2017 Academy Awards

[Gant]

So in agreement with you over "best song" KC

[Christopher]

If the goal is to make the show shorter, make cuts elsewhere to the show, not to the individual categories handed out.

I didn't see any of it this year though. I was glad to hear Zootopia took best animated film, which I knew it would. It wouldn't have been out of place as a best picture nominee.

[AKA23]

In most cases, I wouldn't support cutting the number of the actual categories featured, since in my opinion, this is the moment for those who are usually neglected and forgotten to shine. Actors and directors are usually well recognized for their contributions by the public, but cinematographers and production designers and those who have less visible roles in filmmaking are not, and the Oscars should be their time in the spotlight!

I would support the Academy strongly encouraging presenters to avoid making political speeches. The only exception I would make is if the movie itself dealt with a social or policy issue and the speech is tailored to highlight or further advocate on that particular issue. In my opinion, the Oscars are usually an inappropriate forum for unrelated political speeches. Those who agree with the points expressed end up cheering, while those that don't end up being upset, and I honestly don't think it serves any useful purpose since very few, if any, minds are changed as a result. 

I do feel the Oscars need to be much shorter. To do that, I'd support the suggestion to only feature the best song winner and not have all of the nominees give performances. I would also be open to KC's suggestion to cut that Oscar category entirely.  I'd also get rid of a lot of the skits and filler that is supposed to be funny but that almost never ends up being so. For example, this year it was pretty dumb to have tourists walking around and meeting stars at the Oscars. Getting rid of the songs, the skits and other filler that is really not entertaining might get the Oscars down to 2.5 hours, which would be a much better length than the current average runtime of nearly 4 hours! I think one of the reasons the ratings are declining and that the Oscars are not watched by most people is that they are just too long. 

[TWOMULES]

Ok, it’s been too many years.  Hell, decades, even and these awards shows have gotten WAY outta hand!  First of all, they are tooooooo looooooong!  Cut these programs down to 1 ½ hours, tops.  For instance, The Oscars.  Just acknowledge the “best” actor, actress, supporting roles, best director and best picture.  There you have six major categories that most are interested in.  There are too many categories!  Most don't give a free-flyin’ frog’s fat f*ckin' ass who wins the Oscar for best sound, best editing, best cinematography, best screenwriting, best costume designing, best limo driver, best actors’ assistant, best food server, best gate security guard, blah blah blah! 

Jed, they maybe too long but I feel it would be wrong to cut individual categories out. The people who are nominated care plus people like me love seeing all the categories. Without best sound, best editing, best cinematography, best screenwriting and so on we wouldn't have a movie. These are the people who put so much work into each production and it would be wrong to not give them the same kind of recognition.

[Matt]

I would support the Academy strongly encouraging presenters to avoid making political speeches.

I agree with this. The Presenter shouldn't be doing anything up there except presenting. It's not their moment, and they shouldn't turn the focus away from the nominees.

[KC]

Well, did anyone else catch Javier Bardem's nice little tribute to Meryl Streep's performance in The Bridges of Madison County? Just before they presented the Cinematography award? Would have been a shame to have cut that.

(Written before Matt's last post. I don't recall any political speeches from presenters this year.)

[AKA23]

I agree with this. The Presenter shouldn't be doing anything up there except presenting. It's not their moment, and they shouldn't turn the focus away from the nominees.

I did see the Meryl Streep tribute and that was nice!

I would extend this to the winners of the awards as well. I wouldn't outright ban these speeches, but I'd strongly discourage them.