The headline says it all.Ā Is this some strange move on the Academy’s part to further dilute an already incredibly suspect process?Ā Or, more likely, is this a response to the outcry last year against critical favorites such as “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E” missing the cut.Ā With 10 nominees, “the bubble” is all but eliminated and it’s a free-for-all.
As exiting Academy president Sid Ganis puts it in the press release (see below), “Having 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize.”Ā I understand the desire to widen the net, considering the rather heated scrutiny the organization has received for some of its nominee choices, but is this the answer?
Of course, the way the release puts it, the AMPAS wants to “go back to some of its earlier roots,” back when the 10 nominees was the norm.Ā But that was 70 years ago.Ā Additionally, this raises a whole other slate of questions as it regards competition and Oscar advertising.Ā With consistent awards budget cuts, a move like this could be seen as a breath of fresh air for studios stifled by the competition.Ā Then again, it could open the door for even more campaign dollars.Ā Is a “Star Trek” Best Picture push suddenly viable?Ā But the fact remains, with a widened winner’s circle comes a vacuum where being distinguished is concerned.
The announcement dovetails nicely with a current AMPAS showcase of the 10 Best Picture nominees from 1939, a collective of classic-age cinematic gems including “Gone With the Wind,” “Stagecoach” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
I’ll have to turn this over in my head a bit but it seems the novelty of the BFCA’s 10 Best Picture contenders is the new black.Ā And I guess you can add one more “top 10 list” to the end of year collective: The Academy’s Top 10 Films of 2009.”Ā Incredibly bizarre.Ā What do you think?
(Additionally, Greg Ellwood at HitFix is reporting that the Animated Feature category was on the chopping block but survived after all.)
Full press release:
The 82nd Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 7, 2010, will have 10 feature films vying in the Best Picture category, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced today (June 24) at a press conference in Beverly Hills.
āAfter more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year,ā said Ganis. āThe final outcome, of course, will be the same ā one Best Picture winner ā but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009.ā
For more than a decade during the Academyās earlier years, the Best Picture category welcomed more than five films; for nine years there were 10 nominees. The 16th Academy Awards (1943) was the last year to include a field of that size; ā Casablanca ā was named Best Picture. (In 1931/32, there were eight nominees and in 1934 and 1935 there were 12 nominees.)
Currently, the Academy is presenting a bicoastal screening series showcasing the 10 Best Picture nominees of 1939, arguably one of Hollywood ās greatest film years. Best Picture nominees of that year include such diverse classics as āMr. Smith Goes to Washington,ā āStagecoach,ā āThe Wizard of Ozā and Best Picture winner āGone with the Wind.ā
āHaving 10 Best Picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories, but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,ā commented Ganis. āI canāt wait to see what that list of ten looks like when the nominees are announced in February.ā
The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2. The OscarĀ® ceremony honoring films for 2009 will again take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland CenterĀ® in Hollywood , and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Comments
178 responses to “This year’s Best Picture category to feature 10 nominees”
I don’t mind the expansion to 10, but as it relates to 70 years ago, it just doesn’t relate.
For one, more films were made in those days so picking 10 out of the many films produced probably did not seem watered down. Plus, there were a lot of quality films vying for the top 10.
Today, fewer films are made and, I would argue, fewer films of quality. So, like others have mentioned, films of a lesser grade are going to get in (they were already getting in with 5 nominees).
AMPAS should now go back and add 5 BP nominees- with the hindsight of posterity- for each year that only had 5. Just my two cents.
This pisses me off, because I said this should have happened last year. The Dark Knight would have SURELY been nominated for Best Picture. And I bet you that is why they are doing this. Morons.
Anyways, this certainly boosts the chances of Public Enemies getting nominated.
“Just added a note about the animated feature category. Apparently it was going to be done away with but survived after all.”
Veeerrrry interesting. This might have actually been welcome to some, but then it might have been seen as pandering to Pixar because, let’s get serious, what non-Pixar films have ever even had the slightest chance this decade at cracking the BP list?
āI think this will increase the stature of the Golden Globes and the BAFTAāsā
“Well, the Globes DO nominate ten pictures as well.”
The BAFTAs DO nominate ten as well, remember best british film
@ Hans:
…Shrek? i feel like that was pushed hard core
mark kratina: What are you smoking? More movies are made now than in the past, that’s a well known fact.
@JAB
Ah, yes, thank you, I knew there might have been at least one and I’d look like a clueless douchebag =)
JAB: Shrek isn’t Pixar, though.
OMG!!! I’m in love with this idea! Considering how many movies will be released this year!
