Oscar Voters Could Be Looking for a Good Mood Film
variety.comClayton Davis Since the early 2000s, the Oscars have been in a rhythm of awarding darker movies with tinges of death, depression, racism and violence, illustrated by best picture winners such as “Million Dollar Baby” (2004), “Crash” (2005), “The Departed” (2006) and “No Country for Old Men” (2007).
They stopped the trend with the uplifting “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), which nearly swept the ceremony, winning eight Oscars, the most of any film since that time.
While still dipping into the bleaker stories as did “The Hurt Locker” (2010), “Spotlight” (2016), “12 Years a Slave” (2013) and “Parasite” (stifling income and class inequality) and arguably last year’s “Nomadland,” a global pandemic has likely served up too much heartache and despair for an Academy voter to take.
This season, voters are seeking more inspirational and uplifting narratives to reward, something that could give particular films an edge.
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