Academy's blatant and shameful disregard for Asian actors needs to be called out

[Münster Joined: Nov 2nd, 2011 Topics: 18 Posts: 150 View Predictions]

#1203282565

Forget Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen. The voters obviously didn’t connect with The Farewell, and as much as I adored the film, these things happen.

What’s more telling is when they absolutely LOVE a film, and still somehow find a way to overlook its entire cast. It’s happened every single time a film with a predominantly Asian cast manages to break through at the Oscars. Without exception.

The Last Emperor: 9 nominations, 9 wins (BP + BD wins); no actors nominated
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: 10 nominations, 4 wins (BP + BP noms); no actors nominated
Memoirs of a Geisha: 6 nominations, 3 wins; no actors nominated
Slumdog Millionaire: 10 nominations, 8 wins (BP + BD wins); no actors nominated
Parasite: 6 nominations (BP + BD noms); no actors nominated

For better or for worse, the Academy has given us a very small sample to analyze, with a grand total of five films making a serious wave in the 92 years of its history. Statistical significance aside, the pattern is undeniable.

Imagine an American-produced English-language biopic about a European monarch, so acclaimed that it goes 9 for 9 at the Oscars, somehow fails to get its central performer nominated.

Or a universally beloved feminist film featuring two of the most iconic female warriors of all time, breaking box office records left and right and securing 10 Oscar nominations all at once, without any of the performers recognized.

For whatever reason, conventional award season wisdom always collapses around Asian actors.

Asian actors are where the “blame Hollywood, not the Academy” argument falls apart. Even when easy opportunities come kicking and screaming, the door never opens for them, and no one even bats an eye.

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[cinetastic Joined: Feb 24th, 2019 Topics: 5 Posts: 593 View Predictions]

#1203282590

They could have nominated the Farewell actresses and/or Parasite actors and actresses. They might not like the Farewell much but they certainly like Parasite so Parasite actors/actresses could have been given a chance.

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[Joined: Jan 1st, 1970 Topics: 22 Posts: 9846 View Predictions]

#1203282598

This post was found to be inappropriate by the moderators and has been removed.

[syrus80 Joined: Nov 11th, 2010 Topics: 53 Posts: 760 View Predictions]

#1203282604

Add Michelle Yeoh being snubbed for Crazy Rich Asians to the list.

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[Eddy Q Joined: Oct 13th, 2012 Topics: 23 Posts: 5060 View Predictions]

#1203282623

I don’t think Memoirs of a Geisha or Slumdog Millionaire were deserving of acting nominations. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon certainly had great performances but Zhang Ziyi’s supporting bid was blatant category fraud. (She and Michelle Yeoh were nominated at BAFTA for supporting and lead, respectively.) Considering them both in the lead category, I’m not sure either of them would’ve made my top five for that year. Being a wuxia film, Crouching Tiger may have suffered from genre bias within the actors branch as much as racial bias. Parasite, of course, deserved at least one acting nomination if not more.

Haven’t seen The Last Emperor so I can’t comment on that.

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[Pranksalot Joined: Dec 27th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 76 View Predictions]

#1203282625

Parasite & crouching tiger makes sense because they’re foreign made and voters would rather invest in domestic actors/actresses rather than foreign ones that most likely will not focus in having a career in America. It’s how the world works, it’s building personal connections. You would rather reward someone who will most likely contribute and benefit you (in this case Hollywood) than someone who would generally focus in their homeland. It’s a natural human trait.

George McKay was shut out of best actor since the beginning and he came from a highly lauded film although he gave a phenomenal performance.

For Awkwafina I never understood why she was so highly praise critically. She gave a good performance but it still felt like it was Awkwafina being Awkwafina but being a little bit sad. I never saw her transform into a new character. I was like, don’t cry Awkwafina, it’s okay throughout the movie lol Adam Sandler on the other-hand went far and beyond transformed himself. I didn’t care for his character because he was so unsympathetic but it was different than what we are mostly used to.

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[Pranksalot Joined: Dec 27th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 76 View Predictions]

#1203282634

wrote:

Zhao loosing a spot to Kathy Bates was downright insulting.

it is sad. She definitely deserves to be in. Awkwafina for best female lead, I’m not sure. But she or Lupita should had been in rather than Cynthia

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[Ghost Joined: Sep 27th, 2011 Topics: 81 Posts: 10015 View Predictions]

#1203282661

It’s rather sickening. No one can deny there’s a pattern. This year was the best time to break the mold, and they went safe.

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[Pranksalot Joined: Dec 27th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 76 View Predictions]

#1203282665

syrus80 wrote:

Add Michelle Yeoh being snubbed for Crazy Rich Asians to the list.

that performance although great is definitely not Oscar-worthy.

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[Münster Joined: Nov 2nd, 2011 Topics: 18 Posts: 150 View Predictions]

#1203282673

You guys can analyze each individual case to death but at the end of the day, it’s the pattern that tells the story.

Besides, it’s not like we’ve ever had a shortage of white nominees that are less than deserving, so why does that suddenly matter when it comes to minorities?

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[syrus80 Joined: Nov 11th, 2010 Topics: 53 Posts: 760 View Predictions]

#1203282675

Pranksalot wrote:

that performance although great is definitely not Oscar-worthy.

I could say the same about 95% of the performances nominated for Oscars this year.

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[PopGuy Joined: Sep 27th, 2011 Topics: 54 Posts: 4532 View Predictions]

#1203282680

For Latino actors too!

FYC: Grammys 2022

AOTY: evermore
ROTY, SOTY, Pop Solo: willow
Pop Album: evermore
Pop Duo: evermore w Bon Iver
Rap Song/ Melodic Rap: closure
Dance Recording: long story short
Remix Recording: Love Story (elvira)
Country Solo/Country Song: cowboy like me
Country Duo: You All Over Me w Marren Morris
American Roots Perf/Song: ivy
Gospel Per: epiphany (live)
Rock Perf/Song: ‘tis the damn season
Music Video: willow
Music Film: folklore studio sessions

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[jercooks Joined: Nov 28th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 18 View Predictions]

#1203282682

I thought Letters from Iwo Jima would be an exception because I was pretty sure Ken Watanabe was nominated for that, but turns out he was nominated for the Tom Cruise-led The Last Samurai. 🙃 4 noms: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Sound Editing (won), 0 acting nominee.

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[Pranksalot Joined: Dec 27th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 76 View Predictions]

#1203282714

<p style=”text-align: left;”>

syrus80 wrote:

I could say the same about 95% of the performances nominated for Oscars this year.

</p>
touche lol

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[Mr. Tintin Joined: Jan 24th, 2018 Topics: 8 Posts: 336 View Predictions]

#1203282796

Yeah, this is becoming a problem especially now. There’s already not a ton of Asian-centered stories or stories starring Asian leads (now that we have people from Crazy Rich Asians, Dev Patel, and others, that could slowly change), but  The Farewell being completely shut out and Parasite slightly underperforming is disgraceful.

What we can do is push for more amazing stories starring Asian people and more filmmaking opportunities for talented Asian directors and writers.

Movie-lover overall.

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