Ending a three-year streak of increasing Oscar ratings, this year, eight percent fewer people chose to watch the award ceremony. What was the reason for this drop in viewership? Some believe it was the lack of quality movies, while others just did not know any of the films nominated.
As in previous years, the Oscars was a night full of performances, accolades and cinematic celebration, but few viewers were familiar with the films being nominated. The 97th Academy Awards show was held on March 2, and it was certainly one of the most controversial and longest, lasting almost four hours. With a multitude of emerging actors and actresses taking the stage to be awarded for their performances, many of those watching at home noticed a significant change in the film industry, uncertain about how they felt about it.
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, who replaced Jimmy Kimmel from the last four years, the show was full of the usual gags that characterize the Oscars each year. O’Brien kept the Oscars moving at a rather brisk pace, as he used his wit to tease many celebrities in the audience. As is to be expected at such award presentations, the celebrities in attendance were well aware that they might be singled out for heckling by the host. One such moment involved Adam Sandler who sat in the front row dressed in shorts and a hoodie, obviously underdressed for such an important occasion. However, everyone seemed to enjoy it when Sandler performed a musical number, “I Won’t Waste Time.”
The ceremony itself kicked off with memorable musical performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande paying tribute to “Wicked,” the film for which each had been nominated. Grande sang “Over the Rainbow,” and Erivo sang “Home.” They then concluded with a duet singing “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked.” The Hollywood audience and those at home really seemed to enjoy this opening act, and some went so far as to call it the best part of this year’s Oscars. It was a beautiful way to open the night, with both Grande and Erivo harmonizing together perfectly during their duet. As they filled the room with their outstanding voices, the audience stood to applaud and take in their remarkable performance.
“The duet between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo was the highlight of the night. Their voices sounded so beautifully together, and their dresses were absolutely gorgeous. Their whole performance was perfect, and it was probably the one moment that made the awards ceremony feel special and worth while,” sophomore Sofia Duarte said.
While these certain aspects of the show were very appealing, little was known about the films nominated this year and the actors and actresses in them, making it difficult for the average moviegoer to get excited about the winners and losers. While it was fun to watch them walk the red carpet in their sometimes crazy attire, it was almost impossible to actually care about who won the awards.
The big winner of the night was “Anora,”an independent film about a stripper from New York who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The ending of the film left many questioning their understanding of what the conclusion actually meant. Despite this lack of clarity, the film received six nominations and five awards. It was proclaimed Best Picture and also received awards for Best Actress, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Screenplay.
“The Oscars this year were so boring. They gave out awards to films that felt completely out of touch with what audiences actually care about, and it was really a struggle to stay interested. I definitely believe Wicked definitely deserved more recognition, though. It was one of the best films made in this past year, and almost every person watched it,” junior Alyssa Dopico said.
There were certainly other films created this year that deserved the recognition that “Anora” received. As one of the most popular films among viewers of all ages, “Wicked” was definitely a better pick for some of the listed awards. Not only was the plot magically entertaining, but the vocals of its star actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande captivated all audiences like no other. It is their talent that made the film stand out as unforgettable, and the women deserved to be awarded for their roles. Even the director of “Wicked,” Jon M Chu should have been mentioned for his dedication and creation of the film, as it was undoubtedly a challenge to find the best-fitted singers to be the complex characters of Glinda and Elphaba. Although “Wicked” deserved to be a highly awarded film that night, but it was almost entirely unacknowledged, causing anger to rise in most viewers. It was only recognized for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
“This year’s Oscars felt disconnected from what most viewers actually wanted. It was like all the judges completely ignored the opinions of the public and chose all of the badly produced films to win most awards. It was frustrating to watch all of the real favorites, like ‘Wicked’, be overlooked. I feel like people aren’t as invested in what’s going on in the movie world, and I am really disappointed,” junior Selena Feal said.
The winners at the 97th Oscar Presentation were definitely not based on popularity, for few had ever heard of them. Instead, viewers were led to believe that it was not how many people had seen a film that was important, but rather the quality of the film itself. Unfortunately, many at home were denied the fun and excitement of cheering for their favorites and waiting to see just who had won. This was the one fatal flaw of this year’s Oscars. When no one cares who wins, why even bother to watch? Viewership was down, and the future of the Oscars does not look bright if this lack of passion continues. Those watching at home want to have the anticipation of waiting to see who wins. Without it, the Oscars are doomed to become a thing of the past.
“Honestly I see no real purpose in continuing the Oscars if nobody wants to watch it. The movies that were nominated this year seemed to be completely random, and it caused most people to just ignore the show all together. Most people now are switching to streaming services like Amazon Prime and Disney plus, and if they keep this up, the Oscars will have eventually no relevance at all,” freshman Zoe Zacconi said.
