Guessing I’m getting too old for the Oscars that I used to like. It turns me off that they increased the number of Best Pic nominees from 5 to 10. Nominating Black Panther as Best Pic nominee is just pandering.
I applaud and love the effort to diversify and promote equality in the movie industry but I just have a different opinion on the cinematic qualities a Best Pic nominee and winner should have. The Shape of Water, an undeniably underwhelming piece of film got a Best Pic award. What the heck?
And now another questionable move including a foreign language film in the main category. I heard this happened before but I always assumed there is a separate foreign language category. So what makes Parasite different? How is this “fair” to other foreign films nominated in their category in the years past? The film “Departure” from Japan could easily have won Best Pic in the main category and not just the foreign language one.
Because I saw Parasite and imo it was nothing special nor amazing enough to win Best Pic. I even feel that all this accolade seem insulting to the Parasite filmmakers. The Oscars know it wasn’t that amazing but it didn’t suck either but they needed to pander again and showcase diversity. I won’t be surprised that even the Parasite director himself thinks his film doesn’t deserve to win.
To be fair though, mine is only one opinion. If I’m not mistaken, Oscar members vote and majority pick wins the award. Parasite may have connected and transcended something profound with these members who voted for Parasite. Cinematic taste is so subjective.