So, um, as you probably already know, Skyfall—the acclaimed 23rd James Bond film, which has already raked in more than $1 billion worldwide—wasn't nominated for Best Picture as some of us 007 die-hards had not-so-secretly hoped and/or pipe-dreamed it might. It was, however, nominated in five other categories (Best Original Song, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Cinematography), which is more than you can say of any previous Bond adventure: over the course of a half century, the Bond series has only garnered 7 total nominations, with just 2 wins in technical categories.
Previously… The Oscars To Feature A 50th Anniversary James Bond Tribute
Why no love for the world's greatest secret agent? I'm guessing The Academy has been secretly infiltrated by the dastardly criminal masterminds of SPECTRE and that, as we speak, Ernst Stavro Blofeld is evilly petting his white cat, cackling over this year's nominees. It's the only logical explanation, really.
More… The 10 Best Scenes In James Bond Film History
Anyways, it got me to thinking—surely out of 23 films and 50 years of James Bond on film, there must have been at least five other Oscar-worthy 007 screen achievements, right? Let's hop into the Oscar Time Machine (yes, I have one of those) and take a look back at which Bond films/actors/songs/accomplishments The Academy should've recognized.
1964 - Best Supporting Actress: Honor Blackman (Goldfinger)
At the time, there wasn't much precedence for Blackman's tough, no-nonsense pilot turned henchwoman turned Sean Connery distraction. Her magnetic screen presence… and, let's face it, that name… out performed, outdid and outshined just about every "Bond girl" that followed in her wake.
Actually Won: Lila Kedrova (Zorba The Greek)
1967 – Best Original Song: "You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra (You Only Live Twice)
The late John Barry's original score contributions to the James Bond series are all classic, but of all the title songs he co-composed, none is more stirring, timeless or unabashedly gorgeous than Nancy Sinatra's sweeping "You Only Live Twice." Just ask Mad Men's Matt Weiner… or Robbie Williams, regrettably. (It's worth noting that Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "The Look of Love" from the original Casino Royale was nominated this year… which proves once again that, yes, the universe has a strange and sick sense of humor.)
Actually Won: "Talk To The Animals" by Leslie Bricusse (Doctor Doolittle)
1967 – Best Art Direction: Ken Adam (You Only Live Twice)
Set designer Ken Adam was a true legend in his time who built just about all of the Bond series' iconic, larger than life film sets. Blofeld's volcano lair at the end of You Only Live Twice was (and remains) a modern marvel: 148 feet tall (visible from miles away) and boasting a working helipad and monorail. (Adam's biggest set, the tanker ship from The Spy Who Loved Me, was nominated in 1977 but lost to a little-know indie flick called Star Wars.)
Actually Won: John Truscott, Edward Carrere, John W. Brown - Camelot
1969 – Best Adapted Screenplay: Richard Maibaum (On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Okay, okay… even I know that no James Bond script is a literary masterpiece. But of all the classic Bonds, Maibaum's On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the most faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's original work and, as a result, I'd argue it's the best plotted, best scripted (at least until Paul Haggis came along) Bond film of the bunch.
Actually Won: Waldo Salt (Midnight Cowboy)
2012 – Best Director: Sam Mendes (Skyfall)
Yes, this year's Best Director category is a complete mess… but Mendes' work on the series' golden anniversary entry (brilliantly shot by the deservedly-nominated Roger Deakins) is visual treat, packed with iconic shot after shot and some of the series' best lead and supporting performances to date. Surely the climactic showdown at Bond's childhood manor deserves some sort of award! In a perfect world, he would've been nominated... along with Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarantino, Tom Hooper, etc.
Actually Will Win: Not Ben Affleck
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Do you think Skyfall deserved a few more Oscar nods? Any other favorite 007 films, songs, scripts or performances you think The Academy snubbed over the past 50 years? Let me know in the comments section below.
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