BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
Although there is no clear Oscar front-runners so far in the first half of '09, the Academy has broadened its most prestigious category, Best Picture, from five nominations to ten, allowing more good movies to share in the glory for next year's broadcast. This move would perhaps allow documentaries, animated films, action movies and even comedies a better chance to get some much-needed Oscar attention.Some sources speculated that this was just a tactic to get more people to see more movies during the economic slump, as it is a well-known fact that all Best Picture nominees experience heightened box office numbers once they are announced as the year's best of the best, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. This comes after blockbusters like The Dark Knight (pictured below) and WALL-E were omitted from the last Oscar ceremony, despite being regarded amongst the best movies of 2008.
This wouldn't be the first time the Academy allowed ten nods for their top prize though. In fact, from 1931 to 1943 this was commonplace, until the awards went to a five-picture format for 1944, though there were just three nominees for the very first show in 1927. "After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year," commented Academy president Sid Ganis.
There have been several other categories that will be affected for the 82nd annual telecast, including Best Original Song, which may have anywhere from five nominations to none at all! This overhaul depends on the Academy rating system for the category, as songs (written and recorded specifically for the film in which they appear) must achieve an average score of at least 8.25, and if none do, then there simply will be no winner! There must be at least two songs with at least an 8.25 score in order for the Best Original Song award to even be presented next year.In addition to these changes, the Academy has announced that it will no longer air the testimonials of the honorees of its Jean Hersholt Humanitarian, Irving G. Thalberg and Honorary Awards. Instead, these trophies will be handed out during a separate dinner event that will take place months before the actual Oscar broadcast.
The Golden Globes have, in a way, adopted a 10-movie format since the early-'50s, splitting them up into two different categories with five submissions each: Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy. The 82nd annual Oscar nominations will be announced February 2, 2010, and will be handed out the following March 7th, live on ABC.
3 comments:
They need to get new blood in the Oscar committee not just giving out more nominations for the Best Picture award.
I don't know about that Mr. Enquist...the Academy has some 6,000 members, and they apparently add new members annually, including many younger members (in fact, I heard Dakota Fanning joined in 2006!). Maybe a few more categories that would open up the field, such as Best Comedy Feature or Best Ensemble Cast?!
I am usually more pissed off with the stupid rules the Oscars have then the actual nominations but every year there is a contraversy of some kind.
http://filmgarmott.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-oscar-nominations-work-courtesy-of.html
This is a very good article that you could argue makes the Oscars look like they are doing something the hard way when there is probably a much easier way.
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