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This is Jeff Bayer, and I don't update this site very often. If you'd like to listen to my current movie podcast you can find it at MovieBS.com.

TSRn: Oscars to allow 5 to 10 Best Picture nominees

The Scorecard Review news

News: A new decision by the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences now changes the amount of accepted nominees for "Best Picture." Instead of sticking to a solid ten, depending on how many different films are listed as #1 on nomination ballots, the amount of nominees could range from five Oscar hopefuls to ten.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Thoughts by TSR:  Okay, I'm not the greatest of number wizards, but I think that explains the new rules well enough. To fully understand just how they'll settle on a number of nominees, I might recommend reading the Hollywood Reporter write-up (after my rant, of course).

Is this a good thing? Yes. This rule finally calms down the Academy's desire for ratings with some logic. Meaning, no one is going to remember that the OK District 9 was nominated for "Best Picture," even though that and other films were given such a title to boost ratings relatively directly. The same goes for The Blind Side. I still have no idea how that happened, but I will continue to hate on that movie long after it's given a "Wait a minute - Crash sucks!" retread.

Not only will this keep movies that have positively zero chance of winning from being nominated, but it should also make Oscar nomination predictions a bit more surprising. Now we can also guess if it'll be six or seven films, possibly, that will get "Best Picture," instead of throwing in the "Definite" films with a couple "Maybe" films and one "No Chance" picture. In some way, this might even give the nominated films more weight. Not only would these films be nominated for "Best Picture," but they'd also have a #1 placement on somebody's nomination list. If new Academy member Jesse Eisenberg wants to represent Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, dammit, I guess it means something.

And with the mentioning of the word "Oscar," my brain can't help but go to the term "predictions!" So here is TSR's very first musing about the "Best Picture" race. As of now, who is likely to be nominated? The Tree of Life, or maybe even Win Win. Good night, folks!

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