Oscars to nominate 10 best picture nominees

Sad Professor

Oscar is opening up his playing field in a big way next year.
The Motion Picture Academy announced Wednesday that for the first time in more than 65 years, the field of best picture nominees will be expanded to 10 contenders for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

“Having 10 best picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” said Acad prexy Sid Ganis in announcing the shift. “I can’t wait to see what that list of 10 looks like when the nominees are announced in February.”

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

It'll be interesting to see how this works out. I think it's a great idea as - in theory - it should mean more exposure to smaller films that would have just missed out previously. But, on the other hand, they may end up giving half those extra noms to summer/blockbuster fare like Star Trek, TDK, etc.

Driver 8

The Dark Knight was a better film that many of those that did get nominated this year. It was a far better reviewed film than the Reader for example.

My hope with 10 nominees is that Pixar will finally get a best picture nomination.

Hopefully the extra nominations will include some of the bigger films which the Academy repeatedly ignores. The Dark Knight being the most obvious example in recent years. Would be nice to see Star Trek get a nominaton as it's easily one of the most entertaining films of the year as well as being critically acclaimed.

I would like to see the Oscars perhaps allow one or tow of the new slots be given to foreign cinema and animation. I know there is a best foreign film and best animated film catagory but there have been years when the best film winner was a far inferior film when comapred to the animated and foreign catagory. Wall-E was certainly a far superior film to Slumdog Millionaire which is possibly the most overrated film of all time.

eagle eye

Deleted User wrote: »

Hopefully the extra nominations will include some of the bigger films which the Academy repeatedly ignores. The Dark Knight being the most obvious example in recent years. Would be nice to see Star Trek get a nominaton as it's easily one of the most entertaining films of the year as well as being critically acclaimed.

I would like to see the Oscars perhaps allow one or tow of the new slots be given to foreign cinema and animation. I know there is a best foreign film and best animated film catagory but there have been years when the best film winner was a far inferior film when comapred to the animated and foreign catagory. Wall-E was certainly a far superior film to Slumdog Millionaire which is possibly the most overrated film of all time.

I'd agree that it will certainly bring some movies that should be there into the reckoning like TDK, V for Vendetta and The Matrix and Batman Begins also. It will also maybe make sure that smaller films get in also such as Memento and Donnie Darko.
Yes I admit I'm a huge Christopher Nolan fan.

On Slumdog Millionaire, well you don't like it, I loved it. While I can understand if you don't like the movie for some reason I don't see how you would say its the most overrated movie of all time.
I personally think that if you want an overrated movie you just have to look at Johnny Depp. A great actor but some horrid movies that have got decent ratings.

I give you Charlie and the Chocalate Factory with an Imdb of 7.1:eek:
Sleepy Hollow with an imdb of 7.5:eek:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with an Imdb of 7.8:eek:
Both sequels to the Pirates of the Caribbean with Imdb's of over 7:eek:

The guy is such a talented actor but he continually fails to pick decent movies and they still get rated.

eagle eye

eagle eye wrote: »

On Slumdog Millionaire, well you don't like it, I loved it. While I can understand if you don't like the movie for some reason I don't see how you would say its the most overrated movie of all time.
I personally think that if you want an overrated movie you just have to look at Johnny Depp. A great actor but some horrid movies that have got decent ratings.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the film but it was amazing over rated. The Wrestler ws a far superior film and much more decerving of best picture. Remember the DVD ads for Slumdog proclaiming that there was never a film like it before. There have been thousands like it since the beginning of cinema.

eagle eye wrote: »

I give you Charlie and the Chocalate Factory with an Imdb of 7.1:eek:
Sleepy Hollow with an imdb of 7.5:eek:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with an Imdb of 7.8:eek:
Both sequels to the Pirates of the Caribbean with Imdb's of over 7:eek:

The guy is such a talented actor but he continually fails to pick decent movies and they still get rated.

Imdb ratings does not make a film overrated. Granted Depp has been playing the same character for the past decade but even in the worst film he still stands out. I enjoy Sleepy Hollow and Sweeny Todd far more than Slumdog Millionaire and both of neither of them came close to mating the hype for Slumdog.

Sleazus

I'm of two minds on this - I was ticked off The Reader was shortlisted as one of the five best movies of last year, so why would I be less miffed it's in the top ten? And why do we assume that the next five films on the shortlist will be any more reflective of actual cinematic taste?

If the Academy wants to host a more reflexive ceremony, they need to look at their membership and their admissions policy.

I do hope Up gets a nod though, as Pixar deserve it.

faceman

Im wondering the real motivation behind this. Are the less formal, less wanky award cermonies taking some limelight from the oscars?

purple_hatstand

I wonder what it's worth to a film's box office to have "Nominated for Best Picture 2010 Academy Awards" (or similar) in giant letters across all of its advertising for the best part of 6 months?

We're in a recession and studios/production companies are supposedly losing $$$'s as a result of piracy and illegal downloading. This might seem like a hugely cynical point of view, but remember that the Academy is nothing if not self-serving - its ceremony has always been (and will remain) a celebration of itself, for itself, by itself.

It might be interesting to see more left-field films being nominated (well, left-field for the Academy) like foreign language, sci-fi or animated films, but the awards will still probably go to the 'worthy' films they go to now.

Sad Professor

I reckon it's probably about increasing ratings/viewing figures. The Oscar exec was on Richard Bacon last night and it was hard not come away with the impression that this was totally motivated by TDK. Think of all those fanboys who would have been glued to the screen for the entire show instead of tuning out after Ledger won. Imagine if Star Trek makes the list this year.