I’m not going to lie, this may feel a bit like Sophie’s Choice. In my humble opinion, Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubezski are the two, most consistent cinematographers working today. After the jump, you will see their impressive Oscar resumes and snubbed works. You have an Oscar to give one of them. Which one will you give a long overdue Oscar to? For which work. Explain.Roger Deakins has been nominated for 9 Oscars:
- True Grit (2010)
- The Reader (2008)
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
- Kundun (1997)
- Fargo (1996)
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Deakins has been snubbed for:
- A Serious Man (2009)
- Revolutionary Road (2008)
- Jarhead (2005)
- The Village (2004)
- A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Emmanuel Lubezski has been nominated for 5 Oscars:
- The Tree of Life (2011)
- Children of Men (2006)
- The New World (2005)
- Sleepy Hollow (1999)
- A Little Princess (1995)
Lubezski has been snubbed for:
- Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
- Ali (2001)
- Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
- Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
Comment and discuss! Any other snubs you would add to any of their lists?
Related Stories:
Tags: Emmanuel Lubezski, Oscar Question of the day, Oscars, Roger Deakins
14 Comments












I think the slight edge would go to Roger Deakins and give it for “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” which is the single best cinematography work of the 2010′s.
Clayton Davis(Quote) (Reply)
I also give an edge to Deakins, but I reward him for The Shawshank Redemption myself.
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
Lubezski for The Tree of Life. If I could award an Oscar to just one cinematographer in the entire history of film, I might give it to him for this movie.
I was THAT pissed off during the Oscars last year.
Mark Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
I personally think Deakins is LONG overdue, especially in regards to No Country for Old Men; however, I also believe it is a true tragedy that Lubezki lost this past year with Tree of Life. I think Deakins has been consistently phenomenal, but Lubezki’s work has been groundbreaking every couple of years (my personal favorite would probably be Children of Men–think about that one scene that was a single shot for probably ten minutes.)
QUITE the debate.
Curtis D.(Quote) (Reply)
It’s no fun unless you pick one. Come on Curtis. Indulge us…
Clayton Davis(Quote) (Reply)
I’d love to give it to Deakins for Jesse James, but Robert Elswit’s work on There Will Be Blood is phenomenal so I can handle that loss
It’s a TRAVESTY that Lubezki didn’t win for Children of Men. I loved Pan’s Labyrinth but Lubezki’s work is so impressive that it’s hard to see how they ignored him for that.
Terence Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
See I have that same issue. 2007 was a ridiculously good year for cinematography (in my estimation), and I would have even been fine with Janusz Kaminski winning. Both 2007 and 2006 had such a great selection of nominees, it’s hard for me to do anything but flip a coin to decide the proper winner. An unusual occurrence as I usually have a clear favorite in each category most every year.
So, since 2006 and 2007 are such conundrums, I’ll forgo them and chose The Tree of Life in 2011 for Lubezki. I still have trouble comprehending how it went any other way.
Steve Glansberg(Quote) (Reply)
Lubezki for Children of Men, it should have been a crime for him to not be rewarded for those fantastic sequences.
Chris(Quote) (Reply)
It’s Close between The Tree of Life and The Assassination of Jesse James. I’d pick Tree of Life.
Roberto925(Quote) (Reply)
Deakins. His body of work is just remarkable. If I were to pick one, Revolutionary Road sticks out. Such a beautiful and underrated movie. A masterpiece in my mind.
Awesome(Quote) (Reply)
An extremely difficult decision, but if I had to pick one, it’d have to be Deakins. His work on “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” is absolutely marvelous, and it enhances a greatly nuanced story with impeccable visuals, both in lighting and framing. Same goes for his work on “The Shawshank Redemption.”
Lubezki is fantastic as well, and should have won for “Children of Men” and would have been a deserving winner for “The Tree of Life.” However, that year I’d have actually voted for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” for cinematography, which I know is blasphemy to choose anyone other than Lubezki last year.
Josh P.(Quote) (Reply)
Deakins is great. But I think Rodrigo Prieto is seriously underrated. How the fuck has this guy been nominated just once? Just look at his work- Amores Perros, 25th hour, Brokeback Mountain, Babel, 21 grams, Biutiful, Frida.
Rohit Ramachandran(Quote) (Reply)
Deakins for TAJJBTCRF, but it was an extremely hard choice.
Jim Wilson(Quote) (Reply)
Deakins has earned it and long overlooked and overdue. My favorite is Kundun.
jmlatinsir2(Quote) (Reply)