Writing for The Daily Beast, Chris Lee explores why Christopher Nolan was not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for Inception, even though the film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. According to Lee, the Academy’s snub may have several dimensions, including Nolan’s demeanor and the commercial appeal of his films, but it may also have to do with the lack of campaigning Nolan does on his own behalf. Lee writes:
While legendarily dyspeptic directors such as David O. Russell (The Fighter), David Fincher (The Social Network) and even the notoriously aloof Coen brothers (True Grit) have taken to stumping for their films with endless interview roundelays worthy of a presidential campaign, Nolan has largely sat out the process. Save for appearing at the ceremonies for which he was already nominated, such as the Directors Guild Awards, and being named a Modern Master at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the filmmaker has skipped getting on the phone with reporters to concentrate on prepping his third Batman sequel, The Dark Knight Rises.
I’ve addressed my feelings about the Oscars before (see here and here) and I’ll have something new and of greater length to say about the annual ceremony at a later date. But for now, Lee’s article reinforces the political nature of the Academy Awards and the culture of campaigning around the ceremony undermines the integrity of the trophies as the press blitz behind the pictures surpasses the films themselves.