Academy Awards ruminations
By David Josselyn
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has frustrated and insulted its own people to the point is has lost respect and credibility with they very people it is trying to honor. This coming Sunday, February 24, is the 91st awards show, but with all the missteps, it is a show that almost did not happen. Beginning last August, the Academy announced a new Best Popular Picture category without any definition of what makes it best and how pictures are qualified for the nomination. One month later, Academy president John Bailey tabled the idea in response to heated pushback. In December, Kevin Hart was announced as the host, but then years-old tweets with homosexual slurs were brought to light; and even with the full endorsement of Ellen DeGeneres, Mr. Hart stepped down in early January leaving the show without a host; the first time since 1989 (the resulting show was “an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion-picture industry” per Paul Newman and Julie Andrews). The next decision of poor judgment was announced in late January; the show would only feature two of the five songs nominated for Best Original Song. Lady Gaga, who performs one of the chosen songs to be featured, “Shallow,” refused to perform unless all songs were featured. The very next day, the Academy announced all five songs would be performed, but truncated. For fans of Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins, you may be disappointed to find out Bette Midler will be singing Blunt’s song, “The Place Where Lost Things Go.” On February 11, the Academy chose four categories to be handed out during commercial breaks: Cinematography, Editing, Live-Action Short, and Makeup and Hairstyling. There was an immediate outcry from the industry with an open letter in protest being signed by Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino, among others, saying the decision is “nothing less than an insult to those of us who have devoted our lives and passions to our chosen profession.” Three days later, that decision was reversed with the president announcing all 24 categories will be shown live. Pounding nails in the coffin of the Oscars, the long-standing tradition of having the prior year’s winners hand out the trophies to this year’s winners was thrown out the window. Allison Janney (Best Supporting Actress for “I, Tonya”), Frances McDormand (Best Actress for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Gary Oldman (Best Actor for “Darkest Hour”), and Sam Rockwell (Best Supporting Actor for “Three Billboards…”), had not been asked to present as of early February. Both Rockwell and Janney had reached out to the Academy about presenting and told they would not be asked, to which Janney said it “breaks her heart.” Just last week, the Academy reversed its decision and invited last year’s winners to present awards. This is a short list of missteps by the Academy, and it is incredible that the show will go on. Hopefully, the Academy will learn for these mistakes and work to regain the trust and respect from the people in the industry.
Support authors and subscribe to content
Subscribe to read the entire article.
