Academy Award Nomination

Jamie Bell did win Best Actor at the BAFTA awards. Was the film possibly considered a "foreign" film? That would explain the lack of nominations (though Working Title was one of the companies involved and I believe they are an international company - a number of their films have won Oscars).

One cannot take the Oscars too seriously as a judgement of film quality. There are as many misses as hits, and the awards are entertainment first and foremost. They are also very political.

I just watched this movie and I kept thinking about the exact same thing. Probably the best acting for a young actor I've seen, and definetely oscar deserving.

Absolutely. With most child actors, you have to be less critical. But JB could go toe-to-toe with any veteran.