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The Oscar Trump Effect: How the Academy Could Reflect Our Turbulent Times
How will the Trump election win affect the Oscar race with "Wicked" and "Emilia Perez" in the race?
“Anora,” a film about a sex worker’s romance with a Russian oligarch’s son, features a striking performance by Mikey Madison; the comedic thriller could draw support from voters advocating more narratives centering on women. In 2000, following a razor-thin election margin between George W. Bush’s victory over Al Gore, the Academy awarded “Gladiator” best picture over more complex, introspective films like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Traffic.” Some argued that Hollywood chose a straightforward tale of revenge and triumph to seek a middle ground in a polarized time. Just as “CODA” won soon after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, or in 1941, when the Academy opted for John Ford’s “How Green Was My Valley” in the shadow of Pearl Harbor’s tragedy over Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane,” events beyond the screen often influence Hollywood’s choices.
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