COMMENT Whilst the Desolation of Smaug is certainly getting some awards love from the various guilds out there, with the Costume Designers and Art Directors guild recognising it, the second Hobbitfilm only receives two nominations for the BAFTA awards.
Don't get me wrong, two nominations is brilliant but I can't help but feel that the film deserved more, and that is a case of fantasy films not getting paid their due when up against the obvious 'Oscar-bait' films that seem to pander towards awards critics and selectors.
I mean sure, it's got a nomination for 'Best Make-Up and Hair' with Peter Swords King, Richard Taylor and Rick Findlater up for some recognition for their work in 'Desolation of Smaug', which is quite frankly phenomenal, especially with the elven hair, and the grubby faces of the people of Laketown.
The film was also, and quite rightly, nominated for 'Best Special Visual Effects' honouring the work of Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds mostly for their realisation of the great dragon Smaug, which I think we can all agree was beyond impressive.
So first and foremost a big well done to all those involved for their nominations as they truly should be recognised for their hard work and dedication. However I feel that there are several other categories that the film should have been nominated for. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't think it should be up for best film but arguments can be made for it to have been nominated for its score, cinematography, costume, editing, and sound and production design.
All of these are categories filled by the same films, pictures like '12 Years a Slave', 'American Hustle' and 'Gravity' which are all fantastic films, but are they better in costume than 'The Hobbit'? I'm not so sure. To make matters worse, these films, which can be considered 'awards-bait' are also in direct competition with Jackson's film for the two categories that 'The Hobbit' has been nominated in, and are likely to win them.a
