Controversies surrounding the Oscars have grown in the last few years. The Academy has dealt with much, mostly warranted, backlash because of the lack of diversity, the disrespect towards Sacheen Littlefeather, and the notorious slap from the previous year’s program. However, this year many are angry about the nominations. Once again, there is a lack of diversity, with all the best actor nominees being white. However, one nomination, in particular, has caused a massive response and that is with Andrea Riseborough in the best actress award.
Usually, award shows nominate the same films, actors, etc., and those nominations are always predictable. The Oscar nominations for best actress are surprising this year as Andrea Riseborough, who played the role of a single mother in the film “To Leslie,” is a nominee. Although it received good reviews with 95% on rotten tomato, the film was largely unheard of to the average person, with it only making $27,000 at the box office.
So what makes the nomination so controversial? It was why she was even brought up to the Oscars in the first place. The director of “To Leslie,” Michael Morris, and his wife, actor Mary McCormack, urged actors who influence the Oscar nominations to watch their film and determine whether “To Leslie” is award-worthy. Soon, many influential stars advocated for Andrea Riseborough and celebrated once she was nominated. “Andrea should win every award and all the ones that haven’t been invented yet,” said Gwenyth Paltrow on social media. However, the Academy received much criticism for this. Since then, the Oscars are examining their nomination process. “We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated, and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication,” said the Academy. However, Riseborough’s nomination will not change.
Many claim that the Oscars broke the rules when nominating Riseborough. The Academy’s rules state that “Contacting Academy members directly and in a manner outside of the scope of these rules to promote a film or achievement for Academy Award consideration is expressly forbidden” which, allegedly, Morris and McCormack did. Many other rules deal with the contact of an academy member and potential nominee; however, much of the anger that has originated from this controversy is because, no matter what, Risenborough was only recognized in the first place. After all, she has connections.
Although her acting in “To Leslie” was decent, receiving praise from many critics, she would have never been nominated if not for the fact that both she and Morris have influential friends. Many are also frustrated that Riseborough could have taken a spot away from a black nominee, as the Oscars has dealt with an overwhelming amount of white nominations throughout its existence. As Mariah Espada, a reporter for TIME, wrote, “With critics raising questions about whether the grassroots campaign violated any rules and if the nomination should have instead gone to a Black woman, such as Viola Davis (for The Woman King) and Danielle Deadwyler (for Till).”
Although I, as well as many critics, do not believe that Riseborough will win, it is frustrating to watch as someone is nominated only because they have wealthy, powerful friends. The anger about this situation is not based on whether she deserves it but rather focuses on the fact that so many people, specifically people of color, have made breakthroughs in Hollywood, and yet we watch as another privileged person takes their place in the spotlight.
