Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy

Dusty Ayres · March 5 2010, 09:02 AM

The expanded slate of Best Picture nominees at the 2010 Academy Awards resulted in a geek windfall. Not only did the decade-in-the-making sci-fi epic Avatar make the list of nominees, but so did the alien apartheid parable District 9 and even the Pixar sci-fi movie Up, only the second time an animated film has been nominated for Best Picture. But if geeks actually ran the Oscars, this would be par for the course each year. In fact, plenty of past nominees would have been winners instead of also-rans if nerds had been in charge from the very beginning. Take a look at how Oscar history would've been different, and perhaps better.

Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy

JacksonArcher · March 5 2010, 09:17 AM

Some of the choices seem downright weird. How does Witness count as "geek-worthy"? It was a very successful character drama. I don't remember a lot of geeks cheering for Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler because we were "geeks". Some of those choices are valid, though. Wizard of Oz was a great movie, and so was Star Wars (although The Empire Strikes Back should have nominated as well). The biggest crime? No Best Picture nomination for Blade Runner.

Kelso · March 5 2010, 02:31 PM

Wow, I disagree with the "Geek's Choice" in nearly every instance.

T'Baio · March 5 2010, 03:31 PM

If geeks ran the Oscars, we'd still have undeserving movies winning. Just different undeserving movies.

Mike Farley · March 5 2010, 04:22 PM

How does Witness count as "geek-worthy"?

Because it stars Indiana Jones...

Mistral · March 5 2010, 04:50 PM

Do you mean something like this?

http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/81-year...-fi-oscars.php

Temis the Vorta · March 5 2010, 08:42 PM

Mistral wrote:

Do you mean something like this?

http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/81-year...-fi-oscars.php

Oy, that makes the opposite point - geeks shouldn't be allowed to vote!

I can agree with: '51, '56, '64, '68, maybe '79, '95 and definitely '08.

But honestly people. The Lawnmower Man beats Unforgiven?

billcosby · March 5 2010, 08:49 PM

The Oscars are an exercise in frustration for the sci-fi fan.

Harvey · March 5 2010, 08:50 PM

The Lawnmower Man beats anything? I saw about 20 minutes of that on SyFy a few weeks ago, and it was utterly terrible. I have no motivation to keep watching it.

And I don't even think Unforigven is Eastwood's best.

captcalhoun · March 5 2010, 08:53 PM

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/47f...-lee-for-oscar

Hermiod · March 5 2010, 08:53 PM

From that list, 1951 is a clearly obvious one. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a magnificent film.

I can definitely agree with 68, 77, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87 (okay, not really, but I love Robocop), 97 (I haven't actually seen The Fifth Element but anything beats Titanic), 99, 02, 04, 05 and 08.

Neroon · March 5 2010, 09:08 PM

Dusty Ayres wrote:

The expanded slate of Best Picture nominees at the 2010 Academy Awards resulted in a geek windfall. Not only did the decade-in-the-making sci-fi epic Avatar make the list of nominees, but so did the alien apartheid parable District 9 and even the Pixar sci-fi movie Up, only the second time an animated film has been nominated for Best Picture. But if geeks actually ran the Oscars, this would be par for the course each year. In fact, plenty of past nominees would have been winners instead of also-rans if nerds had been in charge from the very beginning. Take a look at how Oscar history would've been different, and perhaps better.

Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy

Dusty... this needs a little somethin' more than just the text of the article and a link to it. It makes sense to link since the article also uses a slideshow, but try to offer some of your own thoughts ab out it as well, ok?

that said... it's an interesting take. I haven't seen all of the films used in the comparisons, so I can't really say which deserved it in all cases. I'm probably in the minority of geeks who liked "Titanic" and had little argument with its Best Pic Oscar. The cases where I'd agree with this article:

1971
1975
1977
1981 (but it's close)
1982
1984 best Actor (Morita was tremendous! Even if I liked him as Arnold in "Happy Days" a little bit more)
1999
2000 (again, a close call)
2001 (without a doubt!)