Pedro AlmodĆ³var’s “Broken Embraces”
Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron’s “Avatar”
Jane Campion’s “Bright Star”
Lee Daniels’ “Precious”
Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus”
Alejandro Gonzales IƱarritu’s “Biutiful”
Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones”
Rob Marshall’s “Nine”
Hayao Miyazaki’s “Ponyo”
Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island”
Oh and the latest Pixar film “Up”
That’s more than 10 films :D
Wait, my bad. I read the post wrong. Sorry.
You know what, though? If this was true last year, Revolutionary Road and The Wrestler almost certainly would have been nominated and thus more likely to be remembered over time. Hopefully, this can benefit films like those, as opposed to Star Trek.
Tony:
If you have some empirical data to back that up, I’m all ears. Explain to me how actors like Cary Grant could rip off 7 films in a given year in the 30s or 40s whereas stars today make maybe 2 at most?
Films cost more to make, therefore less are made. Back in the day, they were cheaper, cost-effective, and they got churned out by the studio machine.
Alright, my hand is forced. New Off the Carpet column on Monday. Ugh, I wanted at least one more week of freedom…
I wonder who would have made it in a hypothetical matchup last year. The Dark Knight, WALL-E, The Wrestler, Revolutionary Road? Then there could have been Doubt, Rachel Getting Married, Frozen River, etc.
If they include foreign and documentaries, what happens to those categories? This whole thing is baffling me.
I feel like Doubt was closer to a best picture nomination then a lot of people realize, what with 4 acting nominations
I doubt I’m the first to say this, but…
I think it’s now safe to consider “Up” a LOCK for a Best Pic nod.
James, I’d say TDK, Wall-E, The Wrestler, and Doubt, with the last spot being a complete toss-up.
And yeah, I’m not crazy about the idea, as it is likely just going to mean more crap being nominated, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s going to make me happy as hell seeing Up nominated.
I think last year we would have also seen:
The Dark Knight
WALL-E
Doubt
The Wrestler
Revolutionary Road
After reading a lot of comments from people who live and breath Oscars, I do understand their concerns about the prestige of the Oscars being watered down, but in essence, I do look forward to this change. The snob level will decrease and I think lesser known but high quality independent films will be allowed to make the BP cut. Once such a film a nominated, it will have a fair share in actually winning than in previous years.
Let’s give this new process a chance before we dismiss it.
@Mark
Just a quick look through IMDB
2009: 17044 movies
1999: 12470 movies
1989: 6598 movies
1979: 4958 movies
1969: 4565 movies
1959: 3081 movies
1949: 2275 movies
1939: 2280 movies
1929: 2614 movies
It seems to me more movies are being made today.
Maybe Gran Torino would have snuck in. A lot of us feared it would happen right before nominations came out.
I can see this makes great business sense. They can nominate blockbusters as well as honor art films. I wonder if it will change voting patterns and result in films winning that never had a chance before.
[…] a move that will dramatically shake up the Oscar race, the Academy has expanded the Best Picture category to include 10 films. The changeĀ could allow […]
I think last year we would have nominated:
Wall-E
TDK
Revolutionary road(Total: 4 nominations)
Changeling(Total: 4 nominations)
Doubt
Mark: Actors and especially movie stars were far busier back in the day, but ask anybody else on this blog and they’ll tell you that studios churn out production on far more films today than they did in the past. With the advent of video, dvd, internet and other entertainment venues the rate at which companies put material into production is much much higher than in the 30’s or 40’s when film was still in its early years and studios only released between 5 and 10 movies a year, maybe not even that. It’s the reason single movies dont make as much money as they used to, too much competition. Working on finding some empirical data but here’s an article that talks about some of it…http://www.film.com/features/story/there-are-too-many-movies/17567092
Up is the only sure-shot nominee up till now, with Star Trek a very close and very likely second.
But the academy manages to nominate shit even with 5 nominees, with 10, for the first time I think, there is a possibility we might see an overlap between the Razzie and Oscar nominations.
I will admit that only in very recent years have studios decided to begin cutting back on the number of films they produce. However, despite this, it still remains that fewer films were made in the old days.
As people have pointed out, I just don’t get the lack of correspondence between picture and director — yeah, it’ll be nice that some less traditional fare gets nominated, but without the director nominations, doesn’t it just seem kind of pointlessly patronizing to include them at all?
And I am certainly not a believer in the universal quality of Best Picture nominees (of last year’s, the only one I liked was Milk) but it IS less prestigious when you expand the field to ten. Do not want.
interesting. we will finally know if the academy is more on the serious business of recognizing quality films or just nominating the latest trend on super heros blockbusters.
I bet on the first, to welcome almodovars and von triers alike on the yearly recognition!
