Make ’em Laugh
The Oscars could recognize a record number of comedies in multiple categories including best picture
Who says you can’t laugh and win Oscars, too?
In a stunning year for cinema, the candidates for the coveted best picture category are overflowing with prime comedic endeavors that surpass their dramatic counterparts. From a toy doll to an author with a triumphant “Black book” to a reverse Frankenstein tale that shows a whole lot of sex, the academy has an opportunity to invite the softer side of cinema to its ceremony.
This year, it’s hard to imagine an Oscar picture lineup that won’t include four of this year’s Globe nominees: “American Fiction” (MGM), “Barbie” (Warner Bros.), “The Holdovers” (Focus Features) and “Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures).
What’s encouraging is that these four movies aren’t sitting idle in the awards race and taking up space — they’re all viable contenders in not only picture, but also various crafts, screening and especially acting categories, with the likes of Jeffrey Wright, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Da’vine Joy Randolph seriously in the mix.
While the Oscars historically favor dramas, there have been comic breakthroughs on awards night, and while not laugh-outloud comedies, such best picture winners as “The Apartment” (1960), “Annie Hall” (1977) and last year’s winner, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” delivered insight and tackled issues with humor. In fact, there’s a long history of light comedies earning the top trophy, from “Grand Hotel” to “You Can’t Take It With You” to “It Happened One Night” and “The Sting,” “Terms of Endearment” and “Shakespeare in Love.”
When looking at the history of nominees and winners for best picture, comedy or musical, at the Golden Globes, one or two films can often translate to Academy attention. However, the past two years have seen three comedy/musicals pop up in Oscars’ 10 best films selection for each year: “Don’t Look Up,”
“Licorice Pizza” and “West Side Story” in 2021, and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Everything Everywhere” and “Triangle of Sadness” in 2022. This year, we could see anywhere from four to all six Golden Globe comedy/musical contenders earn Oscar best pic bids.
Writer, director, producer and star Ben Affleck brings laughter and heart to Amazon MGM’S “Air,” the story of Nike signing rookie basketball Michael Jordan in the 1980s. The two-time Oscar winner of “Argo” (2012) and “Good Will Hunting” (1997), which he penned with his “Air” leading man Matt Damon, crafts a traditional feel-good story that entertains as much as it impresses.
Netflix has been passionate and persistent about getting Todd Haynes his first movie nominated for best picture with his dark but amusing look at an actor’s journey to portray a tabloid figure in “May December.” After the not-so-funny snubs for “Far From Heaven” (2002) and “Carol” (2015), it’s time one of our greatest living auteurs’ movies gets invited to the party.
This year may also see three actors primarily known for their comedy chops scoring Oscar nominations, but not for acting: Will Ferrell as a producer of “May December,” Jack Black as cowriter of the original song “Peaches” from “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and Seth Rogen as producer of the animated feature “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.”
Comedies entering the rarified air of the Oscar best picture list proves that they can evoke profound emotions and challenge societal norms. Their success at the Academy Awards underscores the impact and significance of humor in storytelling.
Seeing movies like these receive respect and attention is no laughing matter. Oscars should continue to take notice.