Oscar Nominations

I think I read that in a recent promo for the ceremony he called it "The white BET Awards".

conandrob240 said:

I think you can easily make a case that those individual performances by Idris Elba, Will Smith, Michael B. Jordan weren't good enough.  There are plenty of snubs every year for performances that you or I may think are stellar and plenty of inclusions that make you scratch your head (Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny?  LOL) 

While I have to admit I haven't seen some of the films, I thought Elba was great in BN. I also liked MBJordan in Creed, though I can see how the Academy wouldn't rate his naturalistic, low-key performance.

I was actually speaking in general, not commenting on their performances specifically- meaning I think you can always make a case for why a performance wasn't good enough or for you that feels like a "snub" since its art and will always be subjective. I don't hear a huge outcry specific to an actor as in "there is no way Will Smith should have been left off this list". The only specific piece of work that seems to be pissing people off is Straight Outta Compton as a snub. I thought it was a fantastic film, very engaging and relevant. Was it "best"? Not sure, didn't see many of the others. Other than that, I think the concern is less specific and more in general about representation. I think people are right to question it.

The issue is deeper than a single actor (Jordan in 2016 or Oyelowo from Selma in 2015) or movie (Straight Outta Compton). There are going to be snubs every year. It's about a voting body and an industry that isn't reflective of the demographics of the movie going audience. Boycotting the Oscars does nothing to change that. What will change the industry is when Af Am movie goers (as a block, this demographic has strong box office power) stop going to movies that either omit us or relegate us to the same stereotypes (sassy best friend, whore, junkie, criminal). 

As an avid movie goer, this is hard for me. I love movies but I don't particularly like action movies - which tend to include black supporting characters. The movies I tend to watch don't feature black lead actors and I have to ask why. Why can't that lead character be a black man? Or why can't the lead character's love interest be a black woman (without the movie being entirely about interracial relationships)? Until we get to this depth of questioning the moving industry and acting with our wallets, then boycotting the Oscars will do nothing. 

Edited to add--Hahaha already said what I say below.  She's right too.

Viola Davis's speech when she won whatever it is she won in the past couple of years--she was right.  She said something like, you can't win an acting award for a part that doesn't exist.  

I agree with her that one aspect of movies that needs changing is the dearth of good, big parts for actors other than white men. 

Calling on screenwriters.  Calling on casting agents who go rogue and send a man of color or a woman in to read for one of the white male parts.  

And changing the make up of the academy voters makes sense.  But they can't vote on a movie or part that doesn't exist. As Viola said, IIRC.

Reviving the thread since I have now seen a lot of movies except for Mad Max. I liked all the nominated films with The Big Short probably being my favorite.  I liked Spotlight a lot too and the Revenant was a stunning movie but oh, such misery.  Should win for Leo and cinematography though. Brooklyn disappointed me more than I thought it would- it was entertaining but not as wonderful as I thought it was going to be.

I can call out two snubs (my own personal opinion)- Steve Carell for The Big Short.  He was mesmerizing and amazing.  And I thought Will Smith was, indeed, fantastic in Concussion. Not going to agree that he was snubbed because he was Black but certainly could feasibly on the snubbed list alongside a few White actors like Steve Carrell. 

On the other side, two people that don't belong on the list- Rachel McAdams who I love and was very good but not a standout in Spotlight.  Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton were the standouts for me in that one.  She was fine but not Oscar worthy.  And Sly Stallone for Creed.  Better than expected movie and sentimental favorite for sure but on pure acting alone- no way

Finally saw the NWA movie, and that definitely should have gotten more nominations.

I thought Rachel McAdams was fantastic. The stuff with her character and her grandmother was the emotional heart of the movie. Not the flashiest part, but she was perfect.

eh- I thought that part was very skimpy and to be more meaningful it needed more flushing out. She was her usual great self but it was nothing special. 

Its subtlety was what made it work so well. Happy to see the Oscar voters appreciating something delicately powerful rather than the sledgehammer-to-the-temple stuff they often reward.

Yeah, I certainly can appreciate that except I didn't find her performance powerful at all. the concept of her grandmothers Catholicism was interesting but she wasn't.

imonlysleeping said:

Finally saw the NWA movie, and that definitely should have gotten more nominations.

Agree completely.  I saw Straight Outta Compton on the airplane (the only time I get to watch full-length movies now), and found it so powerful that I watched it again on the flight home. This despite my strong preference for east coast artists.