美国国家公共电台 NPR Opinion: Critics Nix Pop Flicks Pick For Oscar Fix

 

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got panned this week for changes they announced to their annual awards. Critics nix pop flicks¹ pick for Oscar fix. Oscar viewership has declined 39 percent since 2014. Lots of people now watch programs on streaming services or GameCasts on their iPhones rather than real-time television.

The academy wants more eyeballs, but they were roundly criticized by critics, actors and directors for creating a new Oscar category for outstanding achievement in popular film. Last movies to win best picture Oscars were "The Shape Of Water," "Moonlight," "Spotlight²" and "Birdman." Artful, successful films, but not boffo smashes, like any film from the Marvel³ comics universe.

As the Hollywood Reporter put it, the gulf⁴ between what the public buys tickets to see and what the academy nominates and awards has never been greater. Mark Harris, the critic, tweeted, it truly is something that in the year "Black Panther," a movie made just about entirely⁵ by and with black people, grosses $700 million, the academy's reaction is, we need to invent something separate but equal.

A change the academy hopes will slenderize the ceremonies to run just three hours is to present fewer awards during the live broadcast. They'll presumably still show the nominees⁶ for all the acting⁷ awards and winners' speeches. They are famous, glamorous⁸ faces who will wear Armani and Chanel, drip with bling, and thank producers, agents, their families and high school teachers for believing in them. I'm always moved by those speeches.

People who probably won't be shown live during the regular broadcast are the nominees and winners for best film editing, sound mixing, production design, sound editing, makeup⁹ and hairstyling. They're known in Hollywood as the below-the-line people, the technical crew who work on film after film year after year and drive from the San Fernando Valley while it's still dark to start work by dawn on cold film sets or in airless editing rooms. Designers don't compete to dress them for their big, perhaps only, night at the Oscars.

The folks below the line are the artisans and craftspeople that make a movie speak and sparkle. I've enjoyed seeing the folks below the line take their place on Oscar broadcasts alongside Spielberg, Chadwick Boseman and Meryl Streep. You'd think one night a year, Hollywood could find the time to acclaim¹⁰ them for the magic that would be impossible without them.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD")

JOHNNIE DAVIS: (Singing) Hooray for Hollywood, that screwy, ballyhooey Hollywood

1 flicks   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的第三人称单数 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• 'I shall see it on the flicks, I suppose.' “电影上总归看得见。” 来自英汉文学
• Last night to the flicks. 昨晚看了场电影。 来自英汉文学

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

6 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 glamorous   

adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的

参考例句：

• The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
• It is hard work and not a glamorous job as portrayed by the media.这是份苦差，并非像媒体描绘的那般令人向往。

9 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

10 acclaim   

v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞

参考例句：

• He was welcomed with great acclaim.他受到十分热烈的欢迎。
• His achievements earned him the acclaim of the scientific community.他的成就赢得了科学界的赞誉。