Star Trek Receives Four Oscar Noms...all Technical Awards

[M'Sharak]

Not surprised

Yeah, I could tell yesterday that its chances for Best Picture had come and gone.

I think Star Trek was always kind of a long shot for Best Picture, even given the expansion to ten slots. That given, I still liked Kevin Smith's comment on the lack of Best Pic nomination (unnecessary apostrophe notwithstanding.)

Apparently, he wasn't the only one expressing disappointment or surprise at the omission, though:

http://trekmovie.com/2010/02/02/was-star-trek-snubbed-by-the-academy/

 

[Stardate]

No, most likely District 9 was the spoiler. I considered it a longshot to see two SF films on the list. Avatar was pretty much a no-brainer, but District 9 really seemed like a surprise because I heard no Oscar buzz when that came out.

Alex

I would swap District 9 for Star Trek. I just watch District 9 and it was one of the worst movie i have seen in my life. The story made no sense at all and the aliens were just awful. I would nominate it for Razzie award as one of the worst movie of the year lol.
Star Trek is masterpiece compare to District 9.

How did the story not make sense? It was about racism, apartheid, and the violent culture that it spawns.

Anyway, I agree about the Blind Side being the spoiler, but I suppose that's a populist film. I don't mind Star Trek not being nominated, but surely there are better films than the Blind Side.

If they want to make a movie about racism and apartheid that fine but the alliens or prawns or whatever they were called in the movie was beyond believe. They were advanced allien civilization but they acted like Forest Gumps and were trading their alien weapons for month supplies of CATFOOD.
I was utter disappointed after watching it.

 

[JarodRussell]

You are wrong.

You are wrong.

You are wrong.

No, I'm not. Star Trek got most of those positive reviews because the last two or three were considered being pretty mediocre by the critics. Reviewer's love for Abrams and a Star Trek movie that's cooler make for positive reviews. Which means they liked it as an unexpectedly good Star Trek movie, but not as the best picture of the year.

It's Star Trek, Jim, but not as we have known it. A masterclass in how to rebrand and relaunch a franchise.

The most exhilarating Trek to date marks a new future for Kirk and co.

Blasting onto the screen at warp speed and remaining there for two hours, the new and improved Star Trek will transport fans to sci-fi nirvana.

Here is a film that slaps your expectations around with surprise after surprise, leaving you shaking your head in disbelief that a Star Trek film could be this good.

Somehow pulling off the trick of appealing to the wider mass audience with one foot in Star WARS, the most startling thing about this new TREK is how it avoids being AWFUL.

Yes, the genie is back out of the bottle. Well acted, expertly edited, and brilliantly watchable even if not perfect. And above all, it doesn't suck.

And this sample of quotes is taken from Rottentomatoes, and there are many more like that.

 

[indranee]

Not surprised

ditto.

question remains: if Avatar hadn't been around, would we have gotten something more?

 

[indranee]

Get real,

The reviews were all like "For a movie called Star Trek, it's surprisingly good." and that's it.

...talk about getting real

Anyway, 4 nominations are good.
I wasn't expecting a best picture nomination but what do I know. I've never really bothered with the awards other than checking who won.
Though I suppose if that Sandra Bullock movie got in maybe we should feel robbed after all. Hmm...

Maybe next time.

never gonna happen. ST is just not going to ever be nominated for a best picture Oscar. we need to stop thinking and hoping about it.

 

[O'Dib]

If they want to make a movie about racism and apartheid that fine but the alliens or prawns or whatever they were called in the movie was beyond believe. They were advanced allien civilization but they acted like Forest Gumps and were trading their alien weapons for month supplies of CATFOOD.
I was utter disappointed after watching it.

They're a hive mind. With their more evolved leadership dead, they became stupid. It took 20 years for the mind to restart itself and give another prawn leadership traits.

 

[SalvorHardin]

The Blind Side isn't a bad movie or anything (just not good enough for Best Picture - but if Trek had gotten in, I'm sure other people would be saying the same thing).

I agree with all of that (I've seen TBS by the way).
And I don't necessarily believe Star Trek is good enough for Best Picture either.

But... if they are going to expand the slots to 10 and include a movie like The Blind Side, well then maybe they should have included Star Trek instead.
But that might also be my fan side speaking. It's no big deal in any case.

Sandra Bullock actually does a really good job in it though and deserved the nomination for Best Actress.

Also true.

 

[WarMaster1701]

The AMPAS just announced their nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards and Star Trek received several nominations, but missed on for Best Picture of 2009. It looks like The Blind Side might have slipped in and taken a spot that could've gone to Trek.

No, most likely District 9 was the spoiler. I considered it a longshot to see two SF films on the list. Avatar was pretty much a no-brainer, but District 9 really seemed like a surprise because I heard no Oscar buzz when that came out.

Alex

I don't think so. District 9 was always going to get a nomination. It is seen as a superior film which is why it also received a Screenplay nomination from the Oscars and Golden Globes, and received Best Director and Best Screenplay noms from the BAFTAs.

Its " SEEN" as the better film But really isn't. it was nominated because its a good film itself. Peter Jackson is involved and its more original

 

[Tom Servo]

You are wrong.

You are wrong.

No, I'm not. Star Trek got most of those positive reviews because the last two or three were considered being pretty mediocre by the critics. Reviewer's love for Abrams and a Star Trek movie that's cooler make for positive reviews. Which means they liked it as an unexpectedly good Star Trek movie, but not as the best picture of the year.

Somehow pulling off the trick of appealing to the wider mass audience with one foot in Star WARS, the most startling thing about this new TREK is how it avoids being AWFUL.

