This years Oscars again showed that it’s organisers and ‘experts’ were as narrow minded as they come. The same standards were applied and the nominations and winners were the same obvious template forged selections that always come up in a year when the academy hasn’t been influenced by the media.
Birdman was this years winner and it is a good film, but certainly not the best film, indeed not even the best received film. But it ticks the boxes for recognised (by the Academy) actors. What were the alternatives? Well Boyhood is the first to come to mind, in the end it only managed a best supporting actress plaudit, but it was (subjectively) a superior film and (not subjectively) a more critically acclaimed film. It suffered from being a little out there and only having Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke as star draws.
You could probably also add The theory of everything and Whiplash into contention too, the former managed a best actor in Eddie Redmayne (well deserved) and the latter got a series of technical achievements as well as a best supporting actor in J.K Simmons.
Don’t even get me started on the best cinematography gong, Birdman took that leaving Boyhood – a film that meticulously puts together 12 years of footage into an exceptionally coherent story – out in the cold.
The top gongs all went to similarly patterned choices, known elements and proven favourites with few exceptions. The best animated film went to the standard Disney affair Big hero 6 the (subjectively) better and (not subjectively) more acclaimed film The Lego Movie didn’t even get a nomination. Plenty of excuses have abounded for this, including that it was ignored because it was one big advert for Lego – but please, like films with wall to wall adverts haven’t been nominated before.
The issue is with the academy itself, it’s makeup hasn’t hugely changed from the days of it origins and because of that it’s ideals and preferences are stagnant. Put Clint Eastwood in twenty films this year and i’d guarantee every one would get a nomination – regardless of quality.
Because of this the Oscars no longer represent the true spirit of film. By only concentrating on proven formulas and template actors and actresses the awards themselves are stifling creativity. To be recognised, to improve sales and to get plaudits film makers are trying to aim at the same staid ideas that the Oscars represent.
There are other festivals and awards that represent a wider variety of talent and product but none, unfortunately, have the industry and Hollywood in such thrall.