Oscar not neutral

It was noteworthy at the Golden Globes earlier this month that there were these two categories: Best Performance by a Female Actor and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. (As well, of course, as Best Performance by a Male Actor.) Interesting, I thought.

Yesterday the Oscar nominations were announced. Not so woke. Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress.

Almost immediately after the list was released, this started doing the rounds on social media.

Yep, pretty much the whole plot.

What the poster failed to mention (and I discovered when I checked) is that at least America Ferrera was nominated as best supporting actress.

Call me old fashioned. In some ways I am. (I still long for actual letters to make a comeback, even though I know they never will.) It’s an adjustment to think of Bette Davis or Judi Dench or Margo Robbie as an actor. (I have no idea how the latter two refer to themselves. Davis, of course, is dead.) But I get it. 

It’s why we have flight attendants now, instead of stewards and stewardesses, why we have firefighters, et cetera. It is a good thing and I can make the adjustment. 

Apparently so, too, can the organisers of the Golden Globes. But not Oscar.

Wait a minute. Let’s check in with the BAFTA nominations. Nope. Best actress. (Margo Robbie did get a nod in the UK.) Best supporting actress. (America Ferrera did not.)

The old guard is standing guard against gender neutrality. 

I wonder how long it will take?

In the meantime, I’m rooting for America Ferrera for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role. I haven’t seen any of the other four nominated performances. I just really like her speech.