In the wake of the Aurora, Colo., massacre, of course, thoughts of awards were far from the minds of everyone associated with the film. But looking ahead to the Oscar season, an awards Oscar campaign will still certainly emerge — likely in a much more reserved form than originally anticipated.
And, in speaking to Oscar consultants unaffiliated with Warner Bros. and academy voters alike — none of whom wished to be identified out of sensitivity to the subject — that’s how it should be.
“From a class perspective,” says one studio publicist, “it makes sense to lay low and see if the movie can speak for itself.”
Another veteran awards consultant offers a blunter take. “How would I run a ‘Dark Knight Rises’ campaign? I wouldn’t. They should do nothing.”
The elephant in the room remains the Aurora tragedy. It’s difficult to gauge what impact the shootings will have in voters’ minds, though one consultant offers a fairly pessimistic take.
“Oscar ballots are statements,” the campaigner says. “Votes for movies like ‘Milk’ and ‘The Kids Are All Right’ reflect both the quality of the movies and what they’re saying about our world. Like it or not, for many people, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is at the heart of a systemic problem of Hollywood producing violence. Supporting that kind of movie isn’t a statement many academy members are going to be eager to make.”
Guess when Silence won, they were supporting cannibals? 
