Director Barry Levinson offers his thoughts on what’s behind the growing outcry for more diversity in Hollywood films.
Are we a racist country? Yes. But we are getting better. For certain. And while that battle for absolute equality is being played out, an odd controversy about the racial injustice in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has emerged. The Oscar nominations of 2015 are being questioned as racially prejudicial. There are those who say a black woman, who directed “Selma,” was overlooked because of racial bias, and the actor who played Martin Luther King Jr. was also overlooked because he was black. The film was nominated by the Academy, but these individuals were not. I would tend to agree with these accusations if I thought the Academy had a great record of selecting the best nominees each year, but they don’t. It is impossible to pass through a single awards season without hearing, “Huh? How could so and so not be nominated?” There is outrage yearly. And it has nothing to do with race. It is the strangeness of the voters’ taste, the process, or the simple fact that voting for the best in any area of filmmaking isn’t a science.
To understand the odd voting behavior you only have to look to the career of the director Howard Hawks, who received only one nomination in an amazing career. Just to give you an idea of his talent, his filmography includes these gems: “Little Caesar,” “Only Angels Have Wings,” “Bringing up Baby,” “His Girl Friday,” “Red River,” “The Big Sleep,” “To Have And Have Not”… and there are more. And he was not nominated for any of them. Edward G. Robinson had a long and distinguished career but was never nominated. A Hollywood insider who was in countless films, some true classics, like “Scarface” and “Double Indemnity,” to name a few, and he was never nominated. Explain that. Cary Grant was only nominated twice in a long, successful career with a number of classic films to his credit. Why was he overlooked? Why didn’t he win one Oscar? Orson Welles was only nominated as a director one time, for his first film, “Citizen Kane”; “A Touch of Evil,” a true American classic, was overlooked in every category in 1958.
Let’s look at a simple fact about the voting system. There were eight films nominated for Best Picture, but only five directors. That means four films are nominated without a director. Clint Eastwood’s film, “American Sniper,” was nominated, but not Clint himself. Why? The film will become one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and it got good reviews. Why didn’t he get nominated? The Academy loves Clint. Why was he overlooked? Any conspiracy? I don’t think so. The same questions would apply to James Marsh, the director of “Theory of Everything” It was certainly the vision of this talented director, but he was overlooked. As was Damien Chazelle, the director of “Whiplash.” Again, why? What about the director of “Selma,” Ava DuVernay? She wasn’t nominated. Why? In her case, there are those who say it is racist. I don’t think so. Four directors lost out. And she was one of them. Several years ago, Ben Affleck was not nominated as Best Director for “Argo.” Argo went on to win numerous awards, but its director was overlooked that year by the Academy. To some it may not make sense, but that’s the Academy.
Are some members racists? I don’t know the answer with any certainty, but we only have to look at last year’s Oscar winners: “12 Years a Slave” won for Best Picture, the supporting actress, Lupita Nyong’o, from that same movie won, as did the screenwriter John Ridley, who is also of color. Those wins were voted on by the same group of voters who, this year, are accused of being racist, and too old, and too white. It is interesting that “too old” is not a discriminatory comment, but I’ll leave that for others to debate.
Race issues in America are significant and need to be addressed. The lack of diversity in Hollywood is valid, but change begins with education, not the Oscar ballots. Too many children of color drop out of school each year for various reasons that need to be addressed, and job programs or apprenticeships are not available. The future requires some positive answers. Young boys and girls of all colors deserve better. We can’t build a brighter future through neglect, or arrogant oversight. They need to be helped, taught, educated, nurtured, and inspired. Without that support, too many lost voices can’t join tomorrow’s screenwriters, or directors, or actors, or production designers, or cinematographers, or editors, or any of the talented men and woman of this industry. They need to be included in greater numbers. More voices need to be heard.
To all of those involved in the making of “Selma,” to the actors, the director, the screenwriter, and to all of the crew members of that fine film, they have gotten in the door, they are telling their stories. It’s those who haven’t attained that status, who are lost, or will be lost. That is where we need to focus our attention.
no we are not racist country but there racist black movie like Selma are racist BS and you don’t think its racist that NBA is most black so you are real racist
I think it’s race entirely. This is just another excuse for white supremacy. But the additional factor here, which is rooted in racism, is the presence of Oprah Winfrey. I think the Academy voters have something against her and are intimidated by her individual power as a black woman. on top of that, there is the lack of a individual white savior in the film, e. G. The portrayal of Lyndon B Johnson for what he really was, which makes are white dominant voting group very uncomfortable – this is common sense.
