“Denis Villeneuve made these two magnificent ‘Dune’ films and apparently these films make themselves because he wasn’t considered as a director, not even by the Director’s Guild. Like okay, you can play the awards game or you can play the game I like to play and that’s to make movies people actually go to. Sorry!”
What do you think of James Cameron’s criticism of the Academy and that apparently the ‘Dune’ films must have made themselves? ;-)
Is the science-fiction genre overlooked - like the horror genre - and no matter how successful the box office is for those films, it doesn’t seem to count for those who vote for the Oscars?
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-cameron-slams-oscars-denis-vill...
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In my most honest opinion, yes. There is a massive rift between films audiences enjoy and(for lack of a better term) awards-bait. Basically, it's prestige dramas(often those laden with social commentary) vs every speculative genre(horror, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.) Because of that, I feel like a lot of directors, actors, etc. often need to choose what they aspire to be between the two categories. Either A, a commercial star who wins the hearts of common audiences, or B, a critical darling who appeases academia and prestige "art enjoyers" who make films that are only talked about in regards to the accolades they won. Very rarely can you ever be both.
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"Cameron said the Academy Awards are never top of mind for him when he’s developing, making or promoting a movie." I've heard other directors say they don't think about the Academy Awards, Geoff Hall.
It does seem like the Oscars overlook Horror films and Sci-Fi films.
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The Academy Awards are an industry award, like the Golden Globes. Industry awards are intended to award and boost the top performers among the in-group in the industry. That is what they are supposed to do and that is what they do. This is what Cameron is referring to when he talks about the "awards game" and one of the reasons that, upon getting the award for Titanic, he pronounced to the room the he was "bigger than God" - because he had successfully forced the entire industry to support and promote his movie - when he isn't really one of them - and then give him an award.
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Holly Fouche Hi Holly, so the choice seems to be accolades or audience. I think I’d be happier with an audience, and so perhaps, would any investors.
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Maurice Vaughan yeah, I think that’s right Maurice. Directors should spend more time concerning themselves with developing an audience and not the pretensions of creating something which is Oscar worthy.
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I agree that some genres get less respect from awards. But I would also point out that when you have ten slots for best picture and five for best director, some directors won’t get nominated. So expand the director category to ten? Not sure what Cameron wants.
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Mike Boas What does James Cameron want? I think he was bummed that Villeneuve didn’t get the recognition that he felt was due to him and also that the Academy under represents some genres and that the problem needs to be resolved.