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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has roughly 10,000 members across 20 distinct branches.
So if you hate the Best Picture lineup, I guess blame them.
But based on recent Oscar history, its easy to tell the most discerning branches from the least.
Here are the branches of the Academy ranked by their taste from worst to best:
13.
Like, the Academy has to keep implementing new campaign rules kind of shady.)
The only thing saving their reputation is that they also vote for Best Original Score.
Is the solution to have an intervention between the branchs composers and songwriters?
Music branch, why are you like this?
(StreamHusavikon Spotify, though.)
In terms of nominations fueled by narrative (Overdue!
They looked just like that real person!
Kenneth Branagh inMy Week With Marilyn.
Viggo Mortensen inGreen Book.
Johnny Depp inFinding Neverland.
Christian Bale inThe Big Short.
Should I keep going, or …?
), those nominations are more about checking one of those aforementioned boxes than making a smart choice.
Their glaring aversion to horror and creature design makes them seem pretty dull when wild inventions likeSuspiriamiss out.
Were they scared off by Cate BlanchettsThats grossresponse when presentingThe Wolfmanin 2011?
For example, the 2014 nominees had a combined history of 29 career nominations among them.
Its not so much that their choices are wrong, just that they are uninspired.
In the past decade, they have only had five nominees that werent nominated for Best Picture.
Having taste requires a little more audacity.
(RIP Best Sound Editing, 19632019, gone but not forgotten.)
Will reducing the categories the Sound branch votes for result in fewer deserving underdog films?
Heres hoping for more intimately crafted sound experiences likeSound of Metalto continue to be nominated!
Visual Effects does it best, and all of the branches would be smart to do the same.
Their taste is inarguable, but it lacks an edge.
But lone director nods create a myth of taste rather than proof of it.
I dont know why this branch isnt called Production Designers, but that is their category.
Arguably their first leap in rewarding this wasHer, for K.K.
Barretts approximation of loneliness reflected near-future city life.
Sure, there are plenty of big studio animation movies among the categorys (brief) history.
In the Feature category, a nomination for a real dud likeShark Taleisnt all that common anymore.
Writers
The Writers branch often recognizes the movies you wish were in the Best Picture lineup.
But its not that the documentarians vote for lesser fare than films that have been championed elsewhere.
And if a doc cant make it here, theres always Original Song.
