Even with the pandemic still happening, it hasn’t stopped the creatives in the film industry. Not only did this year’s top films make waves, but they broke barriers. Particularly with modern technology, streaming has changed the industry’s approach to what constitutes a film’s success. Because a streaming hit is less quantifiable—or, at least, because standards haven’t been established and services’ transparency doesn’t come close to that of box-office reporting—the notion of “hit-ness” becomes more subjective. Despite this, Netflix has multiple films in the running for the evening’s most coveted award. This year’s Academy Awards features these cinematic pieces to compete for best picture: Belfast, CODA, Don't Look Up, Dune, Drive My Car, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, and West Side Story.
This year’s event is pivotal, especially for underrepresented creatives and moving pieces fueling meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion. But those conversations don’t just stop there, many have brought the much-needed discussion to not only the Academy, but have expressed it through their numerous platforms of influence. Viewers of the previous award show an account that many prominent celebrities– whether hosts, presenters, or winners– have used their time on the stage to speak on injustices and provoke a positive change within the industry as well as within society overall.
This year’s nominees have sparked chatter of snubs and surprises, but all who were nominated gave brilliant, moving performances! From this year’s nominees, four Black actors earned acting nominations – Will Smith (King Richard) and Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) for best actor, and Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) and Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard) for best supporting actress. But that's down from a historic nine people of color in 2021. According to an annual report produced by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, only 6% of the top 250 grossing films in the US last year had a female cinematographer. To date, only one woman has been nominated by the Academy for cinematography, and that honor went to Rachel Morrison, for Dee Rees' Mudbound in 2017. After 93 years, it is the only category that still exists for which a woman has never won an Academy Award. While women have yet to earn a nomination for a BAFTA in cinematography either, there have been plenty who have come very close. With the plethora of talent being exuded by women and the POC community in film, we are sure to witness a monumental nomination within the next few years. Although there has been slow progress in the works, the Academy should definitely step up the diversity momentum in the future.
The 94th show is scheduled for March 27, airing at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. Many streaming outlets offer different nominated movies if you want to get ahead of the game and binge on the top films. Here are the official Oscar Nominees for 2022. Comment below your thoughts on the latest conversations and nominees for this year’s event.
#Oscars #AcademyAward #nominees #film #cinema #hollywood #Bestpicture #diversity #inclusion #cinematography #womeninfilm #ocsarnominees #streaming
Comments