'Blockbusters might just dominate this year's Oscars'

This year, it was not the nominees but the non-nominees that caused a stir. Many critics deplored the fact that Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig did not receive a nomination in their respective categories, 'Actress in a leading role' and 'Best Director'.

'I do not have words for that', says De Maeseneer. Monserez also expresses his frustrations: 'If Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach do not get to take the Oscar for 'Adapted Screenplay' home, they have truly lost their senses at the Academy.'

Best Picture 

The Oscar for 'Best Picture' should also go to Barbie according to Monserez. 'Considering the profits that Barbie made, I hope the Oscar gets awarded to them.'

In the past, a lot of the Oscars went to arthouse films, however, that might change in 2024 with nominees like Barbie and Oppenheimer. According to De Maeseneer it is interesting that big crowd pleasers also have a shot at winning the famous figurine. 'I have noticed that people prefer commercialized art films nowadays. It might just be the case that blockbusters will dominate this year's Oscars.'

To write history 

The winner in the category 'Actress in a Leading Role' remains a mystery for now, although there is a good chance that Lily Gladstone will take home the victory. 'Gladstone has already won two SAG (Screen Actors Guild, Ed.) awards and usually, those wins are reflected in Oscar results ', says De Maeseneer.

'Gladstone's performance in Killers of the Flower Moon was excellent', adds Monserez. If Lily Gladstone truly does come in first, she will write history for being the first Native American to ever win an Oscar.

In 1973, Marlon Brando won the Oscar for 'Actor in a Leading Role' for his part in The Godfather, but rejected his prize in protest against the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry. Brando did not show up, but Native activist Sacheen Littlefeather went on stage to receive the award instead. She then gave a speech in which she stood up for Native actors, for which she received a lot of criticism. In 2022, the Academy apologized to Littlefeather.

If Gladstone wins, this would be a big step for the film industry, and mostly, for Native Americans. But whether she will actually take the Oscar home remains something to be seen, considering the other major contenders in the 'Actress in a Leading Role' category, like Emma Stone and Sandra Hüller. 'But Stone already won an Oscar and does not need the recognition for her acting performances as much. They can give it to Gladstone', Monserez adds.

Actor in a leading role

The Oscar for 'Actor in a leading role' maygo to Bradley Cooper, according to Monserez. 'It is remarkable how well he inhabits the character of the composer in Maestro.' Still, Monserez thinks that Cillian Murphy will steal the victory, although the prediction is hard to make. 'The problem is that we haven’t seen a certain number of films yet, like Rustin and American Fiction. There's a possibility that one of these actors is going to win.'

But does all of this even matter? Are the Oscars still relevant? According to Monserez, the Academy Awards are in fact the most important film prize of all. 'The Oscars are just as important to me as the BAFTAs and websites like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, but they remain the most influential awards event. It's simply impossible to deny: winning an Oscar almost immediately launches you into the film industry.'

De Maeseneer shares that opinion but adds nuance. 'It is essential that people remain critical. I do not take the Oscars too seriously either, everything is relative in these kinds of award shows. But they still remain a source of recognition, and more importantly, a celebration of the medium of film.'