The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that it will double the number of films it nominates for the best picture Oscar next year.

But is this good for the art, or is it just a marketing ploy and a mistake? We’re looking at all the perspectives.

We start with The Los Angeles Times, who says the award show was failing and the Academy’s doing it to bring in more dollar signs.

“This year, amid one of the worst advertising recessions in decades, several sponsors bailed on the broadcast… Widening the field of movies jockeying for the big prize from five to 10 should help attract more viewers, and potentially more advertisers to the show.”

MSNBC’s Morning Joe agrees, saying nobody was interested in the films the academy had been nominating.

“Well, the thing is, look at the films they nominated last year, three people went to see them… Do you remember the year Saving Private Ryan didn’t get best picture? Shakespeare in Love beat it out… Please stop it!”

However In Connection says widening the nomination pool just to include more popular films compromises the integrity of the process.

“Steven, I didn’t sell out son, I bought in… keep that in mind.”

HecklerSpray.com pokes fun at the move with its headline “Oscars: Every Film Ever To Get Nominated For Best Picture Now” but The Business Insider takes a serious look at the decision, asking is it really good business?

“Adding more nominees is like printing up currency and thinking you'll get wealthier. The Academy is engaged in Zimbabwe-nomics, and what they'll end up doing is inflating away the value of a nomination, getting them nowhere.”

Finally ABC’s local Hollywood affiliate (KABC) brings us this from the Academy who disagrees, saying the award will be worth as much as ever.”

“To be on of ten nominees out of 300 is still pretty special, so I do not think it will dilute what we are doing in any way. Quite the opposite, I think it just enhances, broadens it.”

Entertainment News

Oscars: And Then There Were Ten

June 28, 2009
(2:04)
The Academy has doubled the number of best picture Oscar nominees. Does this dilute the award, or level the playing field?
   
YOU NEED FLASH TO VIEW THIS VIDEO
TRANSCRIPT

To leave a comment, please log in with Facebook Connect or your Newsy account. Register here to create one.
MOST RECENT|MOST POPULAR|MOST COMMENTED|HIGHEST RATED

Google is Planning to Launch Cloud Storage System
Google has plans to launch a general cloud storage system to compete with similar offerings from Dropbox and Apple.
(2:34)
February 11, 2012
Obama Announces Birth Control Compromise
President Obama's compromise on the birth control mandate gets mixed reactions.
(2:09)
February 10, 2012
Pelosi's 'Stop Colbert' Spoof Ad Goes Viral
Nancy Pelosi takes on Stephen Colbert in a YouTube campaign supporting House Democrats' roll-out of the DISCLOSE Act.
(2:20)
February 10, 2012
Obama, Romney Tap Into Mobile for Fundraising
Presidential candidates are using mobile payment device "Square" for fundraising.
(1:30)
February 10, 2012
First Loss Refuels Murray State Debate
Critics say Racers don't deserve their lofty ranking.
(1:53)
February 10, 2012
Google to Jump Into Hardware Market with Music Streamer
Google is reportedly working on a hardware system to tie into its cloud-based music offerings. Will it catch on?
(2:42)
February 10, 2012
Apple Stock Hits Another All-Time High
Apple's market valuation continues to outpace its competition, and the company is now worth more than Microsoft and Google combined.
(2:03)
February 10, 2012
Rob Gronkowski Criticized for Post-Super Bowl Partying
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski videotaped dancing wildly in a night club the same night his team lost the Super Bowl.
(1:31)
February 10, 2012
Russians Get Creative Ahead of Elections
A chain of coffee shops in Russia is conducting its own informal poll by offering customers beverages with their favorite candidate's portrait.
(1:57)
February 10, 2012
Critics: Android's Iris Controverisal
Gizmodo breaks a report of Iris giving Bible verses in response to questions about abortion. See what else bloggers found.
(2:09)
February 10, 2012
Newsy Now: February 10 (1600 GMT)
Clashes in Greece over new austerity measures; GOP presidential hopefuls speak at CPAC; Apple market cap bigger than ever.
(1:54)
February 10, 2012
Kodak Out Of Digital Camera Business
Kodak will stop making digital cameras to maintain profitability, but some analysts are calling it the end of an era.
(2:11)
February 10, 2012
Winter Classic to be Among Biggest Ever
The NHL announced Thursday the 2013 Winter Classic will be at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The league expects to break fan attendance records.
(1:59)
February 10, 2012
Hackers Release Symantec's Source Code
A hacker group affiliated with Anonymous released some of the source code for Symantec's pcAnywhere program.
(2:07)
February 10, 2012

Newsy