Saturn Award Nominations: Rogue One... and Hidden Figures?

The Saturn Awards were created over 40 years go to honor the then generally dishonored genres of sci-fi fantasy and horror. Whether they're still needed in a pop culture climate that veritably worships these things is up for debate. But even if they are -- and its certainly true that genre shows and films are still considered poor cousins to more respectable "drama" and "biopics" when it comes to mainstream awards --  are the Saturn Awards the ones to do it?

Now in their 43rd year, they seem to have lost the thread a little. They have so many categories it feels like they're eager to displace the Grammys, Satellites, or BFCA for "MOST!" and in addition to the ridiculous amounts of categories, they have 6 to 8 nominees per category which negates the need to have much in the way of discernment as to what constitutes "best". The problem in a nutshell: It's great to have an awards group that can say "Captain America: Civil War is superb" with a straight face, but when they also hold up Batman v Superman for the same honor, it kind of kills the impact.

Rogue One leads the nominees with 11 nominations. All 41 categories and more commentary after the jump... 

What's more their judgments about genre sometimes make the Golden Globes calling The Tourist a Comedy or Musical seem, well, sane. I mean how is Hidden Figures an "Action / Adventure Film"?  It's obvious they wanted to honor it due to geek love of NASA and space travel but still; You have to pick what you're about!

There are other problems. The awards are for the 2016 film year but for some reason Split is also included even though it wasn't released until late January 2017. Shouldn't it have to wait until next year's Saturn Awards? Anthony Hopkins is somehow in the "guest actor" category despite appearing in every episode of Westworld with one of the ensemble show's very biggest roles!

Their recently announced nominations in 41 categories (including 9 different "best film" and 8 different "best series" categories - what the whatnow?!?) with a few comments if any particular thoughts came up follow...

Action / Adventure Film

• Allied
• Gold
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Hidden Figures
• The Legend of Tarzan
• The Magnificent Seven
• The Nice Guys

Animated Film

• Finding Dory 
• Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV 
• Moana
• Sing 
• Trolls
• Zootopia 

How UTTERLY BIZARRE to see Kubo and the Two Strings shunned despite six nominees!

Best Comic to Motion Picture

• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
• Captain America: Civil War
• Deadpool
• Doctor Strange
• Suicide Squad
• X-Men Apocalypse 

Literally the only film not nominated that was eligible is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadow. This is the problem with having wide shortlists for super specific categories.

Best Fantasy Film 

• A Monster Calls
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Ghostbusters
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
• Pete's Dragon
• The BFG
• The Jungle Book

Best Horror Film 

• Demon
• Don't Breathe
• Ouija: Origin of Evil
• The Autopsy of Jane Doe
• The Conjuring 2
• The Witch
• Train to Busan

Best Independent Film

• Eye in the Sky 
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople 
• La La Land 
• Lion
• Remember 
• The Ones Below 

Best International Film

• Elle
• In Order of Disappearance 
• Shin Godzilla
• The Handmaiden
• The Mermaid 
• Under the Shadow

Fun group, right? Many of these did well in their subtitled US releases

Best Science Fiction Film

• Arrival
• Independence Day: Resurgence
• Midnight Special
• Passengers
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Star Trek Beyond

Independence Day Resurgence? Really? Passengers? Really? Maybe have smaller fields when you have this many separate categories or you're forced to honor every film of a kind. 

Best Thriller Film

• 10 Cloverfield Lane
• Hell or High Water
• Jason Bourne
• Split
• The Accountant
• The Girl on the Train
• The Shallows

Split was released in late January 2017. This is a 2016 film award.

Best Actor in a Film

• Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)
• Chris Evans (Captain America: Civil War)
• Chris Pine (Star Trek Beyond)
• Chris Pratt (Passengers)
• Mark Rylance (The BFG)
• Matthew McConaughey (Gold)
• Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) 

Gold's awards campaign finally reaped more nominations than just "Song" at the Globes.  

So...nominated in one of their best film categories)? I mean... yeesh. Embarrassing. And you make an exception to include Split in your awards even though it's from the wrong year and you don't nominated James McAvoy for his popular multiple personality horror performance? 

Best Actress in a Film

• Amy Adams (Arrival)
• Emily Blunt (The Girl on the Train)
• Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
• Jennifer Lawrence (Passengers)
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane)
• Narges Rashidi (Under the Shadow)
• Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures) 

Fun to see Narges Rashidi honored though Jennifer Lawrence's laziest performance in the same group kills the joy.

