Oscar nominations leave some unsettled
The first few months of a new calendar year are host to acceptance speeches, red carpets and acknowledgments of the previous year’s best works in the categories of film, television and music. Many would say that the Academy Awards lead as the most prestigious of the group, beating out the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild awards. The topic of the Academy Awards includes several subtopics. Sadly, a significant number of people who watch the Academy Awards do not know who the “academy” is or why it is different from the Golden Globes, whose laurels are bestowed by the votes of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
In most cases, when an actor, actress, director, writer, producer, etc. is accepting an Oscar, the first line of their speech is, “I would like to thank the academy.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a big deal; however, it is not some big brother complex that rules over the film industry. The academy is composed of any participants in the film industry. For example, actors nominate actors for Oscars, directors nominate directors for Oscars, etc.
This year marks the 87th Academy Awards. The Oscar nominations, announced earlier this month, sparked controversy as many were quick to point out the films and actors, actresses, directors, etc. that failed to receive recognition from the academy. People will always have an opinion, whether it is educated or not. Unless one has studied film or is experienced in the film industry, they will not properly understand what qualifies a film or individual as worthy of an Oscar nomination. For the most part, the nominations this year recognize familiar folks – Meryl Streep, Keira Knightley, Bradley Cooper and Robert Duvall. One category featuring some new kids on the block is Best Director. Not one of the directors nominated in that category has received an Oscar yet.
Even though the majority of America remains out of the loop where the academy is concerned, it is fair to question the academy’s choices. One question I would ask is why Clint Eastwood was not nominated for Best Director. “American Sniper” is nominated for Best Picture, and Bradley Cooper is nominated for Best Actor, but Clint Eastwood was left in the dark. Another snub worth mentioning is “Selma.” David Carr, a New York Times columnist, published an article on Jan. 18 entitled, “Why the Oscars’ omission of ‘Selma’ matters.” The article talks to the
timeliness of the movie and how it is important to recognize a film that features African American empowerment and success. In response to Carr’s article and other criticisms regarding the “Selma” snub, one factor may be the release date. “Selma” was not released in U.S. theaters until Jan. 9. While Jan. 9 is quite late in the game as far as the Academy Awards are concerned, “American Sniper” was released on Jan. 16, and Bradley Cooper’s name managed to appear in the Best Actor category. Though “Selma” was not nominated in categories such as Best Actor and Best Director, it was nominated for Best Picture.
Throughout the past 87 years, the Academy Awards have been a respectful, elegant event that recognizes the talent and accomplishments of members of the academy. Many choose to watch the awards show for the sole purpose of the glitz and glamour, the gossip of the red carpet and to watch the host’s opening monologue. However, there still remain those film buffs, including myself, who watch the awards to show support and respect for their favorite film, director, actor, actress, etc. in hopes that the academy will recognize the most deserving of the nominees. The film industry has been a significant element in America’s culture throughout the past century. Directors, actors, actresses and writers work to portray stories reflective of a certain time, movement or to portray a message. The Academy Awards recognize those who do it best.
