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Oscars Expert Explains Why Rogue One Didn’t Make The Best Picture Shortlist


Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was one of the Box Office's biggest hits last year. However, while the film received acclaim from fans and critics who believed that the Star Wars spinoff was one of the best in the franchise, the film failed to make it into the short list for the major awards for this year's Oscars.

Sure the film received a few nods for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Mixing, however the film didn't make it into the list for Best Picture and Best Director this year, ruffling a few feathers from fans. Despite all the protests however, Express reports that Oscar's expert and Sky Cinema Oscars Host Alex Zane defends the Academy's reason to leave Rogue One out of the big awards.

In an interview with Express, Zane explained:

"It's the age-old question, isn't it," he said. "Are these commercial films that audiences know about, that they turn out to see in their droves - should they be recognised more? Are the Oscars alienating to a lot of people who go, ‘oh well, I'm not watching - I've not seen Fences, I was busy watching Captain America: Civil War, so where's that?'"

"Sometimes it happens, like with Lord of the Rings or Titanic - there are moments when the [films seen by the] majority of the viewing public cross over," Zane goes on to explain."But to be honest, if you're asking me ‘do I want to see Barry Jenkins, director of Moonlight, be given perhaps $5 million to make another movie because of the Oscars', I'd rather see that.

"A film like Rogue One, part of the Star Wars universe, does it need that leg-up? It doesn't."

"So in that respect, I think the Oscars do need to still recognise people who are breaking through. Which is not what it's meant to do, but it's what it is doing."

While Zane's explanation definitely makes sense, fans might still not welcome the fact that Rogue One didn't make the running for the Oscar's major awards. How do you feel about Rogue One not making the shortlist for Best Picture or Best Director?

Read: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Blu-Ray Release Date, Bonus Features & Trailer Officially Revealed

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