The Academy opted for youth market over cinematic brilliance and replaced judgement with cowardice. Let me deconstruct that for you.
Chosen Best Director Ang Lee, a visionary filmmaker to be sure, was (I guess) the safest mid-way point between the non-nominated Ben Affleck and the overly-powerful Steven Spielberg. (What is this need for Hollywood to loathe the director who has given so many masterpieces to the industry?)
Jennifer Lawrence—who gave a terrific performance—beat out the “older” nominees, and even the child candidate. Again, it will bring in young blood to Oscar awareness.
Christoph Waltz is an uncanny actor, but to have beaten Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tommy Lee Jones, and Robert deNiro? Give me a break.
Sally Field was utterly robbed!!
Only the choice of the magnificent Daniel Day Lewis as Best Actor offered a ray of redemption in the strangest blend of class and tackiness in recent memory. It was also an historic win, since now the Irish-born actor is the only man to have won three Best Actor Oscars.
So let’s review: I was wrong about the Best Picture; wrong about the Best Director; wrong about the Best Actress; wrong about the best supporting Actor & Actress.
I was right on one count alone—Best Actor. This is all simply proof that my radar isn’t on the same wave of mass mediocrity as that of most media consumers. Were the Oscars always political (i.e. about $$$$)? Or am I just now noticing?
The truth of the situation is that these awards have been a popularity contest probably from the very begining. The Academy votes for a personality that is well liked or as you mention the product that might benefit the industry as a whole and sometimes but rarely, they are indeed the best film or performance.
While the film industry would like to consider themselves involved in an art, the reality in this country is that it’s (mostly) a business, profit rules and we are fortunate indeed when a film that really deserves to get made does, when someone is able overcome the huge obstacles of financing and distribution.
As for Steven Spielberg we have no idea of who might have felt slighted by him in this business, the enemies he may have made, perhaps deservedly, or the envy he has invoked by being so successful, pay back is a bitch.
The public at large is for the most part is totaly unaware of the vast amount of money and resources that are spent to influence the membership on who or what to vote for. Considering all of this can one truly be surprised at the outcome?
Guess the Oscars brings out my inner child, the one who still thinks there is something magical in moviemaking.
Is there nothing sacred in our late capitalist culture?
C
If someone says they “Think Local First” and then go on to obsess about “the Oscars” … they’re just being SILLY.
The Oscars are just a self congratulatory party. Almost every industry has such a thing; my world, which is wine, has loads of them. One can get a gold medal in the wine world if you just enter enough fairs. But. So what, these awards are means to an end, get customer awareness and sell sell some product. Hollywood is more successful than other industries in convincing the public that their awards signify a great cultural achievement. This publication and its rival each year do the same with the “best of Santa Cruz” awards. Take them for what they are: marketing devices
The whole “industry” is just propaganda disguised as entertainment. The Oscars are just there to give faux legitimacy to the propaganda in the films. Yes: marketing devices.
Yep, Sally Field was robbed. She has never been a favorite of mine, but her Mary Todd Lincoln was the best she has ever done!
Jennifer Lawrence – well she was great, love her, BUT, she has a long road ahead of her.
Daniel Day-Lewis – shades of Brando; intense, fully and totally immersed in the character, always a shoe-in when he immerses.
Argo and Affleck – Clooney’s influence was obvious on that win.
Ang Lee – well, didn’t get that one? Pretty picture with state of the art effects, which are more common in today’s digital world.
Waltz – well deserved, yet should have been tie with Hoffman, Phoenix and DeNiro. This was a tough cookie choice.