Often, our Special Agents answer questions that are so cinematic that they are inclined to do further research. So here is our Agents choice for question of the day:
Q: So why did the Oscars change the Best Picture award?
A: The Academy Awards is doubling the nominees from five to ten in order to include more worthy films, return to its roots and possibly boost TV ratings.
Know more:
During the 1930′s and ’40′s, a best picture line-up of 10 films or even more was commonplace. The Academy just announced that it is now looking to return to that tradition.
In 1939, “Gone with the Wind” won against competitors “The Wizard of Oz,” “Stagecoach,” “Wuthering Heights,” “Love Affair,” “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Dark Victory” and “Ninotchka.”
1943 was the last year of a 10-movie line-up for Best Picture, when “Casablanca” won.
After a review of last year’s line-up, Academy President Sid Ganis noted that the Board felt there was room for more heavy hitters. Films like the acclaimed “The Dark Knight“were overlooked.
The Academy feels that opening up the competition will yield a broader mix of nominees, perhaps including foreign-language films, documentaries, animated movies and comedies.
Films nominated for Best Picture could still be nominated in other categories where they traditionally were placed.
Improved television ratings for the Academy Awards might be a bonus as more fans tune in to root for their favorite film. While ratings were up for the last Academy Awards, the year before was the lowest viewed ever and overall, ratings have plummeted the past decades.
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Source: Oscars doubling best-picture nominees to 10