I’ve been an avid Oscar fan since I was five years old. I’ve watched every single show since I was a wee lad, and I’ve always had a good time with the energy and love for movies. Over the years the Oscars have tested my devotion to the entire process what with the politics and unusual decisions for its awards. It always took top priority when I was growing up, and now it’s rare that I watch the entire ceremony in one sitting. Now in 2022, “The Oscars” seems so antiquated, especially when they’re still refusing to acknowledge interesting, and unique filmmaking in favor of the same old stuff we’ve seen a thousand times already.
They’re still opting for Oscar bait over films that actually say something or will be remembered in twenty years. The last straw for me was the 2021 Oscars ceremony. Everyone knows that every single Oscar ceremony builds up to Best Director, and then they announce the Best Picture. For better and for worse the Oscars have chosen a film to be deemed as the best of that year. Except in 2021 where they Oscars decided to change the format completely to exploit the emotions of their audience. Around the time the Oscars aired, actor Chadwick Boseman died after a long battle with Cancer, and his final performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” was nominated alongside Anthony Hopkins in “The Father.”
As a means of artificially producing a dramatic moment (press and PR), the entire line up was switched around and the Best Actor was announced last. This was meant to be an emotional last bow for Mr. Boseman who they were certain was a shoo in. Sadly, that didn’t not go as planned. Anthony Hopkins won the Oscar, and the ceremony fizzled out with red on their face. It was absolutely embarrassing. It still is. Hopkins didn’t deserve it, and neither did Boseman, may he rest in peace. The Academy had once again manipulated viewers for the sake of headlines hoping to exploit Chadwick Boseman’s memory for manufactured drama.
With this debacle, instead, they merely proved once and for all that the Oscars needs to change, or they may as well just die with a lot of other television traditions. The final nail in the coffin has been the introduction of goofy category “Oscar Fan Favorite” while also the producers have chosen not to air presentations of various technical awards. Said awards are what make up the craft of filmmaking, mind you. Being ignored for the broadcast in favor of brief highlights before the commercials are Documentary (Short Subject), Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Short Film (Animated), Short Film (Live Action), and Sound.
Because in a ceremony celebrating film, who cares about trivial junk like Film Editing, Make Up, and Sound, am I right?
With their convictions in sticking with this new plan, the Academy has finally shown their cards to film lovers around the world. The Oscars which has always made a big deal about celebrating film, the love of filmmaking, and the genius of the craft—has never really given two squats about any of that corner of the process. Sure, they’re extremely crucial to the movie making experience, and the people within those departments work very hard, but ABC/Disney needs to fit in as many Kodak and Arby’s commercials as possible, too!
With the Oscars revealing that they really only care about ad revenue and pageantry over the art of filmmaking, it’s about time the Oscars either change or just go away. As everyone in America finally cutting the cord and relying on streaming, it would make much more sense for the ceremony to be stream from now on the ABC streaming App, and or Youtube. People have clearly stopped watching the ceremony for a long time what with the horrendous ratings, and it’s time for the Oscars to finally adapt, change, or merely just fade off in to the distance once and for all.
It’ll stink that these artists and technical wizards won’t get their spotlight, but at least they won’t be told that the work they do doesn’t matter, either.