Before we all sit back and watch The 98th Academy Awards, and we all hold our breath as we learn how the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) voted for best film or best actor, it’s time to pay homage to those judges who watch all of these films. They are rarely praised and often panned.

 

Selecting the nominations for the Academy Awards is not an easy task for anyone on the planet. Objectivity is almost an impossible undertaking when it comes to art. People need criteria to determine if a body of work is worth watching, is generationally “groundbreaking,” but more importantly, if the work is worth remembering.

 

There is a big difference between quality and quantity; it goes far beyond ratings and popularity. People look up to The Oscars. It’s a big deal to be nominated but apparently, there are exceptions to this rule. All the films nominated for an Oscar this year are interesting and entertaining but in all reality, not great.

 

Many, in our opinion, do not offer enough impactful scenes to make the movie sufficiently memorable to stand the test of time in celluloid history. Time will call the shots. Like it or not, filmmaking is a team effort and everyone behind any production should be applauded.

 

One unexpected disappointment for many was that judges overlooked the impactful and well-crafted film “Nuremberg” from the Best Picture category. The World War II film was released at a time when wars were underway in Eastern Europe and in Gaza, and they have been followed by more conflict in Africa and Iran, along with unrest at home, with various atrocities challenging our democracy. Vampires and a thirst for blood are more relevant; either that or it’s used as an escape from our current reality.

 

By not nominating “Nuremberg” for Best Picture, the Academy is being deaf, blind, and mute, historically and morally. True, sex sells and Hollywood has known that for years. Hastily made slapstick films with cheesy lines are not new but this is where Hollywood is now. How far away are we from the first AI-generated feature film?

 

“Sinners” started off well but became a bit gory and violent. Same thing with “One Battle After Another,” an experimental film with too many holes in the plot. The objective of both movies was to shock the viewer, not entertain. Sex is used in films left and right, leaving out any room for mystery or cinematic poetry.

 

“Frankenstein” has been redone and spun off countless times. Yet, the latest version is a jewel and is likely to be one of the big winners this year. “Hamnet” is poetry in motion and deserves every nomination it got.

 

The oversight of “Nuremberg” from the Best Picture category was only compounded by the fact that Russell Crowe’s brilliant and masterful performance in the movie was also omitted from the Best Actor category. Similarly shameful was the omission of Michael Shannon from the Best Supporting Actor category for the same film in which he gave a stellar performance, yet was completely ignored. One can only imagine why relevant cinema and actors are left off these lists, but popcorn films are all the rage. There is a difference between movies and cinema.

 

Marlon Brando was right in 1972. When he rejected his Oscar, he made a stand. He was right. His position with the members of the Academy still resonates to this day. In short, the Academy doesn’t have the last word, we do. What we love about movies is how they resonate in our heart and inspire our souls. The final judge will always be the box office.

 

The 98^th Annual Academy Awards airs live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California with host Conan O’Brien on Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and aired live on ABC, Hulu, ABC.com, and YouTube.