The WGA gave us a small, yet very pleasant, surprise today in handing James Gunn and Nicole Perlman’s
Guardians Of The Galaxy a shock nomination for ‘Best Adapted Screenplay - a phenomenal achievement in a major awards category. Whether that success could be replicated in a ceremony as high-profile as the Oscars is another question entirely – but the nomination alone is cause for much celebration.
Indeed, the fact that this film even exists is arguably the biggest shock overall! With their script, James Gunn and Nicole Perlman managed to turn Andy Dwyer, two green aliens, a talking raccoon and a tree into global superstars overnight. It was a unique and, more importantly, fun concept that more than its fair share of heart as well. The nomination was a well-deserved nod for the creativity and ambition involved in this project.
However, many would argue that the wrong CBM got the nomination. 2014 was a prime-example of just how high the standard of these movies has become. Marvel’s other venture,
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, was arguably the more technically superior film overall, balancing a complex premise, a talented cast of characters and a tour-de-force leading performance from Chris Evans as Cap.
Bryan Singer’s
X-Men: Days Of Future Past also had it’s fair share of fans, with many claiming it to be the best X-Men movie yet. It boasted inventive action sequences, breath-taking visuals, and, without doubt, the most impressive acting ensemble in CBM history. There was another big superhero movie from last year, but the less we talk about that one, the better, I feel.
Personally, I believe any one of these three films could have justifiably bagged that WGA nomination. These are quality movies that transcend a variety of other genres too - from political thrillers (Cap), to classic sci-fi time-travel (X-Men), to magnificent space operas (Guardians). Regardless of which movie was ultimately your personal favourite, their collective success is a shining example of the strength of the genre they share.
A decade ago, superhero hits like
Guardians would have been few and far between, sandwiched by more mediocre affairs that only existed to sell toys. While the latter type of film does still exist today, it’s far less common, as the majority comic-book movies are consistently strong. Gems such as Nolan’s
Dark Knight trilogy and Raimi’s
Spider-Man 2 will no longer be ‘one-offs’, as we usher in a new ‘Golden Age’ of superhero movies.
So what’s next for the genre? May sees the return of Marvel’s premiere superhero team in
Avengers: Age Of Ultron – the sequel to the highest grossing non-James Cameron movie in box office history. Joss Whedon’s 2012 mega-hit was almost universally adored by both critics and fans alike, and there’s no reason to expect any less from the sequel. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t feel like something the awards would go for.
In light of
Guardians‘ recent success as a ‘fresh and original’ property, there’s no upcoming project that looks quite as enticing as DC’s
Suicide Squad – due for release August 2016. In a very strong year for CBMs, David Ayer’s take on ‘Task Force X’ just stands-out - thanks to its edgy premise and the pedigree of its cast & director. With Academy Awards favourites such as Viola Davis, Jared Leto and Will Smith set to play vital roles, could we be looking at the genre’s first major awards contender since
The Dark Knight?
It’s fair to say the genre can go either one of two ways. Market over-saturation is a danger down the line, but for the moment, superhero films can only continue to improve – so long as the quality remains high, of course. By introducing creative concepts and exploring new genres, Marvel Studios has pioneered this prospective Golden Age – yet the competition has the potential to be just as strong (as
Days Of Future Past proved). If 2016’s slate of films is anything to go by, the future looks very bright indeed.
To paraphrase
X2’s Professor Charles Xavier:
Comic Book Movies are here to stay.
Thanks for reading guys! I want to know what you think? Did Guardians deserve the nod – or should the superhero genre just stick to dominating the box office? Let me know in the
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