2020s. What a year for Best Picture winners! Epic highs, epic lows? The decade started with a bang, with the first-ever international film taking the trophy for best picture. Next were Nomadland, CODA, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Oppenheimer and Anora.
What, politically, was happening each of these years, and how did it impact who took the trophy home?
There was a lot going on in 2020. Covid-19 was on the rise internationally with lockdowns around the globe and in Hollywood, Biden won the 2020 election, and more. Safe to say this was an uncertain time for the world. In times of uncertainty, academy voters can go one of two ways: the safe way OR try something new. In 2020, Academy voters chose the second way, giving the win to an international feature for the first time. An international feature about wealth dispariites no doubt!
2021. I highly doubt 2021 is anyone's favourite year; deep into lockdowns internationally - Hollywood as well - with inflation on the rise, it's no suprise the themes of loneliness resonated with the Academy voters that year. I would not call this a safe choice, nor would I call it revolutionary, especially coming off of Parasite's win. Hey, at least they didn't give it to The Trial of the Chicago 7!
Picture it: Covid-19 is easing somewhat throughout the world, the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurs, and there's political turmoil, but also the Winter Olympics! In the face of the Academy voters, I couldn't say this was an uncertain year; however, it is safe to say this was the safe choice of that year by FAR. It had been a rough past few years; Academy voters had had enough of that cool or interesting or not boring way of voting, and they felt they could chill out on this one. Coda is great, but next to Drive My car, Dune and West Side Story? SAFE.
2023. A year of bursting independent production studios with A24 taking the cake. In Academy voting terms this can be seen as a reflection of increasing inflation. Or was it just a good movie?
Oppenheimer's best picture win marked the last best picture win of the Biden presidency. Amidst fears of a looming Trump presidency and nuclear anxieties of the Russian form, Oppenheimers win is the defining Biden presidency win. And also just a great movie that hit with critics and audiences alike!