It’s Oscar Night — But it just won’t be the same (7)
In years past, The Aspiring Critic would be excited about Oscar Night. Having seen 90 to 100% of the nominated movies and performances, it was always a thrill to find out who and what takes home the statuette.
This year is different. Going to the theater was completely halted for a while and even once it resumed, there were (are) many people — myself included — who chose not to go. With so many streaming services and platforms on television, I was confident I could see what Academy voters considered the best of the best in the comfort of my own home, but I was wrong. Unfortunately, several movies and nominated performances are not available for home viewing, or for some bizarre reason, are requiring a hefty rental fee that quite frankly feels usurious.
And of course, the ceremony itself promises to be unique. There will still be the pomp and circumstance of winning an Academy Award, and other award shows such as the Emmys and the Golden Globes, did a creditable job of making it work. Unfortunately, “creditable” isn’t a compliment producers are looking for! The Oscars, however, are the pinnacle of the motion picture industry, and I know the executive team will work hard to create the vibe that usually makes the night so special. As a viewer, I’m skeptical. I just don’t think it can be done.
The irony is that actually this year, finally, the Oscars nominations reflect a change — in fact there’s a real evolution in terms of nominations. Two women — Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao — in the Best Director category is a first; the diversity of the nominees is truly significant; a chance for back-to-back wins for a movie about a Korean family (last year’s Parasite, this year’s Minari) is extraordinary and exploration into an unfamiliar slice of life is more prevalent than ever before.
Who knew about a culture of rootless but not homeless people before Nomadland? What film delved into the life of the hearing impaired like the Sound of Metal? When else have you seen a movie about Korean farmers in Arkansas? It’s a shame that more people haven’t seen these movies — including me.
I’ll watch tonight, of course. I’ll be delighted to see if any of the celebrities are wearing remarkable dresses or make funny speeches. I will eagerly absorb the clips from the movies and performances and will view with sadness the annual In Memoriam segment. I’ll be excited to see who wins Best Acting accolades. I’ll even watch the presentations for Significant Achievement in Sound Editing, Make-up and Costuming. Because that’s what I do.
It won’t be the same as in the past because nothing is. I’ll still watch, and I’ll see all the movies eventually.
But once again, it just won’t be the same.
