| Art of the Possible |
25 August 2003
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Studios Playing Oscar Politics
The Oscars are well-known to be a political as well as an artistic contest. It is not always true that the best film, actor, director etc. walks off with the statue, but this year, something even more astonishing may happen. The "best" in many categories may not get nominated because the studio that produced the film will not even submit the work for consideration.
In an unprecedented fluke, Warner Brothers and Miramax both have films coming out that endanger the chances of other films to win. Warner has "Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions" while Miramax has Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1" and "Kill Bill Vol. 2" coming out this year meaning they are eligible for consideration for the February 29, 2004 ceremony.
Clearly, the studios don't want to split the vote, and they have even suggested that the films be treated as a single release -- the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences didn't buy the idea. Instead, the studios may just submit one film and not the other.
Fair enough when it comes to best picture, best actor and actress, and the other major prizes. The nominees would be the same if only one film were put forward. However, many of the smaller categories, sound, lights, costumes, and so on, might have some people who worked on one film and not the other. This is routine in Hollywood. These people, who don't make the millions per film, but who are dedicated to their craft as much as the actors and directors are to theirs. A potential milestone in their careers may be sacrificed to benefit the studios' chances at winning something bigger.
It isn't art. It's politics and finance. Small consolation for those who will miss out.
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