 12, 2007 03:16 AM
What a shocking list..
No Dreamgirls, The Painted Veil, Miami Vice...
Posted by: numberina![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| January 12, 2007 03:18 AM