Yes, the genie is back out of the bottle. Well acted, expertly edited, and brilliantly watchable even if not perfect. And above all, it doesn't suck.

And this sample of quotes is taken from Rottentomatoes, and there are many more like that.

Duh. Of course they are gonna compare it to other Trek films...its a Star Trek movie. However, all of those reviews say something else...that it's a good movie period. You are distorting the reviews in order to support your point.

Ill accept the fact that it did not get a best picture nomination, it would have been cool, but it's no big deal. The fact that it was in the discussion from multiple sources about its candidacy is just a testament to the fact that it was under consideration. That and the fact that it is showing up under multiple Oscar snub lists this morning.

Every time you come in here to talk down about the film, you try to find some new criteria to say it wasn't a good film. Now it's, the only reason it got good reviews, is because they are comparing it to previous Trek films. Maybe some people just liked the damn movie, period. It's not that hard to believe. The movie could had had a 100% fresh rate, and made a billion dollars, and there would still be those who say it was a failure, and that it people just liked it because it was better then the last films.

I really don't think it was called good, just because what was seen before it sucked.

 

[MvRojo]

Honestly, what really hurt Star Trek was its lack of promotion by Paramount through awards season.

This site has a gallery of "For Your Consideration" ads put in the trades:
http://www.awardsdaily.com/FYC/gallery/

Of the ten nominees for Best Picture, this is the ad count:
- Avatar (13)
- The Blind Side (6)
- District 9 (3)
- An Education (9)
- The Hurt Locker (10)
- Inglourious Basterds (6)
- Precious (14)
- A Serious Man (14)
- Up (7)
- Up in the Air (0)

Paramount also released Up in the Air and didn't bother putting out any ads for it. But that one didn't need much support.

In fact, Paramount only put out ONE FYC ad...for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Think about that...

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The reviews were all like "For a movie called Star Trek, it's surprisingly good."

And if that were in fact as far as the reviews all went, they'd have been correct. For a movie called Star Trek it was surprisingly good.

 

[indranee]

Found this (Zoe Saldana had a substantially reduced role in Trek, though):

http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/blog/38-surprising-snubs-from-the-oscar-nominations

Best Picture - "Star Trek"
It's an outer space adventure filled with dazzling special effects and featuring a largely unknown cast with a standout performance by Zoe Saldana. Yes, that description fits the Best Picture nominee "Avatar," but it just as well could be talking about the snubbed "Star Trek." While J.J. Abrams' new take on the sci-fi classic didn't create an entirely new world like James Cameron's epic did, but instead it accomplished a feat that is even more impressive. The movie took a 40-year-old franchise and made it brand-new again, without alienating the fans who have adored it for decades.

...

one of the comments:

Star Trek being snubbed for any award nomination isn't something new. It is the norm. For some reason those that decide this type of thing just can't bring themselves to go on record to vote for something that provides entertainment that is full of hope for our future, has positive hero role models and offers an audience a darn good time. So it has been since Star Trek first aired.

 

[dkehler]

I don't see how anybody could actually believe that Star Trek 2009 is worthy of a best picture nomination. Not even close, in my opinion.

 

[Daneel]

Eh, I didn't really expect Trek to be nominated for Best Picture... although it would have been nice. Still, it did get four nominations, and technical or not, that's recognition from the Academy, which ain't a bad thing.

Not too surprised about Avatar; a little surprised about District 9. I enjoyed both films, although I did think they both had their flaws. Of course, I could say the same about Star Trek (which I did enjoy more than the other two... but I'm probably biased. I'd be hard-pressed to say objectively which of the films is best). I think I can kind of see why the Academy would deem Avatar and District 9 more "award-worthy", though. In any event, I am rather delighted to see a strong sci-fi presence in the Best Picture category.

I haven't seen The Blind Side (just not really interested), but... really? Is it actually that good? Like I said, I haven't seen it, but it gave me the impression it was just your average "feel-good, root-for-the-underdog" sports movie. I feel like it might be on the list purely for its surprising popularity with audiences.

 

[ALF]

Can't do the Oscars anymore. Too much frustration as those who should win never do.

Plus I don't think in this day and age I don't need to watch Hollywood pat itself on the back with such ridiculous fanfare. Filmmakers and sound editors aren't my heroes.

 

[MvRojo]

I haven't seen The Blind Side (just not really interested), but... really? Is it actually that good? Like I said, I haven't seen it, but it gave me the impression it was just your average "feel-good, root-for-the-underdog" sports movie. I feel like it might be on the list purely for its surprising popularity with audiences.

The Blind Side not so much a sports movie as it is a biopic which peripherally involves football. It's not like the typical sports film which has its emotional/story climax based on "winning a game." It is basically the story of a down on a his luck guy and the family that takes him in, and how they change each other's lives.

That being said...I don't think it really deserved a nomination for Best Picture (Sandra Bullock deserves her nod) when there were other movies which I thought were more deserving.

 

[ALF]

Oscar says: "Robots and Aliens... DO NOT WANT."

Star Trek was snubbed, pure and simple. The good news is, Star Trek is still awesome.

 

[donners22]

Did anyone outside here really talk about Star Trek as a legitimate contender?

I'll take Christopher Plummer's nomination as a Star Trek nomination by extension.

 

[MvRojo]

Oscar says: "Robots and Aliens... DO NOT WANT."

Star Trek was snubbed, pure and simple. The good news is, Star Trek is still awesome.

Not sure how you can make a blanket statement like that when two movies involving aliens were nominated.

 

[Vigilance]

4 Oscar nominations for a Trek movie is still pretty great.