Why I’m Giving The Oscars A Second Chance
By Isabel Velazco
This piece was written ahead of the 95th Academy Awards ceremony held on March 13, 2023.
The slap heard around the world during last year’s Academy Awards, by Will Smith againstChris Rock, cast a dark shadow over the night and brought to light questions surrounding the significance of the ceremony itself. The momentum from the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony in 2020, where Parasite was the first non-English speaking film to win best picture, was lost. It seemed the pandemic capped the beginning of a new era. When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage in front of the world, he added further controversy to the mix. As the Academy prepares for its upcoming ceremony, trying to shed last year’s turbulence, they are faced with another controversial challenge: Andrea Riseborough’s nomination for best actress.
Andrea Rsieborough stars as a single alcoholic mother in the indie drama film To Leslie. It’s a low-key independent movie that did not get a lot of attention, which is why Riseborough’s nomination is shocking. Directed by Michael Morris, To Leslie had a quiet release in October with only select theaters across the country playing the film. Riseborough only received recognition from the Independent Spirit Awards, leading many to suspect her Academy Awards nomination and accuse her of running a rigged or corrupt campaign. Days after the Oscar nominations were announced, the Academy ran an internal investigation into Riseborough’s nomination, finding no foul play.
Photo credit to the author.
Taking a closer look into her case, Riseborough ran a successful campaign in Hollywood through small screenings and Q&As with high-profile attendees such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, and Demi Moore. Finding advocates in high-profile supporters was crucial to getting the Academy’s attention. Rather than endure an expensive traditional Oscars campaign, the filmmakers of To Leslie used personal industry connections and social media to garner praise. What drew famous actors like Charlize Theron and Michelle Yeoh to the movie’s defense was what it represented: an intimate character portrayal made by an artist who had something to say, not funded by executives in pursuit of a little golden statue. In contrast to the franchises, reboots, and revivals that dominate Hollywood, To Leslie signals a return to original storytelling. Another indie hit that beat the odds this year was Everything Everywhere All at Once, garnering a total of eleven Academy Award nominations. The Academy’s spotlight on independent filmmaking is refreshing after years of snubs for the sake of spectacle.
Riseborough’s campaign will serve as an example for future low-budget films on how to capture The Academy’s attention. This could be the beginning of a new era for Hollywood and The Academy, an era that prioritizes creative storytelling over profitable spectacle. As someone who loves cinema, the promise of a new storytelling approach is enough for me to suspend my previous judgment and give the Oscars another chance by tuning into this year’s ceremony and rooting for my favorite nominees—hoping they might actually win this time.