I'm of the opinion that Oppenheimer was quite safe for the status quo, not very challenging, so of course it was rewarded to overshadow better films that had very pointed messages aimed at challenging the status quo.

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I'm of the opinion that Oppenheimer was quite safe for the status quo, not very challenging, so of course it was rewarded to overshadow better films that had very pointed messages aimed at challenging the status quo.

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

Yes, it was easy to predict as it is the less controversial choice.

It's still early, but like "Oppenheimer (2023)", almost all critics - including the usual 'negative' ones - and the audience have already put " Dune: Part Two (2024)" at the top of the list for the 2025 Oscars. It does have the disadvantage of being a SF movie, and Villeneuve is not as popular as Nolan with the 9427 voting members (average age 63 years old, 81 percent are white, and 67 percent are male) - of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

So, Oscars 2025 is less predictable, with other contenders, e.g. the SF movie "Megalopolis (2024)", "Gladiator 2 (2024)", "Joker: Folie a Deux (2024)". There are the lesser known movies, e.g. "Sing Sing (2023)", "Blitz (2024)", "Maria (2024)".

The Western "Horizon: An American Saga (2024)" looks interesting, but it's being released in two parts, June 28, 2024 (Chapter 1) and August 16, 2024 (Chapter 2).

The biopic "The Apprentice (2024)" is a controversial movie this election year.

At the end of 2024, it will be easier to pinpoint the favourites. Hollywood's mood - BP and BPD - then will determine the direction. Perhaps they will choose a foreign language novie, or divide the Oscars more evenly among the nominees.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I'm of the opinion that Oppenheimer was quite safe for the status quo, not very challenging, so of course it was rewarded to overshadow better films that had very pointed messages aimed at challenging the status quo.

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

You perfectly summed up everything that's annoying about Hollywood, if not all mainstream art awards (music, literature, etc). It tries hard to appear cutting edge, but since it's driven by popularity it can't be too cutting edge or it'll embarrass itself and lose clout.

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume, and you're trying to lead them. It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line with where they're already going, but if you make any sudden big arm gestures and say "LETS GO THIS WAY" you'll scare them all off. Then you're just standing there alone, an idiot in a goose costume.

@rooprect said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I'm of the opinion that Oppenheimer was quite safe for the status quo, not very challenging, so of course it was rewarded to overshadow better films that had very pointed messages aimed at challenging the status quo.

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

You perfectly summed up everything that's annoying about Hollywood, if not all mainstream art awards (music, literature, etc). It tries hard to appear cutting edge, but since it's driven by popularity it can't be too cutting edge or it'll embarrass itself and lose clout.

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume, and you're trying to lead them. It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line with where they're already going, but if you make any sudden big arm gestures and say "LETS GO THIS WAY" you'll scare them all off. Then you're just standing there alone, an idiot in a goose costume.

Are you comparing Barbie to 'an idiot in a goose costume'?

@wonder2wonder said:

@rooprect said:

@DRDMovieMusings said:

I'm of the opinion that Oppenheimer was quite safe for the status quo, not very challenging, so of course it was rewarded to overshadow better films that had very pointed messages aimed at challenging the status quo.

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

You perfectly summed up everything that's annoying about Hollywood, if not all mainstream art awards (music, literature, etc). It tries hard to appear cutting edge, but since it's driven by popularity it can't be too cutting edge or it'll embarrass itself and lose clout.

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume, and you're trying to lead them. It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line with where they're already going, but if you make any sudden big arm gestures and say "LETS GO THIS WAY" you'll scare them all off. Then you're just standing there alone, an idiot in a goose costume.

Are you comparing Barbie to 'an idiot in a goose costume'?

lol no I’m slamming the idiots who decide who wins each year, purporting to lead the evolution of art but too afraid and stupid to know which direction. So they dress up as if they’re in touch with the masses and pick the safe bet every time.

@rooprect said:

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume....It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line....Then you're just standing there alone,...in a goose costume.

roo, Bjork tried similar, disguised as a swan, at the 2001 Oscars. 😉

@genplant29 said:

@rooprect said:

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume....It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line....Then you're just standing there alone,...in a goose costume.

roo, Bjork tried similar, disguised as a swan, at the 2001 Oscars. 😉

This is confusing (not really).

@rooprect said, that it was the voting members of the jury dressing up. Bjork is not a member.

@rooprect said:

lol no I’m slamming the idiots who decide who wins each year, purporting to lead the evolution of art but too afraid and stupid to know which direction. So they dress up as if they’re in touch with the masses and pick the safe bet every time.

Yep, knowingly was joking.

@genplant29 said:

@rooprect said:

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume....It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line....Then you're just standing there alone,...in a goose costume.

roo, Bjork tried similar, disguised as a swan, at the 2001 Oscars. 😉

I remember that! Outrageous at the time, but since then a lot of celebs have followed with their own outrageous costumes. So I guess you could say she actually did lead them!

Like a gaggle of goslings.

@genplant29 said:

Like a gaggle of goslings.

Like this one?

@M.LeMarchand said:

@genplant29 said:

Like a gaggle of goslings.

Like this one?

Sooo... not Barbie, but Ken is an idiot in a goose costume?

I know, there are no pictures of them in a goose costume (the Force is strong with them ), but I thought they and they are the ones in a goose costume, and the general public is the flock of geese.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

This lopsided award haul is, in my estimation, less a reflection of the movie's intrinsic merit, and more a reflection of a voting mechanism looking to avoid discomfort and inclusion.

@rooprect said:

You perfectly summed up everything that's annoying about Hollywood, if not all mainstream art awards (music, literature, etc). It tries hard to appear cutting edge, but since it's driven by popularity it can't be too cutting edge or it'll embarrass itself and lose clout.

It's as if you infiltrate flock of geese by wearing a goose costume, and you're trying to lead them. It might work as long as you're moving slowly in line with where they're already going, but if you make any sudden big arm gestures and say "LETS GO THIS WAY" you'll scare them all off. Then you're just standing there alone, an idiot in a goose costume.

lol no I’m slamming the idiots who decide who wins each year, purporting to lead the evolution of art but too afraid and stupid to know which direction. So they dress up as if they’re in touch with the masses and pick the safe bet every time.

@wonder2wonder said:

@M.LeMarchand said:

@genplant29 said:

Like a gaggle of goslings.

Like this one?

Sooo... not Barbie, but Ken is an idiot in a goose costume?

I know, there are no pictures of them in a goose costume (the Force is strong with them ), but I thought they and they are the ones in a goose costume, and the general public is the flock of geese.

Yup that's exactly right. We just flew off the rails with some wordplay that was too hard to pass up. This whole thread has gone to the birds ;) I'm gaggling with glee

@rooprect said:

@wonder2wonder said:

@M.LeMarchand said:

@genplant29 said:

Like a gaggle of goslings.

Like this one?

Sooo... not Barbie, but Ken is an idiot in a goose costume?

I know, there are no pictures of them in a goose costume (the Force is strong with them ), but I thought they and they are the ones in a goose costume, and the general public is the flock of geese.

Yup that's exactly right. We just flew off the rails with some wordplay that was too hard to pass up. This whole thread has gone to the birds ;) I'm gaggling with glee

Enjoy the show