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Very few films and filmmakers can say that they’ve won an Academy Award, even fewer can say it was the award for Best Picture. A small number of films make the cut for the nominations, and only one wins. Though Favreau’s modern epics, Iron Man and Iron Man 2, both received high praise and were both nominated for Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, neither came close to scratching the surface of a Best Picture nomination. So the real question here is, what qualifies for a ‘best picture?’ Here’s a hint, it’s not the money. In order for a movie to qualify for a Best Picture, is subjective because it's based not on what's the best picture but what the Academy likes---movies about themselves & very theatrical films.
What wins Best Picture
Very films that have been nominated have broken past a $100 million budget, only two in recent years, one of the many Lord of the Rings and Titanic. Many though barely break past $30 million. The 88th AA for Best Picture winner Spotlight cost only $20 million, while the most recent 89th winner, Moonlight, only cost 4. So if it’s not money, then what wins the Oscar? Director choices and theatrical elements. Often it isn't the film that spends the most money, in 2008 The Hurtlocker beat out Avatar for best picture, an expected win that turned out bad, because in the eyes of the Academy The Hurtlocker was the better film. Seeing both myself, comparing the two is like night-and-day, a dark and edgy military drama versus some beautiful fantasy, though both had a shot I still feel Hurtlocker was the winner. The Academy loves a drama, and loves when it's about themselves, that's why Birdman won in the 87th AA, and not Wes Anderson's beautiful film The Grand Budapest Hotel. They make their choice because it's what they all love, or at least that's what they think.
Flaws in Ranking
What wins is what the AA considers the best film from virtually personal preference, first the selection must be made from finding some of the best films out there, then it’s a simple voting ballot on everyone’s favorite. Sean Hutchinson at Mental Floss wrote a comprehensive article on the matter of choosing, where as the 6000 members of the academy vote for their favorite movie. Contact reporter Glenn Whipp from the LA Times wrote an article denouncing the system the Academy uses to vote, often seeing that the first choice winner usually loses, referencing a lack understanding even by Academy members about the system, where many do not know you have to rank the films and it is based on broad support for the film rather than first choice films.
What wins is what the AA considers the best film from virtually personal preference, first the selection must be made from finding some of the best films out there, then it’s a simple voting ballot on everyone’s favorite. Sean Hutchinson at Mental Floss wrote a comprehensive article on the matter of choosing, where as the 6000 members of the academy vote for their favorite movie. Contact reporter Glenn Whipp from the LA Times wrote an article denouncing the system the Academy uses to vote, often seeing that the first choice winner usually loses, referencing a lack understanding even by Academy members about the system, where many do not know you have to rank the films and it is based on broad support for the film rather than first choice films.
Great Stories
So what wins the Oscar? Whichever film is every members “favorite” (that is, as long the members know how to use the system), and meets the technical screening requirements. Though it sounds all fine and good, but is it worth it to go for the Oscar? How much is the Oscar really worth?
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