Nothing But the Best: "Green Book" (2018)

Scene from Green Book

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.

There's A New Academy President, and His Name is David Rubin

David Rubin

If there's nothing else to take away from The Academy Awards in 2018, it was that it was the season when things fell apart. While some would argue that Green Book is among the "worst winners ever," (I don't), many saw the road to Oscar night in 2019 all the rockier. Besides the inexplicable Bohemian Rhapsody love, it was the year of the "Best Popular Movie" category fiasco and the ceremony went without a host. All of this was criticism lobbied onto Academy president John Bailey. It makes sense then why there was a vote for a new one in place of Bailey stepping down. David Rubin was announced as the new president, and it looks like the start of a new era for a variety of reasons.

An Optimistic Viewpoint of This Oscar Season

Scene from The Favourite

Ladies and gentlemen, we are less than a week away from the beloved Oscar Sunday. For many, it's one of the greatest nights to celebrate all things film. With that said, the past few months have been mired in controversy for reasons ranging from "Why is Bohemian Rhapsody so popular?" to "Present All 24." It's been a rough year for those who like the tried and true formula. However, in an attempt to make the final days of prognostication fun, I thought that I would try and open this week by looking at the positive. For as much as this year feels like a series of unfortunate events, it has produced one of the most exciting Oscar races in years. Even days out, there's so much that's left unclear, and that will make everything all the more exciting.

Looks Like the Best Popular Film Category Won't Be Happening After All

Scene from Black Panther

It has been a pretty past few days for The Academy. Yesterday they announced the recipients of this year's Honorary Oscars. Today, they make not so much an announcement but an apology of sorts. Around the start of the summer season, they announced a series of changes that would impact the upcoming ceremony. Among the most noteworthy and controversial was the announcement of the Best Popular Film Award. It didn't go over well, with almost general disdain felt towards the category that had yet defined guidelines. Well, for those who were worried about how this award would impact the year ahead, just know that it isn't happening, though it's unclear if this will be a permanent hiatus.

The Academy Announces a Best Popular Film Category, and It's Not Good

Scene from Birdman

It wouldn't be an Oscar season without a summer of new changes being added. Whereas it's usually rules regarding voting or changes in regulations. Today however saw The Academy put forward a series of changes that caused quite a stir. On the least controversial side was an earlier broadcast date for the 2020 ceremony. On the side that's causing the most uproar is a new category that is meant to recognize popular films. What does that even mean? While The Academy has remained coy about it, there is already an uproar over the idea of separating what is "popular" from what is "best." To say the least, there is a change coming, and it's maybe not for the best.