Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer comes away empty-handed at the Visual Effects Oscars

Cillian Murphy as Robert Oppenheimer doesn’t have to look sad if Nolan’s bombast film doesn’t win a VFX Oscar, does he? (iama_sing/Adobe Stock)

The film “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan did not make it into the final selection for the Oscar nominations in the “Visual Effects” category, reports the industry journal Variety.

Film fans are now gathering on Twitter (now X) to express their displeasure with the decision.

What is the reaction of the fans to the decision?

There is talk of Oppenheimer and Nolan being “robbed” of an Oscar.

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There is also criticism when the fifth Indiana Jones receives a nomination instead.

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The reaction follows the foot. Another film fan knows why the fifth part of The Whip Swinger deserved the nomination.

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Which films made it into the shortlist?

How Independent

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
• Barbie
• The Boys in the Boat
• The Creator
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
• Godzilla: Minus One
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• The Marvels
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Napoleon
• Nyad
• Poor Things
• Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire
• Society of the Snow
• Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
• Wonka

What could be the reasons why Oppenheimer failed?

Oppenheimer is a film that makes sparing use of visual effects.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter Nolan’s VFX supervisor explained how the effects surrounding the detonation of the atomic bomb were created. Several real filmed elements – such as smoke and explosions – were superimposed on the computer.

A simple procedure compared to the makeover given to Harrison Ford in the latest Indiana Jones.

Elsewhere, as special effects supervisor Scott Fisher reports, real explosions were filmed. He says:

Other, less impressive visual effects work consisted of retouching image components that do not fit the 1942 game year.

That’s what the expert says: Oppenheimer hat 200 Visual Effects Shots. For comparison: The first Jurassic Park film was already around 60 VFX-Shots – a film that came out 30 years ago.

And a contemporary blockbuster like Avengers: Infinity has over 2,700 VFX shots, while the second Avatar film has around 3,250 VFX shots.

Sure, the Oscars shouldn’t be about quantity.

Christopher Nolan und Visual Effects: Nolan is a filmmaker who uses computer-made effects is criticalthese are used very sparingly.

This is refreshing in times of completely overworked visual effects houses that have to make last-minute changes for free from major studios. And even on screen, I dare say, we as viewers are all oversaturated with computer effects.

If you want to know how VFX houses are burned out by directors with no understanding of the work of computer artists, all you have to do is look at the story of how the film was made »Life of Pi: Shipwreck with Tiger« by Ang Lee.

The documentary worth seeing »Life After Pi« shows how the legendary VFX house “Rhythm & Hues” gave everything for the production – and as a thank you, it was completely ruined.

That was all ten years ago, but they are also under Marvel Working conditions for VFX artists Apparently it hasn’t necessarily gotten any better.

Are you disappointed if Oppenheimer now comes away empty-handed at the VFX Oscars? In what other categories do you think the Nolan film will win? In other words: What did you think of the film and did you even see it? Which films from screen history do you think had the best special effects? Feel free to write us your opinion on this in the comments.