After last year's surprising results, have the Academy Awards become more accesible for the small, early-released or un-baity films?

http://www.theoscarigloo.com/2007/articles/dreamgirlsdeparted.html

Great article, Josh, but the one thing I would point out is that Letters from Iwo Jima got the Gangs of New York treatment and translated it into a Best Picture nomination. It got one guild nomination-sound editing- and it seems like nobody actually saw it, but it managed to get nominated for Best Picture because everyone loves Eastwood so much and heard that it was a great film.

"Have you ever transcended space and time?"
"Yes... Well, space, not time... I have no idea what you're talking about."
-I Heart Huckabees

I don't think you're right (above poster). The lack of Guild nominations came from the late release date.

I agree with many of the things said in this article, but I also believe that the idea of "baity" is beginning to change. Its becoming more rough, urban, dirty and by looking at the last three winners vs. winners ten years ago and how they beat "rougher" projects, you can see a difference.

2006- The Departed (beat The Queen)
2005- Crash (beat Brokeback Mountain)
2004- Million Dollar Baby (beat The Aviator)

vs.

1997- Titanic (beat L.A Confidential)
1996- English Patient (beat Fargo and Secrets & Lies)
1995- Braveheart (beat Apollo 13)
1994- Forrest Gump (beat The Shawshank Redemption)

If you switch the times, I'm sure you would see different movies come out on top

That's a really interesting observation, Ryne, and I think there may be something to that point.

Titanic. I know so many people loved it and the effects were great. But I really disliked the movie.

I loved this article,and I must say "The Departed"deserved his win,and Letters from Iwo Jima his nomination,because the movie is very well made and done ,it's not just about Eastwood,it's about movie makng,you know?I think that movie deserved it,but some have other opinions,so that's cool.BUt this year I hope we'll have a BIG surprise,i don't want it to be a "Follow the Leader Year"again.Like,oh,oh,it's American Gangster with Russel Crowe and Denzel Washington and it's directed by Ridley Scott and it must be nom for BP ,just 'cause of that.I wanna see the quality in this picture,by God,i wanna see if Ryan Gosling is nom for"Lars and the real girl",or even if Amy Adams gets her nom for "Enchanted".

P.S.If Russel Crowe wins an Oscar this year,then that means he played a cripled,blind thief who works for the poice at a donut shop.

if Amy Adams gets nominated, I'll believe the Academy has changed.

that they didn't nominated United 93 for Best Picture i think they are changing espically in the realm of main categories i'd bet over half of the normal population only saw about half of the movies they nominate

I agree with the person who said that if Amy Adams gets nominated, a lot has changed. That would be very anti-Academy like, to me.

However, I personally felt the academy started to change in 2004/2005, when they gave Best Picture to the 'darker,' more depressing MILLION DOLLAR BABY over the flashy, made for Oscar THE AVIATOR.

Of course, 2005/2006, CRASH got it over BROKEBACK, though I believe this has to do with a) being a touch iffy about giving a gay movie the top prize, and b) the fact that CRASH sent DVDs to everyone only a few days before the voting.

I think if the Academy had really started changing for the better, CAPOTE would have won Best Picture.

2006 showed it's well on it's way. Honestly, there wasn't a lot I disagreed with the Academy on last year, even with PAN'S LABYRINTH not winning Foreign and giving it to THE LIVES OF OTHERS to share the wealth. I still have to see it to believe it, because PAN'S was the best film of last year and one of the best of the decade.

To me, the trend seems to be based on scoring upsets. Not major upsets (a la CAPOTE), but not being boring and giving it to the best films with the most buzz even if they live up to it ('Brokeback') or they don't ('Dreamgirls.)

I agree with you, Free, that if Amy Adams is nominated it's proof the Academy has changed.

And if Tim Burton gets nominated for director and/or Sweeney is nominated for Best Picture, that will really indicate a change in the wind. They tend to snub him (Ed Wood).