I’ll have my Oscar predictions tomorrow. For the time being, IndieWire’s always-reliable awards pundit Anne Thompson had this peculiar anecdote to say about Oscar voting:
“[Academy members] are having trouble coming up with ten [Best Picture nominees] on their ballots.”
Are you kidding me? Thompson is hearing that many voting ballots will not even have all ten slots filled? Have Oscar voters just given up watching movies in the COVID era?
Of course, as I’ve previously mentioned, the issue for many here is that 2021 was one of the worst years for quality cinema in the 100+ year history of film. And yet, if you’re an Oscar voter, which means you work within the industry and have your mailbox inundated with digital screeners and free screening Invitations, there is no reason not to find ten above-average 2021 films. None. Zilch.
In fact, these lazy voters should look past the Oscar bait of King Richard, CODA, Belfast, House of Gucci, West Side Story and co. There were riches to be found in the smaller-scaled stuff. I’d recommend they start with The Power of the Dog, Licorice Pizza, Red Rocket, Titane, Drive My Car, Memoria, Annette, The Card Counter, The Souvenir Part II, The Lost Daughter, Passing, The Last Duel, Benedetta, The Killing of Two Lovers, Petite Maman, and much more.
The real issue here is one that’s been infesting the AMPAS membership for many years now: Oscar voters just aren’t that adventurous moviegoers.