Exploring the potential sale of Paramount, the Netflix-WWE deal, and allegations surrounding UFC and WWE. Discussion on the controversy and eligibility of Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars. Highlighting the impact of the documentary branch on Best Documentary Feature nominations.
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Quick takeaways
The frontrunner in the Best Picture category doesn't always win, as seen with previous movies like La La Land, due to the Academy's preferential voting system.
The absence of nominations for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie may not necessarily be evidence of sexism, but rather reflect the preferences of specific branches of the Academy and their perception of what constitutes an 'Oscar movie'.
Deep dives
Oppenheimer leads the race for Best Picture
Oppenheimer has emerged as the frontrunner in the Best Picture category with its 13 Oscar nominations, which is one of the highest numbers ever. However, history has shown that being the most nominated film doesn't guarantee a win, as seen with previous frontrunners like La La Land. The preferential voting system used by the Academy introduces an element of uncertainty. While Oppenheimer has strong support, there is no clear alternative that could challenge its position.
The controversy surrounding Barbie's snub
The absence of Greta Gerwig's nomination for Best Director and Margot Robbie's nomination for Best Actress in Barbie has caused controversy. Some viewed this as evidence of sexism, but it should be noted that nominations in all major categories, except Best Picture, are determined by specific branches of the Academy. In the case of the director's branch, it comprises only 6% of the entire Academy. The omission may reflect the branch's preferences rather than any overarching bias. Additionally, the perception of what constitutes an 'Oscar movie' may have played a role, as some members tend to favor serious dramas over comedic or unconventional films.
Documentary branch's continued snubs of popular films
The documentary branch of the Academy has faced criticism for consistently snubbing widely seen and popular films in the Best Documentary Feature category. This trend repeated with Matthew Heineman's American Symphony, which was met with critical acclaim and garnered significant attention on Netflix. It is essential to note that the documentary branch, consisting of 680 members, has the power to disqualify films before the full Academy votes. This has raised questions about potential biases within the branch and the need to reform the nomination process to include broader representation from different Academy branches.
Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine media mogul Byron Allen’s offer to acquire Paramount Global. They also take a closer look at the Netflix-WWE deal in the wake of WWE founder Vince McMahon’s resignation following allegations of battery and sex trafficking.
Plus, Masters is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Executive Awards Editor Scott Feinberg to discuss the frontrunners, surprises, and snubs of the 2024 Academy Awards.
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