For years I’ve been saying that the Academy needed to change up their “five only” nominations process at the Oscars. Then a couple of years ago, they did; upping the number to ten. Of course I was in favor of this just to add spice to the conversation and for no other reason to spice things up. But all the while I kept asking why they didn’t just nominate the number of films that deserve to be there. Why limit it to ten? Why have at least five? If only three films in a given year are worthy, so be it: three best picture nominations. If there are twelve truly fantastic films, let them be recognized!
It looks like they’re sort of going with that school of thought this year. While they’re still going to have a minimum of five nominations, the actual number of nomination will vary (with a maximum of ten). So all in all, this is a step in the right direction. The Blind Sides of the world will stop getting nominated out of pity (or whatever the hell the reason was).
The change came about because of complaints that the Academy was recognizing films just to reach a larger audience and that the films being nominated had no real chance of ever winning (gee, ya think?). This also will add a touch of interest to nominations day as no one will know how many films are to be nominated until the titles are announced.
The new system, according to the academy, will tighten up the race by adding a picture to the base number of five nominees only if it has received more than 5% of the votes in the nominating process. Between 2001 and 2008, the academy said, the system would have yielded 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 nominees in various years.
Now all they need to do is narrow the time gap between nominations day and the actual award presentation. Say two weeks? That would be nice for the internet nerds who won’t have gone through every single detail of the nominations and give the entire Oscar evening a feeling of “already been played out.”
What say you? What do you think of these new “rules” aimed at spicing things up and making the nominations seemingly more realistic?
source: FilmJunk
I completely agree with you – particularly about the idea to have the ceremony closer to the nominees announcement. The wait between the two is indeed too long.
Honestly? I don’t think it makes much difference. They’ll still nominate the wrong stuff, the wrong stuff will still win, we’ll still complain about it for a week and then forget its existence.
That tiny window will never happen. Its too important to box office sales and to voters getting time to watch all the nominees.
More realisitic? Pleeeeeassse! It’s always the same deal, those making the rules haven’t got a clue. Those who care, have rules that count, but they’re not measured. So many brilliant films never considered, while other hollow shells win awards! It’s sad. Rowthree should run its own awards, call it ‘The Scars’ for all the films that should have been nomimated etc. Reward the brave, creative and wounded I say!