 

Best Costume Design

• Alice Through the Looking Glass (Colleen Atwood) 
• Doctor Strange (Alexandra Byrne)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Colleen Atwood) 
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (David Crossman, Glyn Dillon)
• The BFG (Joanna Johnston)
• The Handmaiden (Sang-gyeong Jo)

 

Best Director

• Anthony Russo, Joe Russo (Captain America: Civil War), 
• Bryan Singer (X-Men: Apocalypse) 
• Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) 
• Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) 
• Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book)
• Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange)
• Steven Spielberg (The BFG)

ICYMI we interviewed Denis Villeneuve about Arrival. He's likely to be a Saturn regular again with reboots of both Blade Runner and Dune both coming up.

 

Best Film Editing

• 10 Cloverfield Lane (Stefan Grube), 
• Arrival (Joe Walker), 
• Captain America: Civil War (Jeffrey Ford, Matthew Schmidt), 
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (John Gilroy, Colin Goudie, Jabez Olssen), 
• The BFG (Michael Kahn), 
• The Jungle Book (Mark Livolsi),  

Best Make Up

• Doctor Strange (Jeremy Woodhead) 
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Nicky Knowles) 
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Amy Byrne)
• Star Trek Beyond (Monica Huppert, Joel Harlow) 
• Suicide Squad (Allan Apone, Jo-Ann MacNeil, Marta Roggero)
• X-Men: Apocalypse (Charles Carter, Rita Ciccozzi, Rosalina Da Silva)  

X-Men Apocalypse in this category considering the crimes they committed to Oscar Isaac's face? I THINK NOT. 

Best Music

• Doctor Strange (Michael Giacchino)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (James Newton Howard) 
• La La Land (Justin Hurwitz) 
• Passengers (Thomas Newman) 
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Michael Giacchino) 
• The BFG (John Williams) 

 

Best Production Design

• Captain America: Civil War (Owen Paterson)
• Doctor Strange (Charles Wood)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Stuart Craig) 
• Passengers (Guy Hendrix Dyas)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont)
• The BFG (Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg) 

Daniel covered a few of these in his column The Furniture so don't miss Passengers & Arrival or his take on Fantastic Beasts

 

Best Visual Effects

• Arrival (Louis Morin, Ryal Cosgrove) 
• Doctor Strange (Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, Vincent Cirelli) 
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Tim Burke, Christian Manz, David Watkins) 
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal Hickel, Neil Corbould) 
• The BFG (Joe Letteri, Joel Whist) 
• The Jungle Book (Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, Dan Lemmon) 

Best Writing

• Arrival (Eric Heisserer)
• Deadpool (Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick) 
• Doctor Strange (Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill) 
• Hell or High Water (Taylor Sheridan)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Chris Weitz, Tony Gilroy) 
• The BFG (Melissa Mathison) 

 

Best Performance By A Younger Actor in a Film

• Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch)
• Julian Dennison (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) 
• Lewis MacDougall (A Monster Calls) 
• Neel Sethi (The Jungle Book) 
• Ruby Barnhill (The BFG)
• Tom Holland (Captain America: Civil War) 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople!

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Film

• Chadwick Boseman (Captain America: Civil War)
• Christopher Walken (The Jungle Book)
• Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them)
• Diego Luna (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
• John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane)
• Zachary Quinto (Star Trek Beyond)

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Film

• Betty Buckley (Split)
• Bryce Dallas Howard (Gold)
• Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters)
• Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad)
• Scarlett Johansson (Captain America: Civil War)
• Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange)

 

TELEVISION AWARDS

 

 

Best Action / Thriller Series

• Animal Kingdom
• Bates Motel
• Designated Survivor
• Mr. Robot 
• Riverdale 
• The Librarians
• Underground 

Best Animated Series 

• Bojack Horseman
• Family Guy
• Star Wars: Rebels
• The Little Prince
• The Simpsons
• Troll Hunters

 

Best Fantasy Series

• Beyond
• Game of Thrones
• Lucifer
• Outlander
• Preacher
• The Good Place
• The Magicians

Best Horror Series

• American Horror Story: Roanoke
• Ash vs. Evil Dead
• Fear the Walking Dead
• Teen Wolf
• The Exorcist
• The Vampire Diaries
• The Walking Dead 

 

Best New Media Series

• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Bosch
• Marvel's Daredevil
• Marvel's Luke Cage
• Stranger Things
• The Man in the High Castle 

Best Presentation on Television

• 11.22.63
• Channel Zero
• Doctor Who: The Return of Dr. Mysterio
• Mars
• Rats
• The Night Manager

 

Best Science Fiction Television Series

• Colony
• Falling Water
• Incorporated
• The 100
• The Expanse
• Timeless
• Westworld 

 

Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series

• Arrow
• Gotham
• Legion
• Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Supergirl
• The Flash

 

Best Actor on a Television Series

• Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead)
• Bruce Campbell (Ash vs. Evil Dead) 
• Charlie Cox (Daredevil)
• Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) 
• Grant Gustin (The Flash)
• Mike Colter (Marvel's Luke Cage) 
• Sam Heughan (Outlander)

 

Best Actress on a Television Series

• Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)
• Kim Dickens (Fear the Walking Dead)
• Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
• Melissa Benoist (Supergirl)
• Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Roanoke)
• Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel)
• Winona Ryder (Stranger Things)

I actually like Kim Dickens -- she's just superb in Gone Girl. But I tried with Fear the Walking Dead and continually wanted to slap her. Wake up and ACT! Do something.

