Ten (Oscar Widens the Best Picture Field)

Posted on Author Ryan McNeil

Um…wow.

Just when I thought I’d read everything there was to read on the internet during this dreadfully hot and boring workday, I came across news that effective immediately, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have widened the Best Picture category. To wit – they’ve doubled it*.

That’s right gang – the 2009 Best Picture category will be a class of ten!

This brings to mind a few different reactions…

I believe this choice to be year late easily. I’m one of those who believed that mainstream films like MAN ON WIRE, WALL-E, and THE DARK KNIGHT got shafted last year. Indeed, they might not have been top five material, but both could have easily landed in the top ten.

With that in mind, will this broaden the scope of what is a “Best Picture Nominee”? Or will it just water down the field with more cookie-cutter dramas? Will we begin to see animated films, documentaries, foreign films, and even the odd genre flick or two in the mix?? What about comedies??? Musicals even????

Or are we doomed to have the category dominated by even more forgettable weepiness? (I’m looking at you GREEN MILE).

Thoughts?

*It should be noted, that Oscar is actually going back to ten nominees. In the 40’s, the category was trimmed to five

9 Replies to “Ten (Oscar Widens the Best Picture Field)”

  1. Interesting news… I'd like to be optimistic and say "Yes, of course now more awesome films like Wall-E will have a chance!" But really who am I kidding. I have never put much stock in the Academy. They are jerks, it seems, for the most part. So if this does change things for the better I will be pleasantly surprised, but otherwise I will not be affected.

  2. I hear ya Alex. I'm somewhat of an Oscar geek, but even I can admit that they get things wrong far more often than getting things write.

    It's entirely possible that they'll miss the ball, even with twice as many swings.

  3. I don't know why this bugs me so much. But if something like The Reader can break into the top five, I'm scared what will be able to break into the top ten. Transformers 2 for best picture? Oh dear.

  4. It's very interesting news, indeed. I'm taking the Guy Lodge line of withholding judgment until I see what they do with it. Obviously the hope is that, in addition to the typically five mainstream films the Oscars nominate for Best Picture, they'll pick some smaller films or an animated film or foreign films, etc.

    But, Hatter, as you so cleverly say, I expect they'll miss the ball with twice as many swings, as far as my own tastes go.

  5. right, right, well my question is when are you going to change your profile picture to the new Johnny Depp look?

  6. @ Blake… The worst part? So far it's been a pretty shit year at the movies. Not the sort of watershed I'd want to give a bigger class to.

    @ T.S…. Agreed. And thanks, I do try to amuse.

    @ Mike… I actually just switched my image on the page to the DC Comics villain. truthfully, I'm not all that nuts about what they made Depp look like. Maybe as the film approaches, I'll get a better lookin image that I can adopt.

  8. Interesting news and one thats also another blow to The Dark Knight. Why didn't they do this last year?

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