But I agree on the concerns for the final outcome, choosing one out of ten to the big prize might polarize votes to films like Juno, or even last years Slumdog. Cause I think it is difficult to form a consensus for one of the nominees like Wrestler, Rachel Getting Marries, Milk, Reader, Doubt, etc… No Country might not have won under this conditions…
This would spell disaster since it now increases the possibility of lower quality films to be nominated for *gasp* Best Picture.
But the possibility of seeing a slate that includes the best of the best, and the best of the well-loved is far too exciting to pass up, and even the Academy sees the value of this optimistic notion.
The thing is, if they don’t change the way they vote, we’re probably going to see a slate as bland as we’ve been seeing in the past few years: five movies that not a lot of people care about, some of which can easily be eclipsed by better productions who lose out just because they don’t have the money to campaign.
Also, I think it’s about time that the Academy realizes that cinematic gold exists in genres other than drama, and in forms other than live-action movies. I’m excited to see ‘Up’ and ‘Nine’ as Best Picture nominees. That’ll put the Oscars back on the map.
I could see the 10 nominations being very tokenistic… for instance, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows getting one just for being the “last of the series” or Judd Apatow getting a nom for “Funny People” just because he has yet to receive one.
The Road, and maybe Brothers too, Kris.
Star Trek’s glow is going to be diminished heavily (at least for a few months) by Avatar.
There were about 75 films released in 1939 — compared to what we see today — about 300ish. It’s not even close. That number includes foreign territory as well (Renoir, Carne, etc.)
This has so little to do with TDK and so much more to do with money.
Don’t forget, last year’s Oscars were, really, a success, without TDK.
I agree that “Up” is our first lock.
And watch out for massive campaigns for comedies like “Funny People,” but also for “The Hangover” and “Bruno.”. Hey, if they can make the field of 10 at the Globes, studios might be willing to mount a campaign becaus they won’t know if the voters will be inclined to include comedies of just more dramas. Most likely though for “Funny People” if it scores with audiences and critics.
And now open the floodgates for the list of the five movies that would have made the other 5 nominees in past years. KRIS, PLEASE MAKE THAT THE NEW POLL!
I think the Best Picture lineup will be the following:
“Avatar”
“Bright Star”
“Broken Embraces”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Invictus”
“The Lovely Bones”
“Nine”
“Precious”
“Shutter Island”
“Up”
Good call on Bruno.
I don’t like it.
At least the Golden Globes have enough sense to award different genres in different categories. This lumping 10 films (apples, oranges, and bananas) into one category, where only 1 film will win an award, is just plain retarded.
also, I am intrigued by how this will affect vote splitting? Does this end the age of the “lock” because there are so many choices that Best Picture just becomes the least common denominator?
This is so STUPID! I gagged when I saw this announcement. I feel as though this renders the prestige of the films nominated so less…..prestigious? I definitely think this will be a good opportunity for films the Academy would overlook in the regular 5 to have a chance, but that’s exactly what I don’t like about the Golden Globes. I can’t articulate my thoughts very well at the moment because I’m so very distressed over this. At least make the foreign film category better before you do THIS!
Good call on Bruno.
So many of the potential nominees already are just “also ran”.
No No No No No No NO NONONONONOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tapley, there’s some expo poster online indicating that THE LOVELY BONES is pushed to 2010, you heard anything like that?
Maybe 7, but 10? What is wrong with them?
The one change they need to make, is to mandate that all voters watch at least 80 to 90 percent of the films eligible. As it stands right now, voters watch only 20 to 30 percent — and that’s even when most of the films are MAILED TO THEIR HOMES!!
That kind of ignorant decision making is what really bothers me and what really corrupts the entire system from within. Ignorance. If they can’t take it seriously, then why should I? If I’m going to drive 2 hours to a specialized theater, then they can certainly put in the time to watch all the films. How do you know what your favorites are, if you haven’t even seen them?
What…That better not be true. They already delayed it a year before. I hope it’s a damn dirty lie. Haha.
WHAT??? I REALLY HOPE IT’S A LIE!!! I’m dying to see The Lovely Bones!!!
Burma: Nope, haven’t heard a thing. Weird if true. It’s been ready to go for a while.
Here is the link to the poster:
http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/headlines/temp/temp1621.jpg
Although that poster looks so damn fake! I really hope it’s just a lie.
My best guess…
Avatar
The Lovely Bones
Shutter Island
Where the Wild Things Are
Up
Public Enemies
Nine
Moon
Invictus
Precious
All of a sudden this shakes up things.
Where the Wild Things Are?
Taking Woodstock?
This will be an exciting pre-Oscar season.