Best Guest Performance on a Television Series

• Anthony Hopkins (Westworld)
• Dominique Pinon (Outlander),
• Ian Bohen (Teen Wolf)
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead)
• Leslie Jordan (American Horror Story: Roanoke)
• Tyler Hoechlin (Supergirl), 

Hopkins competing against people with only an episode here or there. Sigh.

 

Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series 

• Ed Harris (Westworld)
• Jeffrey Wright (Westworld)
• Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones),
• Lee Majors (Ash vs. Evil Dead)
• Linden Ashby (Teen Wolf)
• Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl)
• Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), 

 

Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series

• Adina Porter (American Horror Story: Roanoke)
• Candice Patton (The Flash)
• Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead)
• Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld)
• Kathy Bates (American Horror Story: Roanoke)
• Melissa McBride (The Walking Dead)
• Thandie Newton (Westworld)

 

Best Younger Actor on a Television Series

• Alicia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead)
• Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead)
• K.J. Apa (Riverdale)
• Lorenzo James Henrie (Fear the Walking Dead)
• Max Charles (The Strain)
• Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) 

 

DVD AWARDS

 

 

Best DVD / BD Classic Film Release

• Destiny
• Donovan's Brain
• Gog 3D
• It Came From Outer Space
• The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
• The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
• Time After Time 

Best DVD / BD Collection

•  Buster Keaton Shorts 1917-1923
• Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection
• Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast
• Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection
• Pioneers of African American Cinema
• The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection, 

Best DVD / BD Release

• Dog Eat Dog
• Tales of Halloween
• The Girl
• The Lobster
• The Man Who Knew Infinity
• The Wailing

 

Best DVD / BD Special Edition Release

• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition
• Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome Edition
• Phantasm Remastered
• Raising Cain
• The Hills Have Eyes Limited Edition
• The Iron Giant Signature Edition, 

 

Best DVD / BD Television Release

• Banshee: The Final Season
• Hannibal: The Complete Series Collection
• Mr. Robot: Season 2.0
• Salem's Lot
• Star Trek: The Animated Series
• Versailles: Season One 

Comments

[Mareko]

Is there an actual ceremony? Do winners get actual awards? So much mystery amid the cacophony.

[Cash]

Thanks to the Saturn Awards for nominating me for Best Comment on a Film Blog! I am so honored.

But, seriously, there are WAY too many categories and nominees, and they don't make much sense. These awards are all over the place.

[jaragon]

Seriously this makes the Golden Globes look like the Nobel prize

[Suzanne]

I think they just nominated the first six (or seven or eight) things that just came to mind in each category, e.g., ID: Resurgence is nominated for Best Science Fiction Film, but The Lobster is not. La La Land - which doesn't seem to belong here at all - has two random nominations.

[Nick]

Split must have been nominated despite its 2017 release because they know it'll take them a full year to start brainstorming the next batch of nominees! Seriously, I was LOLing as I scrolled through the page. The number of categories would be funny enough, but then to have so many nominees in each! People involved in these films who DIDN'T get a nomination must be feeling super shunned today!

[Paul Outlaw]

What are these awards for again? I forgot by the end of the list.

[Philip H.]

M E S S

[Robert G]

Among the many odd choices this year, they put 11.22.63 in the Television Presentation category even though they have a separate category for New Media Series, aka streaming series. Wouldn't a show that debuted and aired exclusively on Hulu be a New Media Series and not a Presentation on Television?

[Jesus Alonso]

The Mad Max: Fury Road Black Chrome edition has to be one of the silliest cashgrabbers around... I just did play my 3D bluray and have my tv elliminate colour and pumped contrast... it looks amazing, so yeah, it is the ideal way to see the film. But buying the bluray AGAIN? Nope. Specially since that edition is NOT in 3D

[Nick T]

This is so ghastly. The TV stuff seems a little less messy and thank goodness someone recognized how amazing Adina Porter was on AHS: Roanoke (poor wasted Andre Holland) but yikes what are these film nods? They really have lost the plot - La La Land? Sing? Hidden Figures? All this stuff that, good or not, isn't even in the right genre? Someone needs to pull this shit back, with the films and the actors. I know I've made some comment on some post here after OscarsSoWhite 2015 like "why not six nominees???" and I am Sorry because these awards show what a bad idea that truly is. Whaaat a waste. At least Supporting Actor isn't as embarrassing as it could be.