One Category at a Time: Visual Effects

I must profess, I'm not sure why the Academy chose this year of all years to finally expand the number of nominees in this category to five. It hasn't been a particularly outstanding year for effects work, and it shows with a slate of mostly mediocre nominees.

I've long since been on the record for thinking the effects of Alice in Wonderland are glaring and poorly animated, but I can't begrudge Ken Ralston & co. for the sheer amount of work they did. Practically every shot is an effects shot. Everything is computerized. Computerized to death if you ask me. And yet it's still a dark horse candidate in this field. Remember that "most" visual effects can sometimes beat "best" visual effects.

Adding to the population of nominees that make me say "m'eh" are Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and Hereafter, the latter of which seems to have made it in for that tsunami sequence alone. Decent work, but nothing particularly special. It's a crime that these got in over the much more stunning and unique effects of TRON Legacy and Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

Incpetion, on the other hand, is the only movie this year whose effects made me go "whoa". Those brilliant hotel corridor scenes are justly lauded, but let's not forget the detailed work done by the digital effects artists, or the meticulous pyrotechnic work. It has four VES nominations under its belt (winners announced tomorrow) and is also the only Best Picture nominee in the field. The Oscar is clearly it's to lose.

Will win: Inception
Runner-up: Alice in Wonderland

Should win: Inception
Should have been nominated: Scott Pilgrim vs the World