Oscars

There is a lot of controversy over Boseman not winning. I think the Oscars were wrong to hold the award back until the end and make everyone think he would win.

But isn't the fact that Boseman was amongst the very select group of nominated actors honouring him? I don't know the actual criteria they use to determine who gave the best performance.. But it's so tricky. Automatically give it to Boseman and they run the risk of devaluing the award (and I don't mean Boseman's performance wasn't terrific, it was. But all the performances were, that's why they ere nominated). Don't give it to Boseman and they're accused of bias, or being unfair. It's an impossible situation. Maybe Boseman should be honoured by naming a new award or category after him?

Any other year I'd have given the award to Riz Ahmed. The range of emotions he plays through the film, the terror in his eyes, is astonishing.

I think it would be unfair for people to direct any anger towards Hopkins, although apparently it's already happening on social media. He clearly didn't expect to win, and was very gracious in his thank you video this morning.

Right decision for me on Actor - Hopkins in a career-best performance.

I echo what others say about Boseman - he's a good actor, but his contribution to film in the wider sense is not big enough for a new award in his memory. I take nothing away from his performance (which lots have enjoyed) but I'm pleased that the voters were able to separate the tragedy and vote based on performance.

(I'm not trying to start anything with that...)

I saw someone say on social media that this year’s ‘secret Oscar ballot’ stories had a bit of a theme of ‘I know Chadwick Boseman is going to win; I am voting for Hopkins because I thought he was really the best but Boseman has it sewn up so it doesn’t matter anyway’’.

Happens that way sometimes.

Clearly the producers thought they’d get to end on an emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman when he won which is why they changed the order of the awards around.

I think they might have been talking about one of those anonymous voter insights that have become popular. I read one where someone said they expected Boseman to win, but thought Hopkins was better, so were voting for him. The Oscars don't release the positions or votes, so there's no point in giving a consolation vote to someone unless you want them to win.

There are lots of things where I might predict someone will win something, whilst not wanting that outcome.

It seems to me that Boseman fans are trying to rationalise his loss when it was them that were were so certain it was in the bag. It's incredible to me that the organisers would be so reckless to assume they could predict the outcome, to the point of not caring that the early favourite for the win, and assumed second favourite would be tucked up in bed.

If you get a chance to read them, they are simultaneously fascinating and depressing. There are no names attached, but it amazes me that voters are happy to admit to not watching all of the nominated films, or voting for a film because they like someone that's involved. 

There's become an obsession with judging the success of the show by the live audience figures. The Oscars will remain relevant so long as studios include the line "with Academy Award winner/nominee" on their posters and DVDs. People who can't be bothered watching the whole show will still watch clips online and the results fill newspapers, magazines and the rolling news.

It's not an event that exists in order to get ratings for whichever tv network it airs on.

Many critics/film historians who are not affiliated with the Oscars generally tend to agree that the Oscars is really a reflection of how Hollywood wants to be seen in that moment, rather than what it actually is. They're very zeitgeist-y in a sense.

Performances aside, I expected Boseman to win because it was the year of the Black Lives Matter movement, so his win would have been very "of the moment". I know that that's cynical, but there are many interesting articles/documentaries/videos on WHY best Actor/Actress/Movie takes the prize, and performance is only one piece of a bigger picture.

It was incredible! I love that song, I think it’s just stunning and Molly’s voice in incredible! Hopefully she becomes successful on the back of this cos she deserves it. I absolutely love Iceland, I think it’s SUCH an interesting and beautiful country. I’d love to go to Husavik one day! I intend one day to drive route 1 round the whole island