With the Oscars coming up February 27, a buzz (or attempt at a buzz) is growing. The Philadelphia Inquirer, for example, gave page one of their “Arts & Entertainment” section February 20th to a think piece about the best Oscar hosts from past years, and decorated the article with a nice picture of Anne Hathaway and whoever that other guy will be this year. I tossed “Arts & Entertainment” aside, and decided to ask some “regular people” whether or not there is a disconnect of the Oscars from average Americans, whether the Oscars are for us fans or the Hollywood establishment, whether they, personally, intended to watch the Oscars award show, and what they thought of the Best Picture nominees they saw. Here’s what they said:
“I always say I’m going to watch the Oscars, but in actuality, I don’t really watch them unless I’m reminded about them RIGHT before the show. I don’t know if Hollywood cares about what average Joes think. I think that’s why we have the People’s Choice awards.” – Steve Meredith, 23, Bridgeville, PA
“Will watch a little…[the Oscars] appeal to me less and less as time goes by. Hollywood cares about money and boys between 13 and 18 because that’s [who] will see a movie in the theater 2, 3, 4 times. That’s why ‘Inception’ was the top grossing film this year.” – Suzanne Rinato, 53, Dover, NJ
“The Oscars appeal to me different years; sometimes I like them, and other times I don’t…I do think Hollywood cares what we think because if no one likes what’s on the screen, they won’t watch it. The Oscars are for [us and Hollywood]. ‘The King’s Speech’ was the best.” – “Amanda Dawson,” 13, Philadelphia, PA (her parents don’t want her real name on the internet)
“Gimme a break…haven’t seen any of these, don’t care who wins because they usually miss on important performances – passing over Paul Newman for ‘The Verdict,’ for example, or Peter O’Toole so many times. Might eventually see ‘Black Swan’ because who doesn’t like a rattling good story about a beautiful nutcase?” – Harry Bowles, 44, Wilmington, DE
“Hollywood obviously cares about what audiences like – that’s why they have market research – on the other hand they only care because they want your money. And the films that market research tells them audiences want to see are not necessarily the films that the studios will put forward as Oscar-worthy. Historically, the Oscars were ALWAYS a party that Hollywood threw for itself. (The big ‘star-studded premieres’ were for the public.) Radio and later television just allowed the rest of us to eavesdrop on it. The awards are about (1) peer acceptance and/or (2) we hate your guts, but your damn film made SO MUCH money that we felt we had to honor it. I’ve only SEEN ‘Toy Story 3.’ I liked it. It was a lot of fun. I don’t think it’s ‘Best Picture’ material, though. (But it did make a pile of money.)” – Andy Mangravite, 60, film and art critic: The Broad Street Review and Film Comment)
“[Will watch] if my wife makes me or there is NOTHING else on…absolutely [does] not [matter who wins]. I will not be younger, better looking, richer or poorer, or have a better or worse job. Not unlike who wins the Super Bowl, the World Series, [the Oscars are really only good] for small talk over coffee.” – Matt Novacich, 46, Newark, DE
“Considering the vast majority of junk that gets produced, I would have to say that only a few producers and directors even THINK that the audience likes quality and a good plot…and those who do think this make far too few of the movies.” – Kathleen Kaufman, RN, 60, Salt Lake City, UT
“Oh, get out, man – you think I’d spent ten bucks to see a ballet movie? Never heard of most of them…didn’t John Wayne already do ‘True Grit’? Did they dig him up or something?” – “Rip” [wouldn’t give his last name], approximately 30, Philadelphia, PA, but he could have been visiting
“Haven’t seen any of them…I’m mildly interested in ‘Black Swan’ and ‘The King’s Speech’…know the premises for both but not sure I’ll get around to seeing them…real life getting in the way! Don’t get me wrong…I like a good movie now and again but am SICK of how people put them on a pedestal when all they do is act…!!!” – Maggie Craig, 50, Chicora, PA
“Who cares [whether Hollywood ‘cares’ about the average viewer’s opinion]? It doesn’t put one more dollar in my pocket. And so far no one in Hollowood (that’s not a typo) has offered to do so either.” – Mark Smith, 55, Charlotte, NC
“Oscars are for Hollywood.” – Paul Stone, MD, 44, Philadelphia, PA
“The Academy likes a certain type of movie – usually a visual allegory with some ‘deeper’ message…. ‘Inception’ was by far the best [film this year], followed closely by ‘King’s Speech,’ then ‘The Fighter,’ ‘The Social Network,’ and ‘True Grit.’ ‘Toy Story 3’ was pretty also pretty good.” – Steve Meredith, 23, Bridgeville, PA
“Oscars are for Hollywood, women because of the fashion and, mostly, Gay men because without them there would be no Hollywood. Over-50 Gay guys have parties [that] night…drink too much, eat too many canapés, and bemoan no one [giving] a get-well shout out to Liz Taylor, who, after all, represents true Hollywood glamour.” – Suzanne Rinato, 53, Dover, NJ
“Only saw ‘Toy Story 3.’ Liked it and thought the writing was clever…how they were able to do yet another one of this series.” – Matt Novacich, 46, Newark, DE
“It has NEVER occurred to me that the Oscars were for the fans; they clearly are trophies, hype and PR for Hollywood and the denizens of the movie world.” – Kathleen Kaufman, RN, 60, Salt Lake City, UT
Hmm…there seems a consensus (to paraphrase Scott Fitzgerald) that “Hollywood is different from you and me.” Sometimes the pros don’t even watch the films under consideration before Oscar’s big night.
