“The Oscars are no longer a national event,” writes nbcnews.com contributor Dylan Byers, adding: “Twenty years ago, when Billy Crystal rode the Titanic into his opening monologue, more than 55 million people watched. Last year the audience was less than half that.”
But many would agree with Byers that there is one notable blockbuster that could bring more eyes to the small screen event next year: “Black Panther” — which has been nominated for a Golden Globe in the drama category.
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Beyers writes:
There are multiple theories for the Oscars’ decline, ranging from technological changes in how people watch TV to the growing chasm that separates liberal bastions like Hollywood from the rest of so-called real America.
But the most important factor may have to do with the films themselves.
The best film category has become a more niche affair… with a growing divide between the films that Hollywood rewards and the blockbusters that mass audiences actually want to see.
“As massive exercises in liberal, elitist self-congratulation, the award shows have made themselves increasingly irrelevant to the consumers that we seek to entertain,” one Hollywood executive told NBC News.
“The only interesting question this entire award season is whether or not voters reward ‘Black Panther,’” the Hollywood executive said. “If they do, they understand that there is a path to awards being relevant in terms of popular culture. If they don’t, they will continue to make awards more and more irrelevant to the masses.”
Speaking with Toofab during the promotion of her latest film “Bumblee,” Angela Bassett noted that Black Panther “has it” while referencing the Oscars.
“In my mind, it has the Oscar,” the Oscar-nominated actress said. “I think it deserves it.”
“I think the movie works so brilliantly on so many levels. It’s superhero, marvel universe and all of that, but it connected with historians, it connected with culture, it connected globally, it just reached in and grabbed folks’ hearts and their minds and shattered so many expectations and preconceived notions.”
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige previously spoke about the possibility of “Black Panther” bagging an Oscar come February.
“I think there are a lot of amazing artists that helped to make that movie, and it would be wonderful if they could be recognized,” Feige told Vox. “Almost everyone involved in that movie, bringing that movie together, is great, and it would be wonderful to see if they’re recognized. We’ll see. This genre, typically not.
“And I think it would be a wonderful thing for Panther and for our production designer Hannah [Beachler], and our costume designer Ruth [Carter], and for Ryan [Coogler] who co-wrote the script with Joe Robert Cole, and of course directed the movie. And Michael B. Jordan, and Chadwick [Boseman] and Lupita [Nyong’o] and Letitia [Wright],” Feige added.
Do you think “Black Panther” will take home any Oscars?
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