Cracking film.
For the first time ever, a superhero film has been nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar and we’re starting to think the statue might be made of adamantium. James Mangold (Logan’s director) and Michael Green were nominated for their R-rated take on the character and it marks a famous moment for comic-book films.
Of course, The Dark Knight was nominated for eight Academy Awards – Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as The Joker won Best Supporting Actor – but the Academy has rarely acknowledged comic-book films.
If you haven’t seen Logan then you’re in for a treat. In Hugh Jackman’s final take on the character (we’ve our doubts about that), the X-Men icon goes on an adventure that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. We wrote about its brilliance at the time of its release and we haven’t changed our minds.
It’s 2029. Mutants are gone–or very nearly so. An isolated, despondent Logan is drinking his days away in a hideout on a remote stretch of the Mexican border, picking up petty cash as a driver for hire. His companions in exile are the outcast Caliban and an ailing Professor X, whose singular mind is plagued by worsening seizures. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy abruptly end when a mysterious woman appears with an urgent request- that Logan shepherd an extraordinary young girl to safety. Soon, the claws come out as Logan must face off against dark forces and a villain from his own past on a live-or-die mission, one that will set the time-worn warrior on a path toward fulfilling his destiny.
In movieland, we’d fully expect Logan to just slice the competitors with his claws but the Oscars ceremony is probably going to be a more civil affair when the film takes on Call Me by Your Name, The Disaster Artist, Molly’s Game and Mudbound for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
With Get Out, Baby Driver and gothic romance The Shape of Water also receiving nods in various categories – Del Toro’s film picked up a remarkable 13 nominations – it seems like the Academy has embraced more ‘mainstream’Â titles.
Will Logan set a new trend for intelligent, daring and character-driven comic-book films? Here’s hoping.
Either way, it’s nice to see it getting some love.
LOGAN is the FIRST comic book film in history to get an Oscar Nom for Best Adapted Screenplay. That’s a huge step forward #OscarNoms
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) January 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/adambvary/status/955798549970657280
https://twitter.com/MOVIEFAN993/status/955801008113938435
LOGAN GOT A NOMINATION FOR AN OSCAR pic.twitter.com/kCkNHRbknI
— tiny t⎊ny (@woIvern) January 23, 2018
Big congrats to the Wolverine: Logan team for the Best Adapted Screenplay Nomination. https://t.co/HDN8aQlyhx
— Millarworld (@mrmarkmillar) January 23, 2018
wonder woman getting nothing and logan getting best adapted screenplay pic.twitter.com/oqXiCO8IcU
— l (@joonparks) January 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/MovieGainz/status/955799916999188481
Also, if the Academy is going to recognize LOGAN for screenplay, how do you not honor Hugh for that brave performance. Can't use the comic book excuse if it sets a milestone for first comic book screenplay nominee
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) January 23, 2018
WHOOP WHOOP!!! #Logan gets at least one #Oscar mention! #OscarNominations #Oscars #Wolverine pic.twitter.com/k0TlovRJHS
— WolverSteve HUGH JACKMAN is Wolverine 💛💙 (@WolverSteve) January 23, 2018