Films reflect society. Narrative films are not meant to alter the fabric of our society unless the sole purpose of the film is to do just that. Hollywood films do reflect diversity. mariaIf, by diverse we mean diverse cast….then considering that the majority of the United States is NOT diverse (I.e. Asian Americans, African Americans, etc are minority groups) I would say Hollywood is doing a great job of incorporating diversity in their films. Wouldn’t it feel odd for audiences to sit through an all Asian cast and not feel as if the movie is an “Asian film”? Generally, when a film contains a mostly African American cast it is deemed a “black movie”. That’s not diversity….that’s segration. A diverse film is one that incorporates actors and crew members of different nationalities. One must judge a film for its story, characters, and theme.
Facts that many of Mr. Levinson’s critics here may find inconvenient: Barry and his television partner Tom Fontana cast scores of minority and female actors for leading roles in hundreds of hours of award-winning series like HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET.; and their production company hired a more diverse group of writers and directors than any other. To anyone who thinks Barry Levinson doesn’t know the names of all the talent in contention for awards this season, the most appropriate reply is the title of his celebrated HBO biopic: You Don’t Know Jack.
For Years people who look like you Barry have been on every channel on TV, every screen in the theaters. Aren’t you tired of looking at yourselves? as the quote may go, “Ain’t You Tired?”
Levinson is a racist. He has never had a black lead in anything he has ever produced. I wonder why he NEVER has had a black lead actor? It must be racism. He is a racist.
“The actor who played Martin Luther King Jr”?
You’re supposed to be a relevant director yet you do not know nor care or bother to look up the actor’s name for your rant? How about knowing his name to cast one of the best actors to emerge onto the scene in a film?
No. You can’t be bothered. I stopped reading your drivel after reading that sentence.
And I purposefully did not include the fine actor/artist who portrayed Dr King ’cause your sorry lazy ass needs to do it.
Even the editors of Variety should have given you the note.
Disgraceful.
This could well be a snub of women filmmakers or even other white filmmakers, but the heart of the matter is that for far too long the nominees and nominations in Oscar has consistently being mostly white – surely that can’t be right.A change is drastically needed before the Oscars begins to loose the appeal it has all over the world and amongst all races.
Leaveson proves point of racism:he can point to One film. It’s like saying Blacks got Theirs in 12yrs, we don’t have to think about themfairness or equity again for a few years.
However, this is not just a snub of Black directors, it is also a snub of women directors. The Academy is such a boy’s club. With only one award winning woman, it’s time the Academy checked their misogyny at the door. Maybe some female input would improve the box office tallies.
The guy who is famous for not putting blacks in lead roles in his films lecture us about racism..
What’s next? A lecture from him about not using more than our individual share of the planet’s resources while he is flying to Davos in his personal jet, after leaving one of his many mansions?
Hollywood liberals never seem to see their personal hypocrisy.
Dear Mr. Levinson, in your vast career of filmmaking, you have only cast THREE African American actors in your movies (Samuel Jackson in your movie “Sphere” which was what over 20 years ago) !!! Please look at yourself in the mirror before you cast smears onto America regarding your “outrage” concerning diversity.
Typical liberal hypocrite.
…over the last 37 years. Except for casting the great Samuel L. Jackson in the wretched “Sphere,” a girlfriend role in “Liberty Heights,” and the best friend role in “Good Morning Vietnam,” I could not find a single black star cast in a single top role. In fact, it’s shocking how few black actors Levinson has cast in any role. ~ via breitbart.com
One thing is clear, the racial divide has never been broader, and the “Black problem” as Europeans call it, is far from solved .
Sadly there are people so obsessed with racism that they call practically everything racism. This is the problem here. There isn’t one shred of FACT that supports the accusation that the Academy is racist. Nonsense.
The only other nomination I would argue for Selma is David Oyelowo. But Ralph Fiennes and Jake Gyllenhaal also deserved a nomination in that category. The truth is it is an incredibly strong field this year.
Selma was a really good movie when it kept its focus. But it had some issues that questions it’s intents. But some have made ANY criticism of the film automatically invalid and have made race the centerpiece of their argument. That’s a shame. We will never have racial harmony while that type of attitude is still swirling around in our country.
Would you kindly list the black actors you’ve cast in your 30+ years career? It must be huge…oh wait.
Good, thoughtful piece.
My take is that this whole flap is the product of a whiny director.
