Oscar Intrigue

This could be an historic year for the Oscars. The Academy Award nominees for best director are typically white males. The five nominees this year are a more diverse group.

Kathy Bigelow is only the fourth woman to receive a nomination. She directed “The Hurt Locker”. If she actually wins, she’ll be the first woman to ever do so.

Lee Daniels has been nominated for best director for “Precious”. They have been giving out Academy Awards for 81 years and this is only the second nomination of a black filmmaker for best director. John Singleton was the first for “Boys N the Hood” in 1992.

The category is made even more interesting by the fact that Ms. Bigelow was formerly married to another nominee: James Cameron for “Avatar”.

Yet another twist is the nomination of 32-year-old Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air”. If he wins, he will be the youngest ever winner for best director.

Rounding out the nominations is Quentin Tarantino for “Inglourious Basterds”.

Charlie: This category really intrigues me this year. It’s usually just a group of very vanilla nominees.

Annie: You got that right! I can’t believe it’s taken this long for Hollywood to recognize diversity in the director ranks!

Charlie: I know. There has been good work done in the past by minority filmmakers; Spike Lee comes to mind!

Annie: Better late than never, I guess! It would be nice to see a female win as well.

Charlie: And the film she’s nominated for isn’t even a “chick flick”!

Annie: Why is that surprising? Women’s interests are just as varied as men’s!

Charlie: Oh, really? It seems the only movies you and Mama ever want to rent or watch on TV are the aforementioned “chick flicks”!

Annie: That’s because we can curl up in bed and not have to worry about you and Papa coming in to bother us when we watch them!

Charlie: I’d better quit while I’m ahead…

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Related Reading: Oscar Nominees for best director

Charlie and Annie’s Daily Point to Ponder: Have minorities received enough recognition in Hollywood? (Please leave your response in the “comments” section.)

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