Oscars: Voters Now Ranking Best Picture Nominees

If you ask me, the Academy Awards has already been weakened by expanding the pool of Best Picture nominees from five to ten. In an average year, only three movies really have a chance to win, so in order to truly reward the "best," wouldn't it make sense to create a more exclusive category? The logic is smaller movies or comedies can now be Oscar nominees where they weren't before, and there's something to that in theory. In practice, it's still going to come down to money. Studios spend tens of millions just in Oscar promotions for one film. That still doesn't invite The Hurt Locker to the party. But that's not the only change. Now, for the first time since 1945, voters will rank their favorite films in that category from 1 (the best) to 10 (what the hell is this doing here?). In a way, that's not a bad move. In fact, if it were still limited to five movies, I think the race might be a little more competitive, but since at least half the nominees now will have very little hope of winning, not much will change with the ten movie rule. Here's how it will go: The votes will be counted and if one movie has the majority of first-place votes, it will win. If there's no majority, then the ranking system comes into play. In effect, Academy members get multiple votes, and the measure is designed to calculate "depth of support," so third-place votes become almost as important as first-place votes. For example, let's say Milk was in the top three on everyone's ballot, but over half the voters didn't think Slumdog Millionaire was in the top three at all, despite having a lot of support as the number one movie among a minority of voters. That could mean that Slumdog doesn't cast a wide enough net and even if it has more first-place votes than Milk, it would still lose. But again, that only works with a competitive pool of films, something ten titles almost disqualifies right away. But it's a safe bet Up will finally nab Pixar a nomination, and an even safer bet that the real impact of the expanded category will be in promoting films as Best Picture nominees.

Comments

[MRPigg]

They have taken what is a horrible idea and softened it a bit by implementing a great idea. The "depth of support" plan has the potential to eliminate some of the great upsets we have seen in the past like Crash and Shakespeare in Love, among others.

[Get The Big Picture]

Well, those might not be the best examples of why this is a good idea, but it does make you wonder if a Traffic would have still beaten a Crouching Tiger or if Star Wars could have dethroned Annie Hall.

[SEAN]

Yea I agree screw this system, its almost becoming a POLITICAL fucking election almost...

I mean what in the world are they doing?? Do they think their going to get more viewers? THATS NOT GONNA FUCKING HAPPEN!!

America doesnt care about what actor gets the award or not!
They just want to be ENTERTAINED/EDUCATED by films...
America is pretty shallow for the most part, they dont care like the REAL great actors do about the craft and artistry theres goes into acting...

Oscar's are really making this almost a POLITICAL election type thing...
Next thing you know it theres going to be a Florida miscount or something lol

NICE REFERENCE TO ANNIE HALL!!!
BRAVO, way to include it