Soooo how do people on here feel about the white washing criticism of the Oscars?

[Itse]

This discussion seems to have missed the fact that this is the 2nd year in a row with all-white casting nominations. That's 40 out of 40 nominations, which is starting to be a lot, considering that whites only make up 64% of US population.

It's also relevant in the sense that last year there wasn't much noise. It's only when it happened in back to back years that it started to be a real issue.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Itse

This discussion seems to have missed the fact that this is the 2nd year in a row with all-white casting nominations. That's 40 out of 40 nominations, which is starting to be a lot, considering that whites only make up 64% of US population.

It's also relevant in the sense that last year there wasn't much noise. It's only when it happened in back to back years that it started to be a real issue.

Which roles do you think should have been nominated that weren't?

[Canehdianman]

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by nik-

Which roles do you think should have been nominated that weren't?

I think that's the issue. This whole "so white" thing is attacking the Oscars when it's just a symptom of the problem. Like attacking a symptom of a disease but not attempting to cure the disease itself.

This is a Hollywood issue. There wasn't much for good roles for people of color and if there was, we'd be talking about that throwaway nomination that wouldn't win anyway. If Hollywood changes, the Oscars change as a result.

[GGG]

Wesley Morris critic for the New York Times was on Bill Simmons podcast last week and had a pretty reasonable take on it.

Essentially what is being echoed here that the Oscar nominations are a symptom of Hollywoods General prejudice against women and minorities. But if you look at television now significant improvements in diversity have happened over the past 5 years.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think that's the issue. This whole "so white" thing is attacking the Oscars when it's just a symptom of the problem. Like attacking a symptom of a disease but not attempting to cure the disease itself.

This is a Hollywood issue. There wasn't much for good roles for people of color and if there was, we'd be talking about that throwaway nomination that wouldn't win anyway. If Hollywood changes, the Oscars change as a result.

And the Hollywood issue is a symptom of a larger issue in the US.

Hollywood execs don't give a #### what makes them money. They'll continue to put the people in the roles that they think (from a lot of experience) gives them the best chance to do so. Will Smith was one of the biggest actors in the planet for a stretch, if not the biggest, but he's not a great actor.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Moderately irrelevant? Do you know how many people watch the oscars? Do you think actors think it's irrelevant?

You may not like what they are or represent but to call them irrelevant is silly talk.

Actually anything to do outside of things that relate to politics is irrelevant. Sports and entertainment have little barring on how the world actually work.

We hold them on a pedestal in first world nations but the fact is we can due without them.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

http://www.economist.com/blogs/prosp.../film-and-race

Originally Posted by Itse

This discussion seems to have missed the fact that this is the 2nd year in a row with all-white casting nominations. That's 40 out of 40 nominations, which is starting to be a lot, considering that whites only make up 64% of US population.

This information is actually incorrect, white and latino/hispanic are not mutually exclusive terms (ie. Marco Rubio, Selena Gomez, Louis CK, Cameron Diaz, Martin Sheen). The actual US percentage of whites is 72.41%.

I'm not sure why people are using US demographics anyways. The oscars honour Hollywood, which is historically tied to the British film industry, and often uses British directors, locations and crews, and also British source material. Most big 'British' movies are funded by American studios. Canada, Australia, and NZ are pretty interconnected too, and foreign language films are eligible and often get nominations.

[polak]

You know what drives racism? Trying to make everything about race.

It's ridiculous.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by polak

You know what drives racism? Trying to make everything about race.

It's ridiculous.

Fox News correspondent: You know who talks about racism? Racists!

Jon Stewart: Did you just "He who smelt it, dealt it" racism??!!

[troutman]

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

This information is actually incorrect, white and latino/hispanic are not mutually exclusive terms (ie. Marco Rubio, Selena Gomez, Louis CK, Cameron Diaz, Martin Sheen). The actual US percentage of whites is 72.41%.

It's not "incorrect", just a different definition. I was using the definition of non-latino caucasian. Which is I believe the exact racial definition of Oscar-nominated actors and actresses in question.

As for the "who should have been" etc, as I've said I don't much care, because I don't much care about the Oscars.

I just think that when judging people's reactions, the fact that it's happened twice in a row and the fact that last year the reaction was much less noticeable are both things that should be taken into account in the discussion.

I'm pretty sure there have been non-white actors and actresses that deserved to be nominated, but I'm not going to comment on whether they deserved to get nominated more than the ones that did. I rarely watch movies that get Oscar nominations anyway. For example I don't generally watch biopics, as they tend to be less interesting than the people they're depicting, and you can never trust the facts in those things.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Last time an Indian won a Best Actor Oscar was in 1982... Ben Kingsley won for Gandhi... Ridiculous!

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

Last time an Indian won a Best Actor Oscar was in 1982... Ben Kingsley won for Gandhi... Ridiculous!

Last Asian to win an Oscar for best actor/actress. Never... Despite making up 12% of the US population.

[neo45]

My picks:

Best Actor: Leo
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet
Best Supporting Actor: Tom Hardy
Best Picture: The Big Short


I've seen pretty much everything thanks to whoever leaks all the screeners every year

[Senator Clay Davis]

So this won't help (even if it actually kinda makes sense). But this is just odd all around

Joseph Fiennes has been cast as Michael Jackson in a new British television movie.

Fiennes will play the late King of Pop alongside Brian Cox as Marlon Brando and Stockard Channing as Elizabeth Taylor, according to The Guardian.

The film, entitled “Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon,” will be based on a story first reported in Vanity Fair. A former employee of Jackson’s claims that the musician invited the legendary actors to see him perform in New York just before 9/11.

http://www.thewrap.com/joseph-fienne...-in-911-drama/

[nik-]

that is pretty offensive.

Michael Jackson should be played by a light skinned middle eastern woman.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I'll let this slide ONLY if Idris Elba gets to play James Bond.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

The only way a black actor is playing Michael Jackson circa 2001 is in white face. It can't be anything but a white actor and Fiennes has the right look.


This movie sounds like an amazing buddy comedy road trip movie. Three over the hill famous people rent a car and drive across America.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by nik-

that is pretty offensive.

Michael Jackson should be played by a light skinned middle eastern woman.

I'm going to find another post of yours and thank it. Cause you deserve two!



Re: the 'whitewashing scandal'. I think the idea that its an actual thing is stupid. I can't think of a lot of roles or performances by black actors that should be up there. Compton was good. Very good. I don't know if it was good enough though. I probably just liked it more than the average person because it was part of my generation. Ditto for Will in Concussion. He was good. Thought he did well with the accent. But he wasn't Oscar good.

It was kinda like when Jim Carrey was getting some buzz for his serious roles. He was good, borderline really good, and many were pulling for him, but he wasn't good enough. Even by most fans.

Lastly, the fact that anyone can snivel, about not getting an award for being a celebrity, is missing the point entirely. Go become a doctor or teacher and slave for less recognotion. Then come complain.

To be honest, this is the kinda thing that pushes equality movements (which I do believe are still very much needed) backwards.

It's like that feminist who got all agro because a guy asked her out in an elevator after a speaking engagement. Grow up and get over yourself. There are black people getti g shot in the street and your complaining about the Oscars?