Are the Oscars a true reflection of quality in the film industry?

 



 .Picture this. Sparkling smiles. Camera flashes. Glittering celebs walking down a long red carpet... We’re at the Oscars, the most glamorous award show in the world. A fabulous celebration of great actors, directors, and films. Where stunning women can show off their outfits and dashing men can compete for the ‘Best Leading Actor’ award; this is surely one of the best ways of showing true quality in the film industry. Or is it? 

  The Academy Awards, or Oscars, started in 1928; since then they have been held in America annually, and will take place on the 2nd of March this year. It is a ceremony which is gives out awards of statuettes to high achievers in film. Indeed, many people think this is a wonderful event, although it does have bad sides, many bad sides.

  Sure, this event can be an entertaining celebration of film, although on another hand, one can interoperate it to be a fake over-glamorised event, which only focuses on star’s looks and popularity rather than their talent. When journalists from glossy magazines write article upon article full of sentences like ‘Who wore the nicest outfit at the Oscars?’ with backchat and useless gossip, which actually just humiliates actors. The ceremony may just be a way in which designers can earn money when stars are seen wearing their clothes when walking down the red carpet. Dress sense can actually become competitive at the Oscars, as stars may just focus on wearing the most dazzling, jaw-dropping outfit at the ceremony. Maybe this whole event is just based on who did the winner of the leading actress’ hair and makeup, than actually focusing on the award they’ve won. A great celebration of the film industry indeed.

  The award show can also be extremely biased. It tends to usually reward the big blockbusters which have been released, and although they might’ve earned lots of money and filled many cinemas, that doesn’t necessary mean they are high quality films. Because of this, it means that some people may just want to make a big, successful film just so they can get a reward during ‘Oscar session’. Take this year’s nominee for example; American Hustle (which was released suspiciously close to the night of the award show) has been nominated for best film, and although it may have a good plot with great acting, many people believe that it’s only popular because of its star studded cast. With the likes of Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper, it obviously will demand attention, but it’s almost as if it screams “Look at me, look at all the famous people who are in this movie, look how incredible that is!” when instead, the film itself does to have lots of depth to become a classic.

  Sometimes independent films can actually prove to be the best. 'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994) is a prime example of this. When it was released, it was hardly noticed, and wasn’t even represented at the Oscars, but now it is regarded as the ‘greatest film of all time’, being a favourite of many and receiving praise everywhere.

  The Oscars only nominating people for their popularity is proved by Quentin Tarantino, who started off as a fresh, but unknown director. His first films 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction' were not smash hits at that time; because of their gory violence, drug use and constant cursing, they seemed to be more or less banished from Oscar territory. But, as the years went by, one by one, the talented Tarantino’s films gained more and more popularity from film lovers, becoming cult classics. As the director earned more money and fans, suddenly now he became noticed by the Academy, and latest releases ‘Inglourious Basterds’ and ‘Django Unchained’ (which still had lots of controversial violence and swearing) were extremely well praised. Finally Tarantino was a glowing star, although of course, he couldn’t have done that without is almost ignored early masterpieces.

  Plenty of people hardly get represented at the Oscars. Yes, there are universally loved method actors who win numerous awards, especially the likes of Robert deNiro, Daniel Day Lewis, and Tom Hanks. Although, a lot of people have complained about how very celebrated and talented actors have never once won an Academy Award. Now before everyone screams “Leonardo diCaprio deserves his Oscar!” let’s discuss the late Peter O’Toole for a moment. In his 60 year career, he was in many notorious films such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Becket’ and ‘The Lion in Winter’. O’Toole was nominated for best leading actor a record breaking eight times, obviously showing he did deserve one, yet not once did he ever win his award. Many others have surprisingly never won an Oscar; there’s the legendary Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Albert Finney, and of course, Leonardo diCaprio.  
  In the end, the Academy Awards can be a competitive excuse for celebrities to get lots of media attention. It focuses largely on glitz and glamour in good looking people, and can lead to callous gossip in magazines. Its awards are usually rewarded to the biggest blockbuster movies, most commercially successful actors, and don’t represent any independent films. This shows that the Oscars are sometimes not an accurate reflection of talent in the film industry. But, it is our own decision to either take these things into account, or to just enjoy this annual event. After all, it’s just showbiz!

By Hayley

The Top Ten Greatest Directors of All Time

 Hello readers, it's Friday, which means you'll be getting an article from Hayley, wow! Anyway, since this will be my first post, I decided I wanted to talk about something I feel very affectionate for: film directors. Old ones, modern ones, comical ones, violent ones, high-grossing ones, independent ones. Hundreds are absolutely fantastic, although today I would like to give a list of the top 10 greatest of all time. This was possibly one of the hardest things I've had to do, although hopefully I've narrowed it down to both the most commercially successful and revolutionarily successful... 

10. David Lynch 

   What better way to start than with this multi talented artist? David Lynch; a master of surrealism onscreen. With a creative mind like no other, Lynch uses gorgeous imagery and twisted plots to both captivate and disturb. His debut was the magnificent horror surrealist film, 'Eraserhead', a visionary nightmare like no other, which placed him as one of the greats. With others such as the emotive 'Elephant Man', crime mystery 'Blue Velvet', and psychological thriller 'Mulholland Drive', Lynch has a legacy which demands attention forever. 

9. James Cameron

  Cameron has directed many films over the years, most being extremely exciting blockbuster epics.  His films include stunning special effects, filled with adventure and action, and have helped him to win many awards. Although it was initially 'The Terminator' which gained him his success, it's 'Titanic' and 'Avatar' which are his masterpieces. They are the two highest-grossing films of all time, making the perfectionist one of the highest earning and prosperous directors ever. 

8. Joel and Ethan Coen

 The ever witty Coen brothers are the two most original modern day directors. They're known for their black comedy movies, especially their cult classics such as 'The Big Lebowski' and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Although, the pair have also made tense westerns, crime dramas and neo-noirs, like 'True Grit' 'No Country For Old Men' and 'Fargo', helping them to be nominated for many awards and be placed in the hearts of thousands of film lovers. 

7. Francis Ford Coppola

  Even if you don't know the name, you will know Coppola's mafia masterpiece, 'The Godfather trilogy', a movie regarded as one of the greatest of all time, which revolutionised the film industry. As well as that, he also directed the war epic, 'Apocalypse Now'; the critically acclaimed and darkly poetic representation of the Vietnam War sealed the director as being one of the best.

  

6. Orson Welles

 Welles is possibly the most interesting, influential and honourable person on this list; he is not just director, but an actor, writer and radio personality. He was only 25 when he directed his first ever movie, the spectacular 'Citizen Kane'. Known universally as the "greatest film of all time", full of beautiful music and cinematography, it completely proves why Welles is one of the most talented people in the film industry. 

5. Quentin Tarantino

  A favourite amongst many. Quentin Tarantino. A modern day genius with witty and stylish films, filled with grueling violence, iconic dialogue, incredible characters, satirical humour and the repetitive use of the 'f-word'. Tarantino started off as an independent and completely fresh moviemaker with his (now highly popular) 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction', and has now ended up as a prosperous and highly regarded superstar, with the likes of 'Django Unchained' and 'Inglourious Basterds'. The man is truly one of the most influential figures in film.

4. Martin Scorsese 

  Marty has always been someone who everyone has looked up to. A frequent collaborator with the great Robert DeNiro in his manic crime dramas, this director is a landmark. He has been nominated for 80 Academy Awards, an unbelievable amount, for films such as 'Goodfellas', 'Raging Bull' and 'Taxi Driver' which each got extremely positive feedback from critics. The director includes symbolic imagery, exceptional plot lines and classic improvisation in his works, especially the famous "You talkin' to me?" It is very hard for this man not to be number one on the list. 

3. Alfred Hitchcock

  

  Hitch was the man who did it all, who inspired possibly ever other director after him. The Master of Suspense has made classic upon classic, studying filming techniques and psychologically examining characters in each piece he's made, and was always known for including astonishing twist endings . His tense thrillers like the infamous 'Psycho', 'Vertigo' and 'The Birds' have helped him earn his popularity, making this cultural icon is one of the most intelligent and creative directors of all time.

2. Steven Spielberg

  The list of classic films this director has worked with is endless. In his 40 year career he has played with war epics, slavery dramas, si-fi... and dinosaurs. It is almost impossible for anyone to have not seen one of his films, whether it be 'E.T. Extra Terrestrial', 'Jaws' or 'Saving Private Ryan'. This director may be the master of creating blockbuster movies, with wonderful plots, characters and special effects, which are always difficult to forget.

1. Stanley Kubrick

  Even though producing this list was very difficult to do, the overall winner was obvious. Stanley Kubrick is a perfectionist with the most mesmerising and unique films, and has studied almost every genre. It is very difficult for someone to be a film lover without appreciating this director's work. From the controversial dystopian 'A Clockwork Orange', psychological horror 'The Shining', and terrifyingly realistic war film 'Full Metal Jacket', Kubrick explores imagery, symbolism and character development in his films like no other. His greatest work, however, is the dazzling '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Made in 1968, this masterpiece was literally before its time. With very little special effects, a mystifying plot line touching on many different themes and never before seen cinematography, the futuristic science fiction, which was deemed impossible to film, has influenced almost every other person in the movie making industry. Every motion picture the artistic intellectual has developed surely makes him the best of the best.