Is the 'Best International Film' category obsolete now?

[Pollo crudo Joined: Dec 3rd, 2013 Topics: 4 Posts: 398 View Predictions]

#1203340750

I mean, being international or foreign is not an actual merit, contrary to the obvious differences between animation/documentary with live action.
So should it be terminated after Parasite’s win? What’s its real use now?

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[Dan Backslide Joined: Apr 24th, 2016 Topics: 63 Posts: 5681 View Predictions]

#1203340760

Just because one international film won best picture doesn’t mean that it should be taken away. Most international films will never get anywhere close to Parasite’s success. Keep it.

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[John Berchmans Joined: Jan 22nd, 2018 Topics: 6 Posts: 4558 View Predictions]

#1203340769

Pollo crudo wrote:

I mean, being international or foreign is not an actual merit, contrary to the obvious differences between animation/documentary with live action. So should it be terminated after Parasite’s win? What’s its real use now?

Not at all. There won’t be a film with as much popular support as Parasite every year, so the category is still useful for honoring the films the academy wouldn’t otherwise give as much love to.

I do think they should exclude Best Picture nominees from this category in the future though. It’s a shame that Parasite dominated this category all year and overshadowed everything else. Same goes for Roma in 2018. International Film was the one win I didn’t get any excitement from, since I knew it would be Parasite. Removing Picture nominees from the equasion would make this category more exciting to predict, give other films a chance to get some recognition, and make this less of a consolation prize.

John's Best of 2020

Best Picture: Soul
Best Direction: The Midnight Sky
Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Delroy Lindo
Best Supporting Actress: Amanda Seyfried
Best Screenplay: Soul

John's Best of 2021

Best Picture: Nomadland
Best Direction: Nomadland
Best Actor: Lakeith Stanfield
Best Actress: Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya
Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback
Best Screenplay: Judas and the Black Messiah

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[Pollo crudo Joined: Dec 3rd, 2013 Topics: 4 Posts: 398 View Predictions]

#1203340808

John Berchmans wrote:

I do think they should exclude Best Picture nominees from this category in the future though. It’s a shame that Parasite dominated this category all year and overshadowed everything else. Same goes for Roma in 2018. International Film was the one win I didn’t get any excitement from, since I knew it would be Parasite. Removing Picture nominees from the equasion would make this category more exciting to predict, give other films a chance to get some recognition, and make this less of a consolation prize.

Well, this makes it sound like a problematic category.

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[Pollo crudo Joined: Dec 3rd, 2013 Topics: 4 Posts: 398 View Predictions]

#1203340838

Dan Backslide wrote:

Just because one international film won best picture doesn’t mean that it should be taken away. Most international films will never get anywhere close to Parasite’s success. Keep it.

Last year three of the 5 nominees in FLF got nominations outside of that category. Roma got in BP. Cold War got Director, and probably would’ve got in BP too if not for that separate category. This is the first year an international film wins the main prize but looks more like it will be a tendency than an exception.

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[JackO Joined: Jun 2nd, 2011 Topics: 13 Posts: 5889 View Predictions]

#1203340844

No because not every film is going to be Parasite.

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[Aameson Joined: Feb 12th, 2016 Topics: 1 Posts: 152 View Predictions]

#1203340845

Not sure just yet but I’m certain a lot of people out there don’t like the taste of one film winning two Best Picture awards. It’s different from the way we imagined it, right?

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[babypook Joined: Nov 4th, 2010 Topics: 143 Posts: 17019 View Predictions]

#1203340867

I have mixed feelings.
If the Academy were more inclusive there wouldn’t be a need for this category. It’s a global community now more than ever.
On the other hand, stellar worthy films in a foreign language would be overlooked every year.
I feel this category could morph into one that isn’t needed any more.

Thank you Parasite.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K Dick Blade Runner

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[John Berchmans Joined: Jan 22nd, 2018 Topics: 6 Posts: 4558 View Predictions]

#1203340871

Pollo crudo wrote:

Last year three of the 5 nominees in FLF got nominations outside of that category. Roma got in BP. Cold War got Director, and probably would’ve got in BP too if not for that separate category. This is the first year an international film wins the main prize but looks more like it will be a tendency than an exception.

Same this year. Aside from Parasite’s big victory, Pain and Glory made it into Best Actor and Honnyland bagged a nomination for Best International film. It certainly does feel like the academy are finally opening their eyes to films outside of America.

John's Best of 2020

Best Picture: Soul
Best Direction: The Midnight Sky
Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Delroy Lindo
Best Supporting Actress: Amanda Seyfried
Best Screenplay: Soul

John's Best of 2021

Best Picture: Nomadland
Best Direction: Nomadland
Best Actor: Lakeith Stanfield
Best Actress: Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya
Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback
Best Screenplay: Judas and the Black Messiah

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[M: The Original Joined: Aug 5th, 2014 Topics: 61 Posts: 6799 View Predictions]

#1203340895

Pollo crudo wrote:

I mean, being international or foreign is not an actual merit, contrary to the obvious differences between animation/documentary with live action.
So should it be terminated after Parasite’s win? What’s its real use now?

No. Parasite is the exception not the rule.

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[babypook Joined: Nov 4th, 2010 Topics: 143 Posts: 17019 View Predictions]

#1203340900

M: The Original wrote:

No. Parasite is the exception not the rule.

That could change quickly and in a big way.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K Dick Blade Runner

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[RobertPius Joined: Nov 22nd, 2012 Topics: 266 Posts: 1901 View Predictions]

#1203340916

So now that is is Best International Film and not Foreign Language film where does that leave British or Canadian films etc. Are they eligible?

What prompted the change?

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[M: The Original Joined: Aug 5th, 2014 Topics: 61 Posts: 6799 View Predictions]

#1203340920

babypook wrote:

That could change quickly and in a big way.

Halle Berry. Lone nonwhite actress to win the lead category. These historical things don’t easily repeat. Seasons are seasons for a reason. They’re so unique and at the mercy of what has muscle and can gain consensus.

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[Hammad Asif Joined: Sep 4th, 2015 Topics: 46 Posts: 1303 View Predictions]

#1203340926

Absolutely not.

In fact every Foreign Language winner/front runner should always be a Best Picture nominee.

Kubrick-Tarkovsky-Scorsese-Bergman-Bresson-Kurosawa

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[babypook Joined: Nov 4th, 2010 Topics: 143 Posts: 17019 View Predictions]

#1203340930

M: The Original wrote:

Halle Berry. Lone nonwhite actress to win the lead category. These historical things don’t easily repeat. Seasons are seasons for a reason. They’re so unique and at the mercy of what has muscle and can gain consensus.

And normally I’d have strong reservations as well. At the beginning of the season I was highly skeptical they’d embrace a Asian film in an Asian language of any kind. I was so wrong! Something happened that’s never happened. Ever.
I’m optimistic that global inclusion is on the horizon.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K Dick Blade Runner

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