“Interstellar,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies” and “Transformers: Age of Extinction” are among the 10 films that have advanced in the Oscar race for Best Visual Effects, the Academy announced Friday.
The other shortlisted films are: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Godzilla,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Maleficent,” “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Two shocking omissions were of Biblical proportions: Ridley Scott‘s “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” with its recreation of the parting of the Red Sea and the plagues sent down on Egypt, and Darren Aronofsky‘s “Noah,” which created a menagerie of animals and set them adrift in the flood.
Other presumed contenders that didn’t make the cut with members of the Visual Effects Branch’s Executive Committee were “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Into the Woods” and “Edge of Tomorrow.”
The presumed frontrunners could include “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “The Hobbit” and “Interstellar” — but if the last of those films also lands a Best Picture nomination, its rivals have reason to worry. The last time a best pic nominee lost in this category to a non-nominee was 1970, when “Tora! Tora! Tora!” beat “Patton.”
Filmmakers behind the shortlisted films will show 10-minute excerpts to members of the Academy’s Visual Effects Branch on Jan. 10, 2015, and those members will then vote to choose the five nominees.
Nominations will be announced Jan. 15.
The shortlisted films are:
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
“Godzilla”
“Guardians of the Galaxy”
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
“Interstellar”
“Maleficent”
“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”
“Transformers: Age of Extinction”
“X-Men: Days of Future Past”