Can Roger Deakins finally have an Oscar, please?

Roger Deakins is one of Hollywood's reigning cinematographers, but he's lost eight bids for the Oscar over the last 16 years: "The Reader" (2008), "The Assassination of Jesse James" (2007), "No Country for Old Men" (2007), "The Man Who Wasn't There" (2001), "O Brother Where Art Thou" (2000), "Kundun" (1997), "Fargo" (1996), "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994).

Now he's nominated for "True Grit" -– see Paramount's highlight reel below. He's pitted against Matthew Libatique ("Black Swan"), Wally Pfister ("Inception"), Danny Cohen ("The King's Speech") and Jeff Cronenweth ("The Social Network").

-- Tom O'Neil

Comments

[Ray A.]

David ... we're not "push[ing] the agenda that this is about 'the time of somebody'." The Academy voters push that agenda every year. It's part of the reality of Oscar voting, and only a fool thinks denying reality is a good idea. Granted, if Oscar votes were given only on merit, Libatique would probably win this year for "Black Swan" ... but if Oscar votes were given only on merit, Deakins would've won at least twice already and the question would not be before the house.

And if you think "True Grit" is an "average western," then clearly you've only seen the five or six best Westerns of the last generation. "True Grit" would finish in the middle of that group -- but near the top of any other.

[marty1234]

Now David...Average western? Let me guess...Your probable upset Yo Samity Sam hasn't come out in 3 d yet..

[David IGLESIAS]

Why should we give an Oscar for Cinematography to a movie that doesn't deserve it? why should we continue to try and push the agenda that this is about "the time of somebody"? It is about the work. It is about the film. Black Swan has more impressive cinematography than this movie. Inception has some of the most complicated shot designs of the year. Social Network has a very creative framing, impressive composition and color palette. What is the deal with this average western that people need to continue to feel compelled to force it through?