Why The Dark Knight got snubbed by the Academy

The Academy just announced the nominee’s for this year’s Oscars, as many of you already know and read. Early speculation was that The Dark Knight was going to be this year’s most nominated film. As we approach that date, it’s looking less and less likely. Why? How did that much hype and speculation go unwarranted?

What’s interesting of note and something we must first and foremost acknowledge, is that we are talking about a superhero genre film, and a sequel even at that. Many of you know my deep appreciation for what Christopher Nolan has accomplished. I think the Academy was a little hesitant to reward a film from that genre. I really don’t know why, because the fantasy genre recently with Lord of the Rings: Return of the King swept the Oscars that year. Upon closer inspection I don’t think it is the fact that’s it a superhero genre film. Leaning in closer to the minds of the Academy voters, it might be something much more interesting.

Currently, the front runner for Best Supporting Actor is Heath Ledger. Okay, cool, we all knew that. What might hold back The Dark Knight from some of the more prestigious nominations like Best Film and Best Director might be political.

In an article a few weeks back, Wired magazine ran a speculation that The Dark Knight might get snubbed at Oscar time due to the fact that many liberal critics feel as if this Batman film is a conservative film. The film has been wildly popular amongst fans and studio-friendlier critic circles, but apparently its success might be one of the reasons for its Oscar undoing.

A theory has risen about The Dark Knight that it’s an allegory for the Bush Administration. Batman can be seen as President Bush, an unpopular man in power that has to protect the same people who he’s alienated. Basically, Joker is a terrorist and like Alfred says to Bruce early in the film, as the Joker’s methods seem too random for Bruce to understand, Alfred says “some men aren’t looking for reason; some men just want to watch the world burn.” Case in point: American’s war on terror and to a lesser extends in Iraq. The film soaring success (currently over $530 million) proves that Americans support Bush’s war on terror. Now with President Obama in office, hope has come to the minds of Americans, but there’ was little hope in The Dark Knight.

There is a backlash on this so-called conservative culture right now, and with the historical election of Barack Obama, America’s mentality has changed or is beginning to change. So anything resembling a conservative attitude is to be ignored, hence the dilemma The Dark Knight found itself in.

It’s a fascinating theory, but a theory nonetheless. The Golden Globes were a close realization to what type of nominations the film would receive. But like I said it’s a theory and one that doesn’t hold up I think. If The Dark Knight is a conservative movie, Goyer and the Nolan brothers, who all wrote the script, would’ve ended it differently. First of all, while the phone tapping concept reminds us of Bush’s idea to eavesdrop on us unethically, Fox (Morgan Freeman) outright dismisses its intent no matter the good intentions Batman needed it for. You could also make the assumption that Fox is the new voice of American taking a stand against the conservative climate we were in. But Batman rewards Fox’s trust by destroying it. The fact that Batman thematically wins over the Joker and not a true blue, cut and dry win, is another non-conservative strike. The film’s tagline is “Welcome to a World without Rules” and thus isn’t a conservative moniker. Again, it’s a theory, but I think at least these notions I presented over-turn the idea that The Dark Knight is a conservative film (not taking into account that most film makers probably are liberals).

I could tell you that The Dark Knight is actually about the Fall of Man in Genesis from the Christian Bible. Joker is the serpent, a lawless being that incites anarchy and leads a pure being, here being Harvey Dent in the Adam role, and tears him down from Eden (or Gotham). Using double-speak and mind tricks he brings Harvey’s fall and initial good graces from Batman (here God), who had higher plans for him. Ah, but what about the role of Eve? Eve is Rachel Dawes but is used in a different fashion. As Eve is hinted (perhaps incorrectly) as the source for Adam’s decision, Rachel is guilty by association. If she wasn’t his girlfriend, Harvey might be alive and well, as Batman would’ve saved him from the Joker’s plans as Joker attacked Harvey through Rachel. Again, a theory.

But the real reason I think that The Dark Knight got snubbed at this year’s Oscars, is the fact the Academy is scared. For one, back-to-back years the Best Picture Oscars have gone to The Departed and No Country for Old Men, both gritty, dark crime dramas. That’s essentially what The Dark Knight is, a crime drama, or in my words a crime epic. This is perhaps the main reason. Another key reason is, I’m sorry to say, is a superhero genre film sequel. Sad, but true. Early speculation was that since in recent years, the Oscars Nielsen ratings have been down and by having a popular film like The Dark Knight being nominated, people would tune in. But usually big money makers get ignored come award season only to have time be kind to them as great films the Academy missed recognizing.

I’m sure fan boys might think there’s a conspiracy out against The Dark Knight and it might not be unwarranted, as Titanic seems to keeping eluding being dethroned. On January 23rd, The Dark Knight is being re-released for IMAX for what was to be a chance to get the voters out there to re-evaluate its awards potential and to maybe over-take the wildly over-rated Titanic. The Dark Knight did have some stiff competition like Milk, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, and possibly Gran Torino and Revolutionary Road. But The Reader? That was a big shocker! If you have read this site regurarly, you might know that I was lukewarm on that film.

Time will tell and maybe, hopefully, this article will be mute. You know we here at Killer Film have enjoyed many of those films, but perhaps none more than The Dark Knight. I think that the Oscars missed the chance at nominating it this year for Best Picture and (more importantly Best Director) unfortunately, due to my reasons here. I think time will be kind to The Dark Knight. How? The Academy in 1942 did nominate Citizen Kane for no less than 9 nominations (The Dark Knight got 8), but due to politics and heat from some within and outside of the business, they only awarded it one: Best Original Screenplay. About 15 years later, critics started to conclude what a masterpiece Citizen Kane was and now it’s considered one of the greatest American films ever made. Think about that, Academy, we will have our victory and in time you’ll realize your plunder at not nominating one of the better pictures in the early 21st Century.

Agree or disagree? Comment below or email me: jon@killerfilm.com