OFCS Falls For Category Fraud
Monday, December 7, 2015 at 3:35PM The Online Film Critics Society have released their annual nominations. They're the oldest of the many critics group which sprung up with "online" in the title back in the days when there was more of a clear line between print and web. This year unfortunately they've signed up for Category Fraud endorsing both Alicia Vikander and Rooney Mara's "supporting" campaigns so it's difficult to take them seriously. If we can't defeat the spreading cancer of category fraud this year with so much attention paid to how ridiculous it is to call protagonists in their own films "supporting" -- even among groups who aren't generally eager to "predict" Oscars with their nominations (and OFCS has been blessedly free of that curse in the past) -- than perhaps the war will never be won. It's all so very discouraging because it makes the honors feel cheap and gamed as opposed to fairly won.
the war on drugs will never be won. perhaps the war on category fraud is just as eternal
As such it's difficult to find joy in happy results like Cynthia Nixon nominated for James White (despite a very low profile and only $52,000 in ticket sales to date) and Sicario, which we'd feared would be forgotten coming on strong. In fact Denis Villeneuve's drug war thriller led the nominations alongside Carol. The complete OFCS nominations are at their site if you're interested.
UPDATE: I have heard from a few members of the OFCS expressing their displeasure with the results and/or this post. Like the BFCA (of which I am a member) there were internal discussions about this before they voted. (Full disclosure: at least two of our own contributors are members of the OFCS). There are people within the organization who are against category fraud but voting within all awards bodies is a matter of math and majority rules. I don't really expect BFCA to self-correct on this next week when the nominations come out but it's good that there's at least been a discussion for once. Internally the BFCA has suggested to members that Rooney Mara should be considered a lead, despite what the campaign says, but they are still free to vote as they will. We'll see.
OFCS, Sicario, film critics
Reader Comments (37)
Interesting that despite supporting campaigns, Keaton and Dano have won lead citations in other awards but don't show up in either category here.
I very much enjoyed seeing Mistress America nominated for Best Original Screenplay. I doubt it will get much love this awards season, so the little mentions it does get make me happy.
That being said, category fraud must be stopped.
Insane to me they'd give Sicario so much love and leave out the brilliant Blunt in favor of the competent Theron. And the category fraud is a real shame.
That said, the Nixon and Stewart citations are very welcome.
When was the last year Best Actor was this weak? I feel like if Argo were released this year, Ben Affleck might be able to sneak in a nomination. Who's voting for Ian McKellen?
Mad Max though??!
One problem I've run into in speaking out against this cancer is how critics and especially pundits who fall for category fraud get so defensive as soon as it's pointed out to them. They would rather make the most contorted, ridiculous arguments for their decisions ("But the title of the movie is Carol, not Therese!") rather than consider that maybe, MAYBE awards season political gamesmanship is influencing their own decision-making.
It's maddening, but I'd rather risk the ire of a few oversensitive cinephiles than adopt their defeatist passivity towards studios cheating their way to unearned nominations.
Does anyone else think Keaton and/or Dano going lead instead of supporting (which I think their performances could be considered) would make it more interesting in Actor? And Jacob Tremblay too, though that's just his campaign people being honest with us. Not that I expect Actor to go that young but hey. And it'd be nice if they noticed Abraham Attah doing his thing too but that movie feels spottier as a whole in terms of getting recognized.
And no Blunt feels weird too. But hey, Kristen Stewart continues to prove herself one of the sturdiest names in these critics nominations so that's still pretty great.
I think Jane Fonda's in trouble.
Mary -- anybody who is a real supporting actress is in trouble ;)
I've just seen Carol this evening. Adored it, naturally.
Never been a fan of Rooney Mara, but completely fell in love with her in this.
Always been a big fan of Cate, but found her posing here a bit much at times.
What I'm getting round to saying is, there is NO WAY Rooney is supporting in Carol. If (IF) there's to be a lead between the two, for me it was Therese. Anyone involved in trying to push Rooney supporting should be ashamed.
True Nat,do you think she is getting the nod,would love it.
Too bad about the category fraud. I saw "Brooklyn" and thought the actress who plays Ronan's mother definitely deserves to be in the conversation, but no-can-do with category fraud on a rampage.
Also, I'm thrilled for "Sicario," but where's Emily Blunt? She should have taken Theron's spot. (Mad Max Fury Road featured good performance, but it was still no acting spectacle.)
Daniel - Don't know how to interpret your "Who's voting for Ian McKellen" but I certainly would. I also think he'll win if nominated (a largish "if"). He's tremendous in Mr. Holmes. Maybe with a weak field, my second favorite, Jacob Tremblay, might be placed in his proper category. On second thought, naaa
I was thrilled to see Sicario do so well, not just because I'm high on the film, but also because even though the love seems spread more than usual, thus far we've seen mostly the same 3 films recognized.
The Best Actor category is dull. It's like the usual suspects from the big movies.
Chiwetel Ejiofor has received two mentions for one of the best performances of 2015 in the last week (Time and Vulture) for his role in Z for Zachariah. I haven't seen this one, but Ejiofor is a terrific actor who is always interesting.
Samuel L. Jackson is apparently the lead of The Hateful Eight, which looks entertaining, to say the least.
Why can't Ejifor and Jackson liven up the Best Actor category?
Michael B. Jordan could actually get in with AMPAS.
Del Toro <3
Imagine Stallone makes it but Jordan doesn't? Would be the peak embarrassment of Oscar morning if they see Creed but nominate the white guy. Looks like either him or Del Toro is the only hope for a non-white lineup. They better not mess this up, or it really will be awful.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure Michael B. Jordan is gonna get nominated now.
I voted in these awards (as did Glenn), and I think we're both baffled by this category placement. Personally, I didn't vote for Vikander at all (despite finding her more than deserving in Lead for both Ex Machina and Testament of Youth) and I did vote for Mara in Lead. It's always genuinely surprising to me how little an individual vote can make a difference - and yet my first place vote for Nixon helped her get a nod. At the end of the day, the Category Fraud fight is a slow and noble one but I did try to vote against the tide. This is a conversation that's been held in the OFCS's FB group and the fight for Mara in supporting is weirdly strong. (Oddly, I don't really recall Vikander being mentioned at all. Does anyone actually LIKE The Danish Girl?)
Your AMPAS Best Actor nominees...
Tom Courtenay, 45 Years
Benicio Del Toro, Sicario
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs or Macbeth
Michael B. Jordan, Creed
Ian McKellen, Mr Holmes
...in my dreams.
I'm disheartened by the lack of mentions for Emory Cohen. He's the big, beating heart of "Brooklyn." I'm hoping that love for the film and Saoirse Ronan's performance will sweep him along too.
I'd love to know what their reasoning for Mara as supporting is, because after watching the film, I can't think of a single justification. If it weren't for Weinstein's fraudulent campaign, no one would think she was remotely supporting.
It seems like what it comes down to is people in this group simply didn't care to go against the fraud because they didn't want to risk both Blanchett or Mara missing out on a nomination. I'm not buying the "different people have different interpretations" excuse, because there is just no way you can interpret Therese as a supporting role. Nope, sorry.
Wow so much love for Mad Max. Will Oscar follow suit??? I mean not in the acting cats but Picture and Director must be strengthening along with the more likely cinematography, editing, production and costume design.
Please make sure your readers know majority rules and there are members who voted honestly and with their heart.
Its puzzling w all the luv OFCS showered on Sicario, they snubbed Blunt, who was the heart & conscience of the film...
That said, I'm so glad that they recognized Nixon, Issacs & Haynes, who more than Blanchett & Mara (which I hope will B nom too), I really hope the GG, Oscars, DGA will recognized Haynes w a nom too.
They announced their nom like yes'day & then the winners just one week later!! They must b the quickest voting award body ever! lol
Chase Whale - i added a paragraph about the response.
Claran -- i was happy to see Haynes there too. I'll keep worrying about him until i hear his name though (since Oscar has historically ignored him)
Am I the only one who believes this scenario is about to happen:
Harvey Weinstein apologizes and announces that from now on, The Weinstein Co. will set internal rules to what defines a supporting performance as such, starting this season, and they will be pioneers in fighting category fraud and hope all the other studios and eventually the Academy follow suit. Then he will announce that he is campaigning Mara as lead. Then Mara ends up not being nominated along with Vikander (since Universal and Focus Features followed suit) and everybody is ok because they regained their dignity.
You know what, since Joy is getting mixed reviews, I believe Jennifer Lawrence is vulnerable and could be out of the race. Let's hope this means Rooney will have a chance of sneaking in and leaving a space for the rightful Supporting Actresses candidates.
The division regarding Rooney's Supporting Actress campaign seems stronger than Vikander's though. Maybe cuz Carol's buzz > stronger than the Danish Girl's fizz.
Im glad a film dealing with transgender issues is being made and pushed to the forefront but why Tom Hooper? On hindsight The King's Speech was serviceable and Les Miserable was horrible.
BlueMoon02, I also think that we're used to seeing "supportive wife in a biopic" being supporting - Laura Linney, Jennifer Connelly, etc and that helps.
On behalf of all the OFCS members who think it's utterly dumbfounding that anybody in the world could think that Mara is anything but the leadingest lead, thanks for adding that paragraph.
Arkaan - It does make sense. Seems more likely that Vikander will lend a Supporting nod as compared to Rooney partly because of that reason.
Based on the current slate of percursor awards, Jane Fonda's chance of an oscar nod could just be slightly more than a pipe dream, and if SAG and GG nominates her, I say shes gone unless she can come thru like Dern for Wild. And the category fraud situation doesn't help. I wanna see Cynthia Nixon there too!
I meant if GG and SAG DON'T nominate her.
Why is Del Toro always considered supporting? Is it because he's latino?
Agree that Jennifer Lawrence and Jane Fonda seem weak at the moment. I can't believe that Sasha Stone still has Jennifer Lawrence above Cate Blanchett as a contender. That awards girl is high and has major prediction dependency issues (she has been championing Joy forever, even still when it's getting some terrible reviews). I am rooting now for Soairse Ronan. That would make me very happy to see her win, even over Brie Larson (who was competent, but a bit too polished when she re-entered her own family house).
Peggy Sue, lol, it's because people forget he's the title character and the driver of the climactic scene and most of the narrative.
peggy & paul -- well, in fairness... he's the most recessive lead there ever was if he's the lead at at all you know. He's always backgrounded and silent while the movie pretends to be about Emily Blunt. Until it suddenly isn't.
As someone who partook in OFCS's very vocal discussions about Mara and Vikander's supporting campaigns (I also mentioned Jason Segel in THE END OF THE TOUR, but that performance didn't get in anywhere) I thought our tide had shifted to the majority thinking they were lead. I guess not and it's so disappointing seeing people bending over backwards to justify it