Her cold indifference upon being told that LBJ was instrumental on the success of the
civil rights movement, was disappointing.
Well said. Great piece.
Oh lord shut up
Saying “they’re not racist because 12 Years a Slave ” won Best Picture last year is like saying “racism is dead because Obama is the President.”
So there weren’t enough racists in the Academy last year to keep 12 YEARS from winning, but there are enough this year to keep SELMA from getting multiple nominations? But somehow not enough to keep it out of the Best Picture race? It’s very confusing.
These black racists needs to stop this crap – they are undermining all the work for equality. Selma only deserved 1 nomination at best – the one for original song. The movie was mediocre and so far below previous black themed movies like 12 years a slave and Malcolm X. The fact that Selma got nominated for best movie speaks volume about the unfair racial bias being forced upon the industry. Gone Girl was far more deserving of a nomination, just to mention 1 movie.
well said
I cannot believe the amount of angry, vitriolic BS being aimed at Barry. With his schedule, a few errors made it into his final piece, but overall he is right on the money. Why are so many angry, jealous, uncreative types, and wannabe film aficionados weighing in on this topic, that they know nothing whatsoever about, that being AMPAS. Find something else to critique… something you know one single thing about!
Sorry Mr. Levinson, but this is where you are wrong. Everyone has decided that the only point that there is to argue, is that Selma deserved more nominations. It definitely did, but that is not the point I am trying to make. There were other categories that have very questionable nominees, with contradictory arguments.
One of those is highlighted perfectly by the recognition that Grand Budapest Hotel has garnered this awards season, in particular the Oscars. The film recieved nine nominations in total, nearly one contender for each category, while no appreciation was shown to supporting actor, Tony Revolori. A newcomer amongst the talents of Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes, the Guatemalan actor was not nominated for the category.
Another excellent example is actor Oscar Isaac, who starred in A Most Violent Year alongside Jessica Chastain. Chastain was able to snatch a nomination for the role while Isaac was not, and not considering the Guatemalan & Cuban actor is a shame, considering his performance in the film. His performance was critically acclaimed last year for the film inside Llewyn Davis, but was relatively overlooked this year for the Oscars, similarly to the way he was overlooked last year.
Saying that there is no problem with the lack of diversity in Hollywood and dismissing the idea that this is not rooted in something bigger is an utter disrgard to the reality of the situation. Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo were both robbed of a nomination and insisting that representation doesn’t matter is completely ridiculous considering the importance that it provides in reality to everyone of different color, gender, orientation, etc. If no change can be achieved in the media, where people get to pick and choose who stars in the piece and the stars are paid for it, than there is less chances that actual change can be achieved in reality.
The oppressor does not get to dictate the way that the oppressed react.
Mr Levinson, the question should be, “are we a racist town?” That town being Hollywood sir. The entire country didn’t snub the actors and the director of “Selma”, people in the industry YOU work in did. Go try to make THEM feel guilty and leave the rest of the country out of this.
Mr. Levinson wonders why “old” can be used in a derogatory sense, but he’s the perfect example of this. How quickly he forgets that Edward G. Robinson was not in the movie “Scarface.” That was Paul Muni. He must be thinking of “Little Caesar.”
Mr. Levinson is also incorrect about the 5 Best Director nominees making three Best Picture-nominated movies have their directors snubbed. In fact, FOUR Best Picture nominated movies had their directors snubbed because Foxcatcher is up for Director and not Picture. And Wes Anderson IS nominated for Director.
Old Mr. Levinson is getting very forgetful in his old age. I wonder if he actually thinks most of his fellow Academy voters even watched 12 Years a Slave last year, or if they just felt like they were obligated to vote for it.
Racists wouldn’t have felt obligated to vote for 12 YEARS A SLAVE.
Ironic that everyone is hashtagging #OscarsAllWhite while overlooking the fact that Oprah Winfred is Oscar nominated for Best Picture with SELMA(which she co-produced),for if both Oprah and SELMA win it’ll immediately change the tone of this year’s Oscars.
Mr. Levinson is mistaken and is making a straw man argument. No one is claiming that Selma and its director and its actors were overlooked because of racial prejudice or racial bias.
Here’s a question:
Q: Why are most comedy writers on SNL from Harvard?
A: Because the people hiring them went to Harvard.
And THAT is the true argument people are having.
Not that racial prejudice was the reason why no people of color were selected in any of the major categories, but that perhaps the makeup of the Academy is too one-dimensional, and that perhaps we could look at the make up of