Showbiz Sandbox 265: This Year’s Oscar Nominations Aren’t Only Racist, They’re Anti-Lego
January 20, 2015
While debating Oscar nomination snubs has become an annual tradition, the criticism over this year’s list of nominees had to do with racial bias and a lack of diversity. Specifically, a film about civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was nominated for Best Picture, but its female director and lead actor, both black, were surprisingly overlooked.
Yet few seemed to notice is that “Selma”, the film in question, is only the twelfth film directed by a woman to receive a Best Picture nomination in the 86 year history of the Academy Awards. On only four occasions has the filmmaker also been nominated for Best Director. And six of these movies were nominated during the last 10 years, pointing towards a positive trend for female helmers.
Also under represented in the Best Picture category at this year’s Oscars are hit movies. Sure, all of the nominees were successful, but only “American Sniper” earned big bucks at the box office. If only Legos were eligible to vote… maybe they’re film would have been nominated for Best Animated Feature.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Barbara Streisand’s latest platinum album, Amazon’s move into theatrical film distribution and why James Cameron is delaying the “Avatar” sequels to 201.
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Why Did ‘American Sniper’ Do So Well At The Box Office?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2015/0119/Why-did-American-Sniper-do-so-well-at-the-box-office
Study: 53 Percent Shun Movie Theaters Citing High Ticket Prices
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/study-53-percent-shun-movie-763435
Average Movie Ticket Price Jumps to $8.17 in 2014
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/average-movie-ticket-price-jumps-764951
‘The Interview’ Makes $40 Million Online and On-Demand
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/the-interview-makes-40-million-online-and-on-demand-1201409731/
N.S.A. Breached North Korean Networks Before Sony Attack, Officials Say
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/world/asia/nsa-tapped-into-north-korean-networks-before-sony-attack-officials-say.html?_r=0
‘The Interview’ to Get Theatrical Release in France
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/interview-get-theatrical-release-france-763013
DreamWorks Animation Planning Layoffs
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-planning-layoffs-764726
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger Paid $46.5 Million in Fiscal 2014
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-ceo-bob-iger-764428
2015 Oscar Nominations
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscar-nominations-2015-full-list-academy-award-nominees-1201405517/
Oscar Nominations Expose Academy’s Lack of Diversity
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/oscar-nomination-selma-snub-diversity-1201405804/
Amazon Enters Movie Business With Two Wise First Steps
http://celluloidjunkie.com/2015/01/20/amazon-enters-movie-business-two-wise-first-steps/
TV Ratings: ‘The Talk’ Audience Overtakes ‘The View’ for First Time Ever
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-talk-audience-overtakes-764388
Rosie Perez Exits ABC’s ‘The View’
http://www.tvmediainsights.com/highlights/rosie-perez-exits-abcs-view/
Barbra Streisand Goes Platinum for Historic 31st Time With ‘Partners’
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6443719/barbra-streisand-platinum-31st-time-partners
Garth Brooks Surpasses Elvis Presley in Album Sales… Again
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/garth-brooks-surpasses-elvis-presley-in-album-sales-again-20150113
Lena Dunham Hires ‘Scandal’ PR Expert, PMK-BNC (Exclusive)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lena-dunham-hires-scandal-pr-764423
‘Fortitude’ to Be First Original Show to Premiere Simultaneously Across Sky’s European Network
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/fortitude-to-be-first-original-show-to-premiere-simultaneously-across-skys-european-network-1201404696/
James Cameron Says ‘Avatar’ Sequel Delayed Until 2017
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-cameron-says-avatar-sequel-763573
Sundance Cancels 2015 Edition of London Spinoff Festival
http://variety.com/2015/film/news/sundance-cancels-2015-edition-of-london-spinoff-festival-1201406944/
Mike Myers Signs Two-Year Deal With HBO
http://www.tvmediainsights.com/highlights/mike-myers-signs-two-year-deal-hbo/
Woody Allen to Create First TV Series for Amazon
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allen-create-first-tv-763275
Chinese Directors’ Guild Urges Reforms, Launch of Film Ratings System
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-directors-guild-urges-reforms-764306
Can Movie Theatres Survive?
http://www.digitalcinemareport.com/article/can-movie-theatres-survive
Movie Theatres Face An Inevitable Netflix Effect
http://celluloidjunkie.com/2015/01/19/movie-theatres-face-inevitable-netflix-effect/
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