2008 Woodie Awards
Bill of Rights
Improving 'Oscar'
Bill Rhein
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Entertainment
The Oscars have come and gone and already actors, directors, and film studios are working hard to bring us the next masterpiece. The Academy Awards are an incredible ceremony in which celebrities and filmmakers take part in a week-long celebration of the past year's movies, culminating in recognition of the best work. Yet, under the surface, I see flaws in this procedure. Thus, I have a few suggestions to make the awards better:
First, separating men and women in most occupations is a criminal offence. Yet, it is okay for the Oscars to separate awards for the two sexes. In my opinion, it would be more exciting if the Academy consolidated the Best Male and Female Actor awards into one award for the best performance of the year. If there is no award for best male and female director, cinematographer, or editor, there should not be a gender split with acting.
On the subject of cinematography and editing: I think that most viewers of the award show have a limited idea about what these recognitions signify. The program should let viewers know that cinematography involves how the picture looks in terms of each frame being a picture and how well that shot looks. As well, perhaps the show should let people know how many hours of footage editors go through to make a coherent film. There are many other awards, covering other aspects of filmmaking, with significance that viewers may not understand.
Also worth noting is the lack of recognition that is given to foreign films. Each year, some of the best movies go unrecognized at the Oscars because they are made in other countries and languages. Recently, many films, such as the Korean masterpiece 'Oldboy', were not nominated, which is incomprehensible because of the quality of the film. When foreign films are nominated it is not for 'Best Picture,' such as the Portuguese film 'City of God' or the French film 'Amélie.' The cinematic works of other nations should not be ignored.
Finally, I think there should be a failsafe system for the Oscars to give out awards retroactively. The legacy of some films is not recognized for several years. The greatest example comes from 1941, when 'How Green Was My Valley' won over 'Citizen Kane.' Now regarded by the American Film Institute to be the best movie of all time, 'Citizen Kane' shows an example of how the Academy Awards can fail. In 2005, 'Crash' won 'Best Picture', when in my opinion, every other film that was nominated was better.
I think some years it would be appropriate to split the Oscar. In 1962, 'Laurence of Arabia' won, but it should have also gone to 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. And in 1994, there should have been a three way spilt. 'Forrest Gump' took the top honor, but equally deserving were 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Pulp Fiction.' The list could go on and on, including other upsets such as 'The Sting' over 'The Godfather: Part II', but I think the point is made.
First, separating men and women in most occupations is a criminal offence. Yet, it is okay for the Oscars to separate awards for the two sexes. In my opinion, it would be more exciting if the Academy consolidated the Best Male and Female Actor awards into one award for the best performance of the year. If there is no award for best male and female director, cinematographer, or editor, there should not be a gender split with acting.
On the subject of cinematography and editing: I think that most viewers of the award show have a limited idea about what these recognitions signify. The program should let viewers know that cinematography involves how the picture looks in terms of each frame being a picture and how well that shot looks. As well, perhaps the show should let people know how many hours of footage editors go through to make a coherent film. There are many other awards, covering other aspects of filmmaking, with significance that viewers may not understand.
Also worth noting is the lack of recognition that is given to foreign films. Each year, some of the best movies go unrecognized at the Oscars because they are made in other countries and languages. Recently, many films, such as the Korean masterpiece 'Oldboy', were not nominated, which is incomprehensible because of the quality of the film. When foreign films are nominated it is not for 'Best Picture,' such as the Portuguese film 'City of God' or the French film 'Amélie.' The cinematic works of other nations should not be ignored.
Finally, I think there should be a failsafe system for the Oscars to give out awards retroactively. The legacy of some films is not recognized for several years. The greatest example comes from 1941, when 'How Green Was My Valley' won over 'Citizen Kane.' Now regarded by the American Film Institute to be the best movie of all time, 'Citizen Kane' shows an example of how the Academy Awards can fail. In 2005, 'Crash' won 'Best Picture', when in my opinion, every other film that was nominated was better.
I think some years it would be appropriate to split the Oscar. In 1962, 'Laurence of Arabia' won, but it should have also gone to 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. And in 1994, there should have been a three way spilt. 'Forrest Gump' took the top honor, but equally deserving were 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Pulp Fiction.' The list could go on and on, including other upsets such as 'The Sting' over 'The Godfather: Part II', but I think the point is made.
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