Which is true. But 99% of the public don't understand that. Most members of my family don't understand that. They genuinely will go out and watch oscar nominated and winning films because they think they must be the best films of the year because...................... well because oscars.
The Oscars hold waaaaaay too much gravitas (and this is why I can understand those who suggest the oscars have hurt film). And I say that having really loved some of the winners of the best picture in the last decade or so.
-"I really loved this film called XXXXXXXX" I will say
-"Oh yeah? Is it Oscar worthy?" They say.
What am I supposed to say next?
I don't know if I'd go so far as to say 99% of people don't understand this. But I know the Oscars, and the appearance of winning an Oscar, certainly has a cache with a lot of people. But whether this is to any significant extent, as in they view the entire movie industry through the lens of which movie wins the Oscar, I would have my doubts.
Do the Academy Awards put a magnifying glass over certain movies. Considering I'd never given Coda a second thought before it won, and now it at least registers as something I guess I maybe, possibly should see one of these days, I suppose this means something. Especially considering I've already defined myself as someone who thinks the Oscars are a pretty irrelevant thing. So clearly it is going to matter even more for these others who do take it seriously. And in this way, I concede it can't be completely ignored.
But did Ordinary People beating Raging Bull, or Rocky beating Taxi Driver, or Dances With Wolves beating Goodfellas actually have a real effect on how anyone viewed the movie industry during this period? People have obviously continued to debate whether the best movies actually won during these particularly contentious years (no, yes, no would be my personal verdict), but did it damage the image of 'capital M' Movies? I really don't think so. I think people can still retain the autonomy to disagree with these verdicts, deeply and passionately, and still believe in Hollywood. Even continue to watch the actual Oscars in good faith after these dubious choices, even if they keep rewarding movies most people don't give much of a shit about.
So I think for even for those who outwardly take the winners as some kind of vague gospel...they do...but they really don't. Not really.
I think if there is anything that is hurting Hollywood, it is mostly coming from outside of it, and it is this pervasive notion that Hollywood is out of touch and doesn't represent the common man and that there is some kind of ideological duty to reject what the rich and fancy celebrity elites are supposedly selling to us. And while the Oscars may have become one of the most notable focal points of this purely political ire, I don't think it has been ginned up by the industry (even if we argue some of the blame can be put there, which we probably can). Mostly though, I think its just become an easy target for superficial political talking points, like anger that black voices have been demanding visibility at awards ceremonies like this. But in a case like this, the Academy would be damned if they do, damned if the don't, no matter what course of action they did or did not take. Both action and inaction are destined to be seen as politically motivated. The issue, and the thing pushing people away from movies (if that is indeed what is happening) is more the result of this inflexible tribalism that has taken over how people think about anything and everything these days.
As for what to say if a movie you like is Oscar worthy, for me the answer to that is pretty clear: "Who cares?" Then do my best to explain the virtues of the film I'm telling them I like from a personal stand point, and hope this means a little more to them than what movie a bunch of people they will never meet voted as being the best. Now maybe they'll listen, or maybe they won't. But I probably wouldn't bother talking to those people about movies much in the future if this is where they wanted to steer conversations about the arts. They might already be a lost case.