» 2009 Academy Awards Options

[Redtracer]

Whenever anybody talks about getting rid of the "less important" categories at the Oscars, I'm always reminded of William Holden's line in Sunset Boulevard:

"Audiences don't know somebody sits down and writes a picture. They think the actors make it up as they go along."

I think that most people honestly don't realize how much work goes into a movie, and how much the contributions of the costumers, editors, and sound mixers matter. Actors aren't the only important people in movies, and that's why I think the "nonsense" awards should still be recognized at the Oscars.

[oreo8704]

I think that most people honestly don't realize how much work goes into a movie, and how much the contributions of the costumers, editors, and sound mixers matter. Actors aren't the only important people in movies, and that's why I think the "nonsense" awards should still be recognized at the Oscars.

Whenever I watch documentaries on the making of films I'm always amazed at the effort and skill of those people. I definately think they deserve that sort of recognition.

This post has been edited by oreo8704: Mar 23, 2009 @ 10:03 am.

[QAF Rocks]

Well, I don't know about anybody else, but Best Documentary Short Subject is one of my favorites.

I doubt most people have ever seen one or know what it is.

It may be easier to find the Documentary Features, but there have been many well-known Documentary Short Subjects that have been honored at the Academy Awards over the past 68 years. Because of their length, they don't usually get theatrical releases, but you can often find them on DVD and on television. HBO has been a major source for shorter documentaries in recent decades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award...y_Short_Subject

IMO, it's certainly not a "nothing" or "nonsense" category. I would be very upset if they removed it from the show.

[soymilk]

Bumping because the Academy just announced that starting next year, 10 films will be nominated for Best Picture.

I can kind of get behind it, although I think it's really being done to boost ticket and DVD sales, in that 5 additional films can now tout their Best Picture nomination. And it'll probably make the show go over an additional 20 minutes because they'll show clips from all ten films.

[braggtastic]

They need to discontinue Best Animated Feature now. There are enough spots now in Best Picture to include the one or two animated features/year that deserve it.

[twinmom]

Especially since Best Animated Feature only has 3 nominated movies in it anyway!

[blackwing]

I think it's a stupid idea, and it's being done solely for marketing purposes. I think the Academy took a lot of heat for not nominating "The Dark Knight". But when it came down to it, "The Dark Knight" was not deemed one of the 5 best films of the year. Commercial success has nothing to do with it. There have been films that were huge commercial successes and popcorn-type movies (e.g. "Titanic", "Star Wars", "Raiders of the Lost Ark") that got Best Picture nominations. There have been foreign films (e.g. "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon") that have been nominated for Best Picture. "Beauty and the Beast" got a BP nomination when there was no Animated Feature category.

So to add extra nominations to recognize movies like this seems to take away from the honor of being nominated as one of the five best. Now it will be 10 best. Is there going to be a so-called designated animated film slot? Documentary slot? Foreign film slot?

What's next? If there were more than 5 great movies each year so they nominate 10, surely there are always more than 5 great acting performances each year. Are they going to have 10 people nominated for each of the acting awards?

[alynn]

At first, I thought that 10 best picture nominees was a stupid idea and that it would be too much clutter. However, if they split the category between dramas and comedies, then I'm okay with that. There have been really good comedies that were overlooked because of the misconception that drama must be harder.

[dougfir]

Interesting news..... wasn't there already a period in the late '30s/early '40s when there were 10 BP nominees per year?

[Rickster]

At first, I thought that 10 best picture nominees was a stupid idea and that it would be too much clutter. However, if they split the category between dramas and comedies, then I'm okay with that. There have been really good comedies that were overlooked because of the misconception that drama must be harder.

There will be no division between dramas and comedies

Interesting news..... wasn't there already a period in the late '30s/early '40s when there were 10 BP nominees per year?

Yes, although not always 10, it ranging from 8-12, but a lot more movies were released back then


I think it's a bad idea. I could see going to 6-7, but 10 is way too many.

This post has been edited by Rickster: Jun 26, 2009 @ 3:59 pm.