A surprising move came today as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Oscar folks will now nominate 10 films for Best Picture, up from five. The New York Times reports this reason: The Dark Knight. It was the most popular film of the year, well reviewed - whereas a majority of the Best Picture nominees (including The Reader) weren’t nearly as popular. Then again they all didn’t have Batman.
The Dark Knight is a fine picture representing the very best of Hollywood storytelling ripe with emotion, it was a strong work. Slumdog Millionaire rightfully won, it was an energetic, vibrant and amazing film, also a crowd pleaser. I saw it at Toronto last September and knew it was going to be huge. On the eve of its Best Picture win I saw it again in Paramus at Garden State Plaza, with a sold out audience, it received an equally enthusiastic reception, it was no fluke.
The fact that The Dark Knight wasn’t nominated, some proposed, meant that the Academy was out of touch the public. I would propose that the Oscars are not the people’s choice awards, however they are Hollywood’s awards. Film snobs like me have the annual listings in Film Comment, which I am in synch with it appears, they also gave the top honor to Wendy & Lucy, whereas two years ago the magazine and the academy agreed on The Departed.
10 has its benefits. For starts Pixar has been overlooked time and again in the Best Picture category - it would be shocking if Up, a masterpiece is overlooked. For me, I’m hoping the Academy will dive into the truly overlooked films that come close to vanishing into obscurity. Sadly IFC Films, who releases some great films and Magnolia disqualify themselves with VOD releases prior to theatrical.
VOD to its credit has introduced audiences to new filmmakers and IFC to its credit did give Hunger an Oscar Qualifying run, it wasn’t successful which is a shame since it was a powerful film. Then again there are only so many movies and so little time, choosing 10 seems hard, I have a problem doing my top 10 list and I see a great deal of films throughout the year.
This year could also see some other films, but it feels, knowing of the criticisms of AMPAS that the move is meant to include more popular films. Paul Blart: Mall Cop may be the most popular film of the year, and it was pleasant enough - but we’ll have to wait and see what sort of diversity is in this set of 10. Hopefully, if anything, those films will all be well deserving, critically acclaimed, and released throughout the year. If anything Paul Blart has the January opening working against it.
What does deserve a nom, thus far? Glad you asked:
Up
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Treeless Mountain
Goodbye Solo
Adventureland
Knowing
Watchmen
Coraline
Memorial Day
The Hurt Locker
Medicine for Melancholy
Of Time and the City
*Out of those UP is the only one, that stands a chance.
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