how to spot Oscar Bait

Autumn is just around the corner, so you know what that means: Oscar Season! As much as I love the idea of watching great movies after the pile of garbage summer produced, there are going to be lots of movies that want your attention. These attention-seeking productions, are called Oscar Bait.

Oscar Bait are movies that are released in fall for the sole purpose of winning an Academy Award. Not all Oscar Baits are bad, but they're almost all the same. Here's how to spot one:

based on a true story

If you're watching a trailer in August and these 5 words pop up, you're definitely being baited. Double points if it's about a white man, because that almost always guarantees a nomination.

pretty actor dares to be ugly

If the main actor had to undergo a "drastic transformation" like weight gain/loss or prosthetics, the media will become obsessed. I still hear about Jennifer Aniston's brave transformation in 2014's "Cake" and it just looks like she didn't wear makeup.

the name game

If there's a Hanks, Spielberg or Streep involved, you know it's getting a nomination.

period piece

Anything set after 1940 is going after an Oscar. And the further back in time it goes, the more chances it has (but the less likely it stars an actor of color... I spot a trend).

this movie is how long?

If filmmakers are arrogant enough to think I want to watch Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt angrily stare at each other for over 2 hours, they're arrogant enough to think they deserve an Oscar.

mini movies

This is what I call trailers for Oscar Bait, because they give you the entire plot in 2 minutes. Conveniently giving enough info so you can vote for it in your Oscar pool without actually having to watch it.

from stage to screen

This is the best way to get an esteemed actor like Russell Crowe to act in a famous play without making him do it live, what's not to like? It's arguably easier and people eat it up, ergo: Oscar Nomination. But if I have to hear about how the actors of "Les Miserables" were brave for singing live during filming, I'm going to scream. Nick Jonas performed the play live for months in from of an actual audience and you don't hear anybody calling him brave.

Before you take this list to avoid every Oscar Bait headed your way, remember not all of them are bad. For every "Collateral Beauty", there's a "Moonlight" just waiting to be watched.

#Movies #blog #theater #film #rant