Dusty Ayres · March 5 2010, 10:06 PM

Temis the Vorta wrote:

Mistral wrote:

Do you mean something like this?

http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/81-year...-fi-oscars.php

Oy, that makes the opposite point - geeks shouldn't be allowed to vote!

I can agree with: '51, '56, '64, '68, maybe '79, '95 and definitely '08.

But honestly people. The Lawnmower Man beats Unforgiven?

Why not? Actually, if you don't like that movie, you can always nominate this one: Malcolm X! Both were better than that overrated piece of shit Unforgiven.

And I agree with both of these lists.

Dusty... this needs a little somethin' more than just the text of the article and a link to it. It makes sense to link since the article also uses a slideshow, but try to offer some of your own thoughts ab out it as well, ok?

Sorry, but I'm only going by your own rules that you set up about not posting the whole article. And what use would my own thoughts on the matter be? I agree with them to begin with. Not with all of the choices, mind you, but with most of them.

Harvey · March 6 2010, 12:06 AM

You're forgetting one of the founding rules of the Academy Awards: give Spike Lee no recognition! Shit, the man can't even score a Best Picture nod for Do The Right Thing, his masterpiece.

March 5 2010, 09:17 AM	#2
JacksonArcher Vice Admiral	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy Some of the choices seem downright weird. How does Witness count as "geek-worthy"? It was a very successful character drama. I don't remember a lot of geeks cheering for Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler because we were "geeks". Some of those choices are valid, though. Wizard of Oz was a great movie, and so was Star Wars (although The Empire Strikes Back should have nominated as well). The biggest crime? No Best Picture nomination for Blade Runner.

March 5 2010, 02:31 PM	#3
Kelso Vice Admiral Location: On the destruct button until the last minute!	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy Wow, I disagree with the "Geek's Choice" in nearly every instance. __________________ "Murder on Tuesday"! The all-new comic strip from Kail Tescar's startrekanimated.com My Puppet Building Blog!

March 5 2010, 03:31 PM	#4
T'Baio Admiral Location: Ontario, Canada	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy If geeks ran the Oscars, we'd still have undeserving movies winning. Just different undeserving movies. __________________ Posthuman: A Science Fiction Web Series at www.sfntv.com and www.whatisameme.com, on the TrekBBS, and on the social network.

March 5 2010, 04:50 PM	#6
Mistral Vice Admiral Location: Between the candle and the flame	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy Do you mean something like this? http://scifiwire.com/2010/03/81-year...-fi-oscars.php __________________ ...sf fandom is only a personality disorder if you do it right.-Klaus http://www.adastrafanfic.com - archive stories! www.4rumboys.com for honest gaming

March 5 2010, 08:49 PM	#8
billcosby Commodore Location: billcosby	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy The Oscars are an exercise in frustration for the sci-fi fan. __________________ My 1st Edition TrekCCG virtual expansion: http://billcosbytrekccg.blogspot.com/

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March 5 2010, 08:50 PM	#9
Harvey Admiral	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy The Lawnmower Man beats anything? I saw about 20 minutes of that on SyFy a few weeks ago, and it was utterly terrible. I have no motivation to keep watching it. And I don't even think Unforigven is Eastwood's best. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

March 5 2010, 08:53 PM	#10
captcalhoun Admiral Location: gone	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/47f...-lee-for-oscar

March 5 2010, 08:53 PM	#11
Hermiod Admiral	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy From that list, 1951 is a clearly obvious one. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a magnificent film. I can definitely agree with 68, 77, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87 (okay, not really, but I love Robocop), 97 (I haven't actually seen The Fifth Element but anything beats Titanic), 99, 02, 04, 05 and 08.

March 6 2010, 12:06 AM	#14
Harvey Admiral	Re: Oscars: If Geeks Ran the Academy You're forgetting one of the founding rules of the Academy Awards: give Spike Lee no recognition! Shit, the man can't even score a Best Picture nod for Do The Right Thing, his masterpiece. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."