In Defense of the Academy...

By Chris Collins

It’s elitist. It’s irrelevant. It’s dull.

Such was said a lot this year about the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Most of the hate I read on message boards, the posters primarily die-hard Dark Knight fans angry over its Best Picture snub. But some of the hate came from respected journalists, who The Academy Awards are rapidly heading into obscurity.

The 2008 nominations seemed to prove them right. Despite Slumdog Millionaire’s populist appeal, the institution was still blasted for lacking insight and being “out of touch.” How could WALL-E and The Dark Knight, both of which transcended their respective genres, received numerous accolades from critics, and won the adoration of audiences, be shut out from the best picture category? Why so many “films,” yet so little movies?

“Frozen River? The Reader? Whose heard of these movies other than a few effete intellectuals,” said a broadcast journalist. It’s true. More often than not, the academy fails in adhering to public sentiment. But should that detract from the institution’s merit?

No. The Academy deserves tremendous praise. Why?

Year after year, they call attention to small, low budget films that overcome tremendous obstacles in order to get produced. Sure, small productions like “The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” “Frozen River,” “Once,” “A History of Violence,” and “The Wrestler” failed to garner a best picture nomination, but at least the Academy shined a light on their achievements via other nominations, allowing for free publicity and hopefully more cash flow. Thank god they reward Slumdog Millionaire with 8 Oscars despite its lack of big name actors, showing that originality and execution will always be valued over star-power. The fact they could nominate and reward Milk deserves tremendous respect. Same goes for The Reader.

It’s comforting to know there’s an institution that values intellectual stimulation and risqué subject matter, and encourages filmmakers and actors to deliver well crafted projects and performances.

It’s sad to know the general public views such efforts as irrelevant and, in this year’s case, insulting.