Well this is it! After months of strategically-executed “sweeping changes”, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science (AMPAS) will, at last, be in the spotlight of the biggest awards ceremony in Hollywood. The organization has gone through many changes over the past couple years, due to much well-deserved criticism. Most of it duly deserved. Tonight’s event will bring to fruition what many are hoping will be a significant change in the way films have been selected, assessed & awarded the coveted gold-man which signifies not just the greatness of a respective project, but also opens up opportunities to the victorious talents associated with those projects.
Sure, there’s been a couple missteps along the way, but foundational change usually comes with a hiccup here & there. Whatever the case, AMPAS’ President, Ms. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, has been tasked with a rather transformational responsibility that can’t possibly please everyone in the end.
I’m sure there’ll still be some tweaks over the coming months once all the feedback starts coming in, however, I think we can say the old vanguard is anew. Tonight we’ll find out if the past months bare the fruit sought by so many.
On a side note, My pick for the Best Actor is four-time nominee Willem Dafoe for his rendition of Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate. He’s been deserving for some time. I believe his interpretation of the painter ought to do the trick this time.