ROBERT FOLK

The Oscar Show was not what it should have been. Cringeworthy is the word being used most often by top critics, and I have to agree. As "beloved" as Ellen is, she really catered to the lowest common denominator from beginning to end. Gone are the hallmarks of what an Oscar Broadcast should embrace. Words like: Inspired, Grand, Moving, Elegant, Important, Celebration of The Best in Film, etc., cannot be associated with The Oscars this year.

And regarding the Best Song and Best Original Score categories -- Academy Music Branch Members must totally regroup moving forward. Out of roughly 6,000 Academy Members, our Branch only has about 280 Members. All of these members, myself included, have to really raise the bar in future years regarding what songs and scores are nominated by our Branch. We are spending too much time gravitating toward what is perceived to be the films and the music that are likely to win.

Instead, we should be focusing solely on the quality of the songs and the scores. We cannot continue to be influenced by what seem to be the most popular choices. We cannot cave in to worldwide media, and mass advertising. We should only nominate the very best, most artistic music from the abundance of films being considered, instead of climbing on board the popularity train that starts rolling down the track a month before the nominating period begins.

Many highly artistic songs and scores that deserved to be nominated were totally ignored this year. These highly artistic efforts were replaced once again with "the most popular choices." And, the fact is, that once a song or score is nominated by our 280 Music Branch Members, "Anything Can Happen." Why?.... Because the remainder of the 6,000 Academy Members know relatively little about music. They in turn "vote the popular vote"... because they do not have enough of a knowledge base to comprehend what would truly be the Best Achievement in Song or Score.

I was deeply saddened by the final results in the music categories this year. The only thing that can change this in future years is for the nominations to produce a result where no nominated song or score can be allowed to sneak in, unless the work is absolutely, unequivocally the very best, most highly artistic achievement of the year. There cannot be one entry that falls below that standard. If some "popular choice" is nominated, instead of something of true, absolute artistic merit... then we will have more of the same disheartening results that occurred during last night's Oscars. Much like the politics in Washington D.C., we have lost sight of the true purpose and the mission statement of what The Academy Awards are supposed to be.

Let's begin today, the day after the awards, to focus on how we can make next year's Oscars an Inspiring, Artistic Event, one that will show the entire world why The Academy Awards have true meaning and purpose, and at the same time, can be an event that is exciting, uplifting, inspiring and wildly entertaining for a worldwide audience.

To Tom Boyd......There is a reason for John's 49 Nominations and his 5 Oscars. John is The King of All Composers. No One Worldwide even comes close to his level of Brilliance. It's Pathetic that he did not Win his 6th Oscar last night for his Incredible Score for THE BOOK THIEF. It's actually Criminal. I am a Proud Academy Voter of 30 years. I am truly proud to be an Academy Member. I cherish the organization.

But.... we Music Branch Members need to be much more focused during the nomination process. We let ourselves down last night. By the way.... some folks here on FB have taken my recent remarks as being overly negative. Not as all! In fact, it is constructive criticism that I would like to offer.... so that moving forward we can preserve the actual real meaning of The Academy Awards.

Southall wrote
Well, yes, I can see that. But it's the music branch (i.e. the composers) who nominate the things. By the time they get their automatic Williams/Desplat/Newman nominations out the way, they only have two slots left.

Southall wrote


Jesus wept. It's only an award. It doesn't actually matter. It isn't "actually criminal", it's just that your favourite wasn't the same as other people's favourite. People are spending $25,000 on sending elaborate gift hampers to Kevin Spacey and Julia Roberts to try to get them to vote for a certain film in the Oscars when the same amount of money would stop literally hundreds of people dying from malaria in Tanzania. There's something worth focusing your energy on.

Southall wrote
Jesus wept. It's only an award. It doesn't actually matter. It isn't "actually criminal", it's just that your favourite wasn't the same as other people's favourite. People are spending $25,000 on sending elaborate gift hampers to Kevin Spacey and Julia Roberts to try to get them to vote for a certain film in the Oscars when the same amount of money would stop literally hundreds of people dying from malaria in Tanzania. There's something worth focusing your energy on.

Captain Future wrote


Is that irony or does he mean that seriously?