Oscars: 10 MCU movies that should have been nominated for Best Picture
By Josh Baggins
Captain America: Civil War over Hidden Figures (2016)
Many of the 2016 Best Picture nominees were striking, audacious, and/or pure labors of love, such as Manchester by the Sea, Hell or High Water, La La Land, and that year’s winner, Moonlight. In contrast, Hidden Figures felt particularly by-the-numbers and a little too glossy given its themes. Hidden Figures is a well-told slice of history that accomplishes its goals and should be applauded for its efforts, but Captain America: Civil War is much more rousing and emotionally gut-wrenching.
Civil War is anything but by-the-numbers, especially for a genre that is typically accused of rehashing storylines behind a different façade. The dispute that ignites a feud between protagonists is quite complex. Teammates being calculatingly torn apart through their political motivations and convincing personal differences is what makes Civil War so exceptional.
The Russo Brothers take the overwhelming exhilaration of the Avengers' previous battles with invading armies and raise the excitement level when the heroes clash against each other at the German airport. The final fight amplifies the conflict to shattering results – it is simultaneously amazing and heartbreaking to watch. While Hidden Figures' subject matter is unmistakably essential, the confrontation between two treasured characters is what ultimately makes Captain America: Civil War more stirring and poignant.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier over The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Theory of Everything is an important and special biopic whose primary performance again leads to a Best Picture nomination. In fact, both Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are remarkable and the pair offer a full-picture of Stephen Hawking’s extraordinary life. However, as a cinematic experience, The Theory of Everything does not provide a fresh approach to the art-form, whereas fellow nominees Boyhood and Birdman, and even a movie that was not nominated, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, are versatile achievements.
With The Winter Soldier, the Russo Brothers have the foresight to effectively rewire the franchise and craft one of the best political conspiracy thrillers of the century. They cleverly callback to 1970’s classics like Marathon Man and Three Days of the Condor. Its dark political tones were utilized to dismantle an establishment that audiences have relied on as a touchstone of support and reliability for our heroes. The tight cinematography and injection of eerie sound devices dictates some of the most tense and gritty action sequences ever put on film.
Perhaps most substantially, Captain America himself is so effectively adapted, with a natural progression from his previous showings to a crucial turning point in The Winter Soldier, as his loyalties and trust are tested to its limits. He may not be as flawlessly depicted as Redmayne’s take on Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, but when you add in all the other ingredients baked into The Winter Soldier, the result is a near-perfect action movie. With eight Best Picture nominees for 2014, maybe there could have been room for both The Theory of Everything and The Winter Soldier.