The Off Topic Topic

[celedhring]

I find weird arguing whether these Oscars were awarded on merit, given how they rarely are.

FWIW, Nomadland is #8 on the BFI list, which is rare (as in high) for your typical Oscar winner, and it's the best placed of all nominees.

I think there's a fairly big space between "awarded on filmic merit" and "awarded based on idenitity politics"?

Nomadland was the best movie among all the nominees I've watched (and the Snotty Critic consensus is in agreement).

What I mean is that we saw the same claims made when Moonlight dethroned La La Land. Yes, optics matter to the Academy very much. But Moonlight was imho the better movie (and also placed 2nd on the BFI list that year). If "identity politics" is making Hollywood give awards to better movies, then they were probably needed.

Of course, we can differ on what the Oscar is supposed to award. It's probably a mix of popularity/quality rather than pure quality (whatever that is), but commercial films sat out 2020. 

[Sheilbh]

And I think the Oscars have been doing something different and more interesting in recent years - Shape of Water, Moonlight, Parasite, Birdman. None of them are "classic" Oscar winners.

I'm not sure what it is, but I prefer it to Driving Miss Daisy sweeping the board.

I'd also add that I suspect when the Academy tries to play identity politics they end up giving The Green Book Best Picture

[Valmy]

And I think the Oscars have been doing something different and more interesting in recent years - Shape of Water, Moonlight, Parasite, Birdman. None of them are "classic" Oscar winners.

I guess. It is kind of eroding public interest in the Oscars since few people know or care about most of the Best Picture Nominees.

But I guess I prefer it to Shakespeare in Love or some schlock winning.

[Sheilbh]

Shakespeare in Love was a deserving winner and is genuinely one of the best original screenplays the Oscars have ever seen!

[Valmy]

Shakespeare in Love was a deserving winner and is genuinely one of the best original screenplays the Oscars have ever seen!

Yes it was Sheilbh. Pure genius.

[Admiral Yi]

What's wrong with Shakespeare in Love? 

One reason I resent the intrusion of identity politics into the Oscars is it detracts from the great value they provide, which is an opportunity to bitch about the choices.

[Admiral Yi]

Absolute best scene.

"Who are you?"

"I'm the money."

"You may stay."

[Sheilbh]

I've gone in too strong, too early on the emoji front.

But it's an incredibly smart, very funny well-done script and the film itself is a delight. There are few more deserving winners.

[Valmy]

What's wrong with Shakespeare in Love? 

One reason I resent the intrusion of identity politics into the Oscars is it detracts from the great value they provide, which is an opportunity to bitch about the choices.

I wanted Saving Private Ryan to win and I thought Shakespeare in Love was fine but nothing special.

And the second sentence kind of goes along with that. I can't very well be enraged Moonlight won, what kind of an asshole would I be?

[Sheilbh]

I wanted Saving Private Ryan to win and I thought Shakespeare in Love was fine but nothing special.

And the second sentence kind of goes along with that. I can't very well be enraged Moonlight won, what kind of an asshole would I be?

The worst nominee that year

[Valmy]

I wanted Saving Private Ryan to win and I thought Shakespeare in Love was fine but nothing special.

And the second sentence kind of goes along with that. I can't very well be enraged Moonlight won, what kind of an asshole would I be?

The worst nominee that year

I would have been fine with The Thin Red Line as well

[Jacob]

One reason I resent the intrusion of identity politics into the Oscars is it detracts from the great value they provide, which is an opportunity to bitch about the choices.

Personally I think that you can (and should) go ahead and ignore the identity politics and bitch about the choices (based on whatever merits you wish).

[celedhring]

Shakespeare in Love was trash, Sheilbh, you should be ashamed 

I would have given it to The Thin Red Line, which would have probably caused a riot 

[Sheilbh]

One reason I resent the intrusion of identity politics into the Oscars is it detracts from the great value they provide, which is an opportunity to bitch about the choices.

Personally I think that you can (and should) go ahead and ignore the identity politics and bitch about the choices (based on whatever merits you wish).

Agreed - also form trenchant opinions before watching the film.

Nothing improves watching a film like going in with an attitude of "prove me wrong"

[Admiral Yi]

I would have been fine with The Thin Red Line as well

Thin Red Line was not a well made anti-war war movie, it was an attempt to upend all the Hollywood tropes of war movies.  It was self referential and unwatchable.  Like all those 1970s New Cinema (not sure if that's the right term) movies that were crap.