ACADEMY AWARDS SNUBS POLITICAL FILMS AGAIN
Political films have often been nominated for Academy Awards as Best Picture, but they rarely get the votes. Gladiator, the winner for the year 2000, raised far less political consciousness than Erin Brockovich and Traffic,which were also nominated for best picture. From 1986-2000, some 25 films have received both Political Film Society nominations and top Oscar nominations (that is, for best picture and best director). Of the 25 movies, 44 percent were voted Political Film Society awards, while 12 percent got Oscars for best picture or best director. Only three films have received both Oscars and Political Film Society awards. The table below lists all films nominated by both the Political Film Society and the Academy for best picture or best director:
| 1986 | Platoon** |
| 1987 | none |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning* |
| 1989 | Dead Poets Society* Driving Miss Daisy Born on the Fourth of July |
| 1990 | Dances with Wolves** Reversal of Fortune |
| 1991 | JFK Boyz ‘n the Hood* |
| 1992 | Howards End |
| 1993 | In the Name of the Father* The Piano Schindler’s List** Short Cuts |
| 1994 | Quiz Show* |
| 1995 | Dead Man Walking* |
| 1996 | The People Versus Larry Flynt |
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan The Thin Red Line The Truman Show |
| 1999 | The Insider* The Green Mile* |
| 2000 | Eric Brockovich Traffic |
*Won a Political Film Society award.
** Won both a top Oscar and a Political Film Society award.
JAY CLARY & MATTHEW O’GARA CONTRIBUTE WORKING PAPERS
Two more excellent papers are now available from the politics and film panel at the Western Political Science Association on March 17 in Las Vegas. Jay Clary (Cal State Fullerton) has contributed Presidential Succession: Film as a Primary Catalyst.Matthew O’Gara (University of Southern California) has donated Perceptions of Northern Ireland in Political Film. Both are available for $5. Order by writing to the above address.