The Oscars

The+Oscars

Luna Vitalo

The 93rd Oscars premiered on April 25, 2021 from 8 PM EST to 11 PM EST. This year, the attendance of the Oscars was restricted and outside in order to comply with COVID-19 Standards. With many unanswered questions surrounding the Oscars, the Nomination list was pushed out early March of this year. With a plethora of movies coming out during quarantine, the nominations were filled with a lot of diversity. The biggest category of the Oscars is Best Picture. Films in this category are nominated based on their on screen representation of minority groups, both on and off screen, and the film’s overall narrative. This year’s Best Picture were “The Father,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7”. 

“The Father,” directed by Florian Zeller is a story about Anothony, an elderly man, who is adamant about living alone although his health is in decline. The heartwarming story touches on real life conditions and the inevitability of growing old. “Judas and the Black Messiah” directed by Shaka King is loosely based on real events in the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. The story follows William O’Neil who is approached by the FBI to help infiltrate the Black Panther Party in Chicago. “Mank,” directed by David Fincher, is based in 1930’s Hollywood as it loosely retells the story of Orson Welles and Herman “Mank” Mankiewic. This film is a callback to the nostalgia of Old Hollywood as it touches on subjects like the corruption and glamour of Hollywood. “Minari,” directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a story about a Korean American family. This movie touches on subjects like racism, family challenges, and the individual’s desire to achieve the American dream. “Nomadland,” directed by Chloe Zhao, is a story about the effects of the Great Recession. Following the character Fern, she embarks on a journey of what it is like to be a modern-day nomad. “Promising Young Woman,” directed by Emerald Fennell, is a gripping tale about revenge as a young women seeks to find justice for her parted friend who was a victim of rape. “Sound of Metal,” directed by Darius Marder, is a story about Ruben, a heavy metal drummer, who experiences intermittent hearing loss after playing several gigs. Touching on subjects such as disabilities and mental health, this story captivates a person’s story in adapting to a new way of life. Finally, “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” directed by Aaron Sorkin, is the last nomination for Best Picture. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is a retelling of the famous case which involves 7 defendants up for trial for conspiracy over the protests of the Democratic National Convention. The film reflects on the 1960’s Civil Rights movement as well as the protests of the Vietnam War.

The Oscars are an important event for film and every filmmaker’s dream is to receive an Oscar. There are many opportunities for people to be recognized for their achievements in film, and in recent years, representation and proactivity have been a major theme. Within recent years as the entertainment industry shifts towards equality and visibility for minorities, the films nominated for Best Picture reflect a positive change and the impacts social movements have had on all aspects of culture.