27 Days of Oscar, Day 1: Indies vs the Oscars

Remember when the Academy almost added the Popular Film Oscar? 

If you're reading this website, then I'm guessing you do. If you don't...just think "Bird Box," Oscars edition. 

Even without the new category, this has been the year of the Popular Oscar. There are the obvious films, "A Star is Born," "Black Panther," "Bohemian Rhapsody," but you also have "Roma," which has more than likely been seen by millions around the world thanks to Netflix, "BlacKkKlansman," Spike Lee's most "accessible" film in a long time. You have "Vice," immensely popular amongst the liberals in the Academy and beyond. Even "Green Book," a film that has been deemed divisive by the internet, but clearly, looking at the film's accolades from the very start at Toronto...not so much. 

The Academy, and let's get real, ABC's need for this year's ceremony to be watched my more viewers, at least than last year has led them to scratch a host because no one was good enough...or willing to stand up to a complete evisceration by the same people (bloggers, journalists) bitching that the Academy was killing the Oscars with a proposed Popular Film Oscar. 

No, I stand by the fact that the Oscars are actually being diminished by the people who claim to love it so.

BUT...the Academy is getting their popular Oscar category anyway. It's called Best Picture.

Indies at the Oscars

I LOVED the 90s. Especially 90s Oscars. It was before we had a million Oscar websites, mostly relying on Entertainment Weekly, Sunday Newspaper magazines and E! for our Oscar coverage. It was a time when Independent film almost always had at least one slot out of 5 for Best Picture-  "Pulp Fiction," "The Crying Game..." and come out ahead in what I called the 90s BP consolation prize - Original Screenplay.

Last year we saw that again with "Get Out." Congrats on being an incredible film, but we're not giving you Best Picture...here's Original Screenplay. And Best Film from the Independent Spirit Awards.

There have been many years when the Independent Spirit Awards have had the same contenders for Best Film that the Academy nominated for Best Picture. Sometimes it is the consolation prize like last year's "Get Out," but in most recent years it has been a bell weather for a shifting tide. "Moonlight," "Spotlight," "Birdman" all went on to win the Oscar after prevailing at the Indie Spirits. In those 3 occasions I thought I was watching the consolation win only to be surprised on Oscar night.

One this is for sure, that will not be happening this year.

Film Independent nominated:

Eighth Grade

First Reformed

If Beale Street Could Talk

Leave No Trace

You Were Never Really Here

There was talk throughout Phase 1 that several of these might get nominated for the Oscar. At one point I was quite sure that "First Reformed" would get in.  But, it didn't happen. 

This is what the Academy gave us:

Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Looking even deeper at the Best First Feature category, you have 5 films that sadly never even had a chance at the Oscars.

Hereditary

Sorry to Bother You

The Tale

We the Animals

Wildlife

If I had to pick the film that would win the Indie Spirits, I would guess "If Beale Street Could Talk" would take the prize.

Last night I saw "The Tale," which was a harrowing film, flawed...but powerful. I feel the same way about "Sorry to Bother You." Truly original and independent, but kind of a mess at the same time. I found "Hereditary" a disaster only rivaled by "Vice" for my least favorite film of the year. And "We the Animals" and "Wildlife" amazing.

Don't be surprised if Film Independent (comprised heavily of film fans) goes for "Hereditary" here (and Collette for Female lead) but my vote will more than likely be "We the Animals." 

So, what is going to win the Oscar for Best Picture? WHO KNOWS?! I can honestly make a case for almost every film. "Green Book" is my blind spot. But the weighted ballot might keep it off the list. Then again...how many members of Film Twitter are also Academy members?

The only film I think everyone seems to love that might survive the preferential ballot - "Black Panther." 

Just don't hold me to that.