I mentioned this briefly last year when discussing this category - specifically the abomination that was the Lion King remake. I think the eligibility rules for Visual Effects need to be updated. Currently, the Academy's rules simply state that the criteria for the category are quote, "consideration of the contribution the visual effects make to … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Visual Effects
The first time I watched this category, I made a new friend and I nearly peed mysel. See, the limit for a short subject film is 40 minutes, and occasionally an allowance can be made if the credit roll puts it slightly over that time. When I first saw this category in 2015, basically every … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Documentary Short
God it's been a while since this category was truly competitive. I know Olivia Colman pulled the upset two years ago, but that's exactly what it was, an upset (though she was the truly deserving winner). Apart from her BAFTA win, which you could argue was home field advantage, Glenn Close won every Best Actress … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Best Actress
I say this every year, but it remains 100% true. The Short Film categories are my favorite part of Awards Season. The ability to watch an entire category in one go is an absolute thrill, because the nominees run the gamut of themes, subject matter, and artistic style. Just about anything can get a nod, … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Animated Short
Over the last few years, we've begun to see a bit of a sea change when it comes to the Costume Design category. Traditionally, this has been a group where period dress and flowing gowns have dominated. But as Academy membership has expanded recently, so too has the variety of designs getting recognition. The most … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Costume Design
Every year there are a few categories at the Oscars where the result basically goes without saying. A lot of those times, we're talking about the Acting categories. Over the last decade, a minimum of two of the four winners were decided well in advance of Oscar Night, and even among the ones that weren't … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Best Actor
It's somewhat appropriate that I'm handling this category tonight. Part of the focus is on set design, and today I started on set with my latest job, mostly watching the technicians and builders put the set together so we can start shooting tomorrow. It's what we call "synergy," folks. Anyway, as I am not a … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Production Design
It's arguably harder to write a great adapted screenplay than it is to write an original one. With an original script, you can pretty much do anything. You come up with the story, the characters, everything. The sky is the limit. However, with adapted scripts, there can sometimes seem like there's a sense of obligation … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Adapted Screenplay
This is often a tricky category year-to-year for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it's one of the few that can still have fewer than five nominees. In 2011, only two songs were nominated, and two years later one was disqualified, giving us four. The current rules state that the category will have either … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Song
If there's any one category that gives me fits and anxiety attacks year in and year out, it's this one. It's not that the entrants are bad by any means, it's simply a matter of access. The eligibility calendar for International Feature submissions shifts back a couple of months before the general ballot, so as … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – International Feature
