Here are some facts sure to make you look like the smartest person on the couch this Sunday evening during the Academy Awards (Sunday, 5:30 p.m., ABC).
Saturday, February 21, 2015
15 little-known facts about the Oscars
Here are some facts sure to make you look like the smartest person on the couch this Sunday evening during the Academy Awards (Sunday, 5:30 p.m., ABC).
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Award shows are the weirdest things about this industry. So much weight is placed on their outcome-- jobs can be won or lost, wages can be raised or lowered, attendance can increase or decrease-- but the awards themselves are so arbitrary. Spectacular performances can be overlooked. I was particularly shocked by what they call the “Marisa Tomei Effect.” The idea that so many talented artists could be denied an award due to a tie is upsetting to say the least, and really goes to show that good work is good work, and awards aren't necessarily an indicator. Plenty of great films, designers and actors don't win or even get nominated, and plenty of mediocre ones do. We put so much weight on these titles, but really it's just an opinion. The effect that a piece has is really worth so much more. I hope that something can change so that good artists can be recognized for their work outside of the ridiculous circus that is the Oscars.
I am not one to watch the Oscars unless a performer will be present. However, reading this article made me curious as to the process of electing who wins what. The fact that Anthony Hopkins won best actor for 16 minutes of work in "Silence of the Lambs" astounds me. It just reinforces how much text work and respect must be paid to each and every role, no matter the amount of time on-screen. Every person is important and I'm glad to see the Oscars recognize this. <54-102> 54102 54-102
I picked this article to comment on because at the moment I'm watching a parallel sort of television show about the Oscars, with interviews and movie clips from nominees and winners over the years. I've always found the Academy Awards to be fascinating; ever since I was a little kid I've watched them with my parents and fallen in love with the jaw-dropping actors and actresses win for performances in movies I'd never heard before. It's a little bit more difficult for me now to stomach the Oscars, especially when I've developed my own movie tastes -- I'm always so disappointed when my favorite indie movies are cut out of the race, especially when they're as good or even better than some of the nominees. To be honest, it's become even easier to predict what sorts of movies will be nominated for Oscars every year. And that is probably the most disheartening. These facts are cool and interesting, but all of the rebellion and hard work seems to have been exorcised out of the Oscars we see today. They're, as Olivia has said, "circus"-like; people only watch them now to gawk over their favorite celebrities dazzle in designer gowns.
In some ways it's reassuring when there is such outrage when someone gets "snubbed" or there is such a large outcry over flaws in the system. That means people are still aware of, and consuming good work. People are seeing enough of the works being produced to - with some degree of reason - proclaim one work better than another. It's the proof in the proverbial pudding of industry literacy. At the same time, the specific selections that make it to the nominee category often are not representative of the year as a whole. There is a specific season for film releases that are thought to be "Oscar contenders". The Oscars' memory seems to be very short, and the breadth of films recognized is insufficient. The article cited several instances of animated films being overlooked. While I appreciate what the Oscars symbolize - as both a representation of industry awareness and a symbol of achievement - it has some critical flaws that really diminish and undermine its true worth.
I’ve always watched the Oscars ever since I was a little kid. I absolutely love films so as the big noteworthy show for all the best pictures of the year it has become a tradition for me to watch it. In spite of this tradition I think this article highlights a really important point: that the Academy Awards is still only an awards show. Every year it seems that there is so much hype over the nominations and the actual award winners that we give a sense of hierarchal importance to the winners as opposed to all the nominees. Sometimes films not even nominated are the actual best pictures of the year, and I think we as an audience have to remember to not fall for the absolutism an award seems to bring. A film can still be great even if its greatness goes unnoticed. Yes, the Academy does generally do a pretty good job of picking nominees, but there are always some who go unnoticed. The Oscars have been structured to be a very nice well organized event, but what the awards stand for perhaps ask for something else, maybe there should be more ties, maybe animated films should get some more consideration, maybe their should be more distinctions between categories, and maybe the Academy should broaden its views and let the public have input as well. Don’t get me wrong I love watching the Oscars, but it’s important to remember its only an awards show.
I’ve never actually watched the Oscars—instead I have settled for just picking up tidbits from gossip and arguments between friends. However, I have always been interested in the process of picking nominees and actually granting the award, an interest which this article has brought back full force. How much is the money made, public opinion, and pop culture taken into account? Does the public image of a film count, or is it judged on a different scale? I’d be very interested in learning more about the process. Do they have boxes to check off? Why are some awards so unexpected? On a completely different note, I am really disappointed in the lack of attention that animated films get at awards ceremonies, as they are productions and pieces of art in their own right. Maybe I’ll get a chance to watch the Oscars this year and see what it is really about.
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