Rant: Is Expanding the Best Picture Category a Good Thing?

David Halpert — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:18:03 +0000

A few months ago when I first heard that next year’s Academy Awards was expanding the ‘Best Picture’ category from five nominees to 10 nominees there’s been one question lingering in my head ever since. Why? The obvious explanation is that a majority of the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (or whichever association oversees the Oscars) got together and voted near unanimously in deciding to change the long-standing category. However, as a movie patron and a member of the viewing public this still doesn’t sit right with me.

Then I started to think of it from a different perspective. I questioned whether or not expanding the best picture category would allow the inclusion of more science fiction and fantasy films into the higher echelons of Oscar nominations. Again, I’m torn. But for a few exceptions (Lord of the Rings, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, etc.), science fiction and fantasy are two genres that are continuously snubbed for the best picture category. Children of Men is probably the best example of this in recent years. And while the film managed to gain three nominations, including best adapted screenplay, it failed to go any higher within that realm of cinematic excellence, despite being, in my opinion, one of the best science fiction films of all time.

But putting science fiction aside for a moment, let’s get real. Why are they expanding it in the first place? Isn’t the purpose of having a category with only five nominations instead of ten make being nominated that much better (and a win that much sweeter)? I mean ten is a big number. Six, maybe; seven, acceptable; but when you let ten separate pictures vying for the top spot, doesn’t that take away much of the significance of that award (keeping in mind that no other category got expanded)?

Movies haven’t been that great this year anyway. I’ve only enjoyed Star Trek, District 9, and Inglorious Basterds. Now don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see District 9 or a Tarantino flick on the ballot as much as the next person, but if it comes at the cost of expanding a category just so it can be done, let me just say, don’t bother.

Oscars Go Sci-fi

David Halpert — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:44:54 +0000

Click Here to View Previous Oscar Winning Films at Amazon

Last night’s Oscars garnered some interested albeit unsurprisingly results, although it should be said that the film industry has delivered more than a few notable gems this year. In terms of science fiction, I think it’s been a slower than usual year but there were some notables in the running.

Wall E won the award for best animated film over Kung-Fu Panda and Bolt. The Dark Knight took home two awards, one for best supporting actor by the late Heath Ledger, and one for best sound editing. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took home three awards, one for best visual effects, one for best makeup, one for best art direction.

It should also be noted that the runaway box-office hit Slumdog Millionaire took home eight awards including best picture, best adapted screenplay, best film editing, best sound mixing, best cinematography, best song, best original music store. Danny Boyle, director of such classics as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, The Beach and Sunshine also won the award for best director.

Honestly, I never thought I’d see films by David Fincher, Danny Boyle, and Darren Aronosky nominated in the same year. Guess it just goes to show you that anything can happen.

Scifi Watch » Academy Awards

Rant: Is Expanding the Best Picture Category a Good Thing?

Oscars Go Sci-fi