Diversity In Oscars 2019

As per the schedule, Oscar Nominations are out and is public. After all, these are the most awaited movies that audiences would be waiting to watch with huge expectation. What made this year's nomination a different set of inclusive dimensions. From comedy, music to stories of black, the set of nomination contains it all making the entire list dynamic in type.

Oscar Nomination would generally receive a big comment in regard to Why so White? Although, the trend shows that stories of Blacks have rather made out a huge success kicking other stories - Moonlight (2016) or 12 Years a Slave (2013). No matter what, there always had story of Black every year, Get Out (2017) was of high expectation too.

However, the trend this year got somewhere modified; somewhere restructured. Intentional, or coincidence; there are numbers of movies indicating there is nothing to do with black or white, but in the end the story and strength of movies matters. Green Book, Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman are the stories of black.

That does not sum it all, nominations of this year has wide set of dimensions. A separate allotment can be seen for music as well. That has to be coincidence, as the year gifted couple of music based movies. A Star Is Born starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is same movie which were earlier made in 1957, 1954, 1976 and 2013's Bollywood movie Aashiqui 2. Though the story repeats, presentation marks. Whereas, Boheiman Rhapsoday is something special that worked out in this year - story of Queens. This movie brought story of Freddie Mercury to big screen, and gathered huge applauses from music along with movie lovers. It actually did generate revenue from countries like Nepal as well.

What makes this year's Oscar further special is inclusion of comedy drama based movie The Favourite. Unlike earlier years, where only critical movie lovers would seek Oscar nomination, this year The Favourite turned out to be favourite for wide range of audiences too.

While Vice presents fictitious veteran’s story of Afghanistan and Iraq wars starring Christian Bale, it also touches September 11 attack. On the other hand, Roma has been next well anticipated movie presenting life of middle class family in Mexico managing to get into wide number of categories.

The process of selection of Oscar Nominees seems to be fair and professional enough; with division within 17 branches, where nominees for each category are selected by votes from members of those specific branches itself. So, only group of directors will get to select nominees for direction category. That sounds perfectly fine, but where those filmmakers, film professionals brought into are are never disclosed. On what basis are they granted the responsibility is barely disclosed.

Predictions are done, and will be done; audiences prefer the movies as per their taste and preference ofcourse. Boheiman Rhapsody has already clenched Golden Globe award. Movies like First Man couldn't get into Best Picture. Other deserving movies like Beautiful Boy, Eighth Grade, Leave No Trace, Widows or  Hereditary couldn't gear up for Oscars anyway. Oscars are important to those who actually dive into the industry and those who are interested in every inner efforts of Movie Industry. It has now been trend that Oscars are hitting the spot where majority's dislikes makes stand. There are ratings which further redefines the worth of movie. Are nominations competitive enough as it used to be back then is next question - because even though The Shawshank Redemption didn't grab the award, the award was granted to Forrest Gump, where audiences would not have grievances.

 Even if both were rejected and Pulp Fiction of Quiz Show was granted, audiences would turn out to be satisfied back then in 1994. How The Piano was rejected and Schindler's List grabbed in 1993, or how The Sixth Sense, The Green Mile got rejected and American Beauty was awarded in 1999 was justifiable. It is yet to be seen if Oscar of 2019 will be justified, because with inclusive nomination; it can be expected. And, further #OscarSoWhite will not be trending this year during the time too.

The set of nomination this year tried to create old competition has ever tried to assemble somehow. There had been strong campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite and #MeToo which clearly showed symptom over the nomination this year. And, the nomination this year was best ever tried attempt to ensure diversity in Hollywood. Should art be influenced by diversity - the time in the future might answer whether the good deed, pressurized deed made things good enough or not.

All we got to do is wait and watch.

Published in The Rising Nepal of 8th Feb, 2019