It’s that time of the year again. Hollywood millionaires cluster up in their masses to sit for 4 hours and fake smile when they lose after getting their hopes up. Just like most awards, most award shows are pointless, and at the centre, lies the Oscars. And for years now, the Academy have no clue how to run it.
Take 2016’s ceremony for example. Everyone remembers that as the #Oscarssowhite one. That’s the only way people remember it. 2017’s too. That was the ‘La La Land/ Moonlight’ one. What made those iconic was an unplanned event. Truly says something, when the most memorable aspect of your ceremony was an accident. And why? Because the Oscars bathe in publicity.
This years Oscars had the Academy announcing several changes. First was it’s infamous ‘Popular Film’ category that was announced then revoked. Most recently, the Academy announced that 3 of the most important awards – Cinematography, Editing and Sound – were to be given out during the ad breaks. Yet, no doubt we’ll have to sit through more fannying about on a trip to the cinema again like last year.
The Academy’s main issue is they’re too scared of their audience. Probably explains why a film like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – a film hated by film experts but loved by the majority of audiences – got nominated. But if that film came out a year earlier (being directed by Bryan Singer, who has multiple allegations of paedophilia and sexual assault) in the heat of the #MeToo movement, the Academy would avoid it like the plague. Same with Black Panther, as great a film it is, you can’t help but feel its simply a publicity move to get comic book fans on board with them. But the truth is, The Academy are outdated. In a time right now, when film tastes are diverse, so should The Academy. Instead of trying to please the majority, make an awards show for the individuals.
Anarchist Analysis 