2021 Oscar Nominations And Discussion Thread. (1 Viewer)

[MartinP.]

I hate the lack of clips from the nominated films.

For the most part, as I've said, I don't see much necessity for film clips any more. And, as I said, I can't think of other award shows that use them any more.

Worst Oscars ever. Worse than I feared it would be. A disaster of epic proportions. Sad.

Exaggerate much? What you look for, you find, I guess. I loved them.

Agree with Sam, here, except for the film clips remark. When they do have film clips everyone complains about the ones they chose. How could they choose that, why didn't they choose this?

I give them credit for what they did. It was classy (Golden Globes couldn't say that), it was dignified, it was intimate, and they, for once, gave winners a chance to speak. That's all good. But there was no levity, no humor, no clips (which are so important), no music, no performances. And they still went over 3 hours.

A little more levity would've been welcome, but then everyone would be complaining about the lame jokes. You can't win.

 

[MartinP.]

Too political with no Hollywood magic left!

Whatever that means.

 

[Jake Lipson]

When they do have film clips everyone complains about the ones they chose. How could they choose that, why didn't they choose this?

Complaints about clips mostly occur if they select something that spoils the film. If the clip is well chosen, it can represent the film without ruining major plot points.

The idea of the film clips is to show the audience a sample of what is being recognized. In theory, this should help make people want to see the rest of it and seek out the film. It gives context for the viewer, which is especially important in a year when most people didn't see the films.

A little more levity would've been welcome, but then everyone would be complaining about the lame jokes. You can't win.

It sounds like you are going to have that sort of comeback for anything anyone posts here. I certainly think that when somebody puts on a show that they want people to watch, it is reasonable for the people who watched it to have opinions and to share those opinions. If they don't want to provoke discussion of the ceremony, why televise it at all? They put on the show and we talk about it. That's how it works.

 

[Tino]

Exaggerate much? What you look for, you find, I guess. I loved them.

Good for you. I hated yesterday’s telecast. And I’m one of Oscars biggest defenders every year.

For the most part, as I've said, I don't see much necessity for film clips any more. And, as I said, I can't think of other award shows that use them any more.

And, as I said, good for you.

 

[TravisR]

If Boseman was still alive today, we would not be having this conversation right now because Best Picture would have been awarded last. Moving Actor to the end was a direct result of Boseman's death, which is what makes it so tacky and disgusting as a choice.

Yeah, it was downright exploitative. I assume that Boseman's wife or family would have come up to accept on his behalf and they would have made a very real and very moving speech. It'd be nice that they had a large forum to talk about their loved one and it would be nice that the Academy was honoring Boseman's work but utilizing the grief of his family to be the 'climax' of an awards show is pretty ghoulish.

 

[WillG]

Yeah, it was downright exploitative. I assume that Boseman's wife or family would have come up to accept on his behalf and they would have made a very real and very moving speech. It'd be nice that they had a large forum to talk about their loved one and it would be nice that the Academy was honoring Boseman's work but utilizing the grief of his family to be the 'climax' of an awards show is pretty ghoulish.

they didn’t do that for Heath Ledger

 

[Jake Lipson]

they didn’t do that for Heath Ledger

You're right, they didn't. But they did it this this time -- or certainly tried to before Hopkins' win put a stop to their plan.

 

[Tino]

I haven’t seen either performance but from what I’ve heard Hopkins deserved it more than Bozeman.

Those of you that have seen both, do you agree?

 

[Jake Lipson]

I'm waiting to see The Father because it is a premium rental price right now and I don't want to pay that much. But I've heard a lot of people say they were both great and both deserving, which is probably the case. There can, of course, be multiple great performances in a single year even though only one person actually gets the prize.

 

[Craig S]

I haven’t seen either performance but from what I’ve heard Hopkins deserved it more than Bozeman.

Those of you that have seen both, do you agree?

I'm waiting to see The Father because it is a premium rental price right now and I don't want to pay that much. But I've heard a lot of people say they were both great and both deserving, which is probably the case. There can, of course, be multiple great performances in a single year even though only one person actually gets the prize.

What Jake said. I actually saw both films back to back yesterday (Watched "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" on Netflix, then rushed to the Cinemark to see "The Father"). Both are great performances. If you are forced to choose one over the other (and the other 3 nominees), as Oscar voters are, you have to find a reason, no matter how small. And the reason I found was rooted in the difference between acting for film and acting onstage. Hopkins was perfect throughout, hitting every beat with just the right choice. But MRBB felt more like a filmed play than a film, and there were just a couple of moments where I felt Boseman overplayed it a bit. Another way to put it - if this exact performance had been on Broadway in a revival of MRBB, Boseman would have had a legitimate chance at a Tony.

But let me me clear - both performances and films are very much worth your time.

I highly recommend everyone check out "The Father" when you can. It is not the film you might think it is. The less you know about it going in the better. It engages both the intellect and the emotions equally, which is a rare trick. It is my second favorite film of the year (between "Nomadland" and "Soul").

And there is no reason not to login to Netflix and queue up "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom". It is a highly entertaining hour and a half, full of great music and great performances, not just by Boseman, but the entire cast. And Viola Davis is a force of nature as the title character.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I didn't bother watching last night, but I just saw the clip of the In Memorium segment and I was appalled at how disrespectful it was. The names went by so fast it felt like someone pressed fast forward, and some biggies like Jessica Walter were missing.

 

[WillG]

I didn't bother watching last night, but I just saw the clip of the In Memorium segment and I was appalled at how disrespectful it was. The names went by so fast it felt like someone pressed fast forward, and some biggies like Jessica Walter were missing.

I think maybe because Walter is arguably more well known from television than film. She’ll certainly be included in the next emmys

 

[Colin Jacobson]

they didn’t do that for Heath Ledger

Ledger was Supporting Actor, so even if they thought about it, it just would've seemed TOO weird to end the show on Best Supporting Actor.

Granted, it felt odd to finish with Best Actor, but at least it's a "bigger award" than BSA...

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Looks like it happened in 1938
Bette Davis for Jezebel (prior Dangerous 1935)
Spencer Tracy for Boys Town (prior Captain's Courageous 1937)

Great - thanks!

 

[Tino]

Another reason I was disappointed in yesterday’s telecast is because I look forward to the Oscars every year. I love every minute of it no matter how long it was.

To me, yesterday’s show didn’t seem like the Oscars at all. Much of it due to the pandemic and its effect on the film industry.

But the choices made by the producers in too many instances were downright stupid. And made the show deathly dull. I like my Oscars big loud and epic. Hopefully that’s what we’ll get next year.

 

[MartinP.]

I think maybe because Walter is arguably more well known from television than film. She’ll certainly be included in the next emmys

They found room for Ja'Net Dubois.

 

[Malcolm R]

Anyone who's a member of the Academy should be included.

 

[B-ROLL]

I just read the six pages of remarks about the Oscars and what I have to say now is that no matter what AMPAS does with their award show in the years to come people will trot out their complaints about it. At least based on what all of you have been saying.

The Oscars are what they are. They always have been. At least as far as when they started airing on TV in the early 50's. People have been arguing about the same things with the Oscars since then.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME FIGHTS ABOUT THE OSCARS FOR 70 YEARS
https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/oscars-history-the-same-fights.html

In decades of watching the Oscars I've never complained about the show. People talk about it like it should be a complete satisfying whole. Think of it as a variety show. You'll like some of it, you won't like some of it. Currently MLB games are often longer than an Oscar show. You might like some of it or find a lot of it boring or whatever, and you may or may not like the winner. It is what it is and pretty much always has been. And for those who complain about it every year, including journalists, no one ever comes up with any good ways to improve what they complain about.

What I disliked most about this years awards are most of the movies that were nominated. But that's what was out there to nominate this year. I can't think of anything major that was available to nominate that was completely ignored.

Though I would've liked it better had there been more movies I liked and was invested in, like there was last year, I loved the show. I first loved the pre-show with the five nominated songs performed, most at the Academy's new museum space that looks out across the Hollywood hills. When the songs are done during the actual show it feels like they're interrupting what people have tuned in for, to see who wins the awards. If you're at a party or gathering, people usually aren't much paying much attention to the songs, they're chatting about "what just won something, or didn't win." This year I was attentive to all of the performances in the pre-show. It was much better than asking celebrities the same banal questions on the red carpet and "who are you wearing?" The pre-show was very classy and very well executed.

I loved the setting for the show at Union Station and I was fine with how the whole evening went. Putting the songs in the pre-show left time to just let everyone who won say what they wanted to say. Viewers are always saying they want to stop having the orchestra trying to play a person offstage who's speaking while the person speaking gets annoyed at that and comments on it. That was eliminated. They let the winners speak. But did that satisfy the people always complaining that they don't? No, I've read several reviews of the show saying this about that: There were endless speeches. Saying nothing."

Those who are complaining about the absence of film clips? Why? Before streaming services and computers and the pretty easy access for people to see the nominated movies, film clips were a nice tool for people to watch, but they're not necessary any more. The brief acting clips they used to show have long been absent. The clips have mostly been relegated to showing the Best Picture nominees, but have mostly been montages of the movies which tell you next to nothing. And those clamoring for film clips...what other movie award shows still do that? If this show was the only movie award show, that might be a different matter.

I agree that they always seem to screw up in some way somehow the In Memoriam segment. They should put that in the pre-show, too. I did not like that song quiz segment. It didn't seem spontaneous, but rather staged. It was awkward at the least. As for the harsh reaction to having the Best Picture Award before the Lead Actress and Actor Awards. So? They tried something. It didn't work, one, because Boseman didn't win and two, because Hopkins wasn't there.

So why is that such a horrible thing? With 5-10 nominated best films every year, more than half the people, and I'd wager a lot more, don't even like the film that wins best picture. A lot of people have favorites that won't even get nominated for Best Film. So to have an acting award or two after that, that more people might be able to appreciate than the film winner, it actually makes sense. But to say, as some of you have, it was bone-headed and the reason it didn't work is that it was to honor Boseman, and so it sucked because he didn't win, is pretty short-sided. I've seen some Oscars that AMPAS has on their youtube channel where they gave out an award or two after the Best Picture award. Usually an honorary award or the Humanitarian award.

In a similar vein, remember when Spielberg, Lucas and Coppola all came on stage to present the directing award to Scorcese because it was thought he would win. He did win. If he hadn't? It led some to say they already new he was going to win. So, you take some chances. Nothing wrong with that, but I guess apparently some people on here disagree.

Complain! Complain! Complain! Blah...blah...blah...

WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE SAME FIGHTS ABOUT THE OSCARS FOR 70 YEARS
https://www.vulture.com/2021/04/oscars-history-the-same-fights.html

EDIT: I actually read the article and it had some very good points

 

[B-ROLL]

They found room for Ja'Net Dubois.

Filmography​

Film​

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1966	A Man Called Adam	Martha
1969	J.T.	Rodeen Gamble
1973	Five on the Black Hand Side	Stormy Monday
1977	A Piece of the Action	Nellie Bond
1983	The Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour	Mrs. Gorman	TV movie
1986	Stranded	Bettina	TV movie
1987	Kids Like These	Mrs. Page	TV movie
1988	I'm Gonna Git You Sucka	Ma Bell
1990	Heart Condition	Mrs. Stone
1990	Hammer, Slammer, & Slade	Joanne Wilson	TV movie
1990	Penny Ante: The Motion Picture	Aunt
1993	Harlan & Merleen	Maxine	TV movie
1995	Magic Island	Lucretia
1996	Sophie & the Moonhanger	Agnes	TV movie
1996	Don't Look Back	Mrs. Lawson	TV movie
1998	Best Friends for Life	Katie Pegues	TV movie
1998	Hard Time	Lefty	TV movie
1999	Hard Time: Hostage Hotel	Lefty, Logan's Assistant	TV movie
2000	Waterproof	Viola Battle
2003	Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle	Momma Bosley
2016	She's Got a Plan	Betty Angelo

Ja'Net DuBois - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[B-ROLL]

I think maybe because Walter is arguably more well known from television than film. She’ll certainly be included in the next emmys

Jessica Walter - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

​

Filmography​

Film​

Year	Title	Roles	Notes	Rf.
1964	Lilith	Laura		[1]
1966	Grand Prix	Pat Stoddard	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress	[2][3]
1966	The Group	Libby		[2]
1968	Bye Bye Braverman	Inez Braverman		[4]
1969	Number One	Julie Catlan		[4]
1971	Play Misty for Me	Evelyn Draper	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama	[2][3]
1979	Goldengirl	Melody		[5]
1981	Going Ape!	Fiona		[4]
1983	Spring Fever	Celia Berryman		[4]
1984	Terror in the Aisles	Evelyn Draper	Archival footage
	The Flamingo Kid	Phyllis Brody		[6]
1988	Tapeheads	Kay Mart		[4]
1993	Ghost in the Machine	Elaine Spencer		[4]
1994	PCU	President Garcia-Thompson		[7]
1995	Temptress	Dr. Phyllis Evergreen		[7]
1998	Slums of Beverly Hills	Doris Zimmerman		[6]
2003	Dummy	Fern		[4][6]
2006	Unaccompanied Minors	Cindi		[6]
2012	Bending the Rules	Lena Gold		[8]
2017	Undercover Grandpa	Maddy Harcourt		[9]
	Keep the Change	Carrie		[6][10]
2020	The Mimic	Estelle	Final film role	[11]