First of all, all Oscar races are exercises in apples and oranges. So I don’t like to get into lengthy debates about which are more or less deserving. It’s clear that Hollywood loves films about movies and actors more than just about any other subject, and pretends not to know how difficult comedy is, for some reason. But mostly the Oscars exist to make everyone more money, because Oscar buzz and sometimes Oscar wins will drive some people to the theatres in the winter months when they’d otherwise stay at home.

So I wasn’t going to comment here. And I’m still not going to tell you that you’re right or wrong in your assessments of “most deserving” because it’s an entirely subjective argument and it’s your essay.

However, I do feel that you missed the point entirely of some of the Oscar winners, specifically Chicago, Amadeus, and Ordinary People.

CHICAGO is not just a song-and-dance movie; it’s also a deeply cynical satire of the American justice system, where a little “Razzle Dazzle” can set killers free while potential innocents hang (#Justice4Hunyak).

AMADEUS is not just a flouncy costume drama; it’s about the disconnect between artistic talent and the quality of one’s soul. By every objective measure (and especially according to the moral codes of the period), Salieri is a “better” man than Mozart, and yet unbridled genius was bestowed upon Mozart and not Salieri. It’s another film about injustice, just on a more cosmic scale, if you believe in a deity that doles out things like musical talent.

ORDINARY PEOPLE isn’t just a family drama; it’s a deeply painful examination of what it is to be the less favored child. It’s brutal in its own quiet way. Did it win because the oversized acting wing wanted to honor their fellow actor Robert Redford? Probably. But is it a challenging, difficult, unflinching film? Absolutely yes.

Again, I’m not going to say if they all should have won. Personally, I think CHICAGO suffered in its transition from stage to film, and I probably wouldn’t have voted for it had I been given a ballot. But I still won’t dismiss it as a piece of fluff, when the film still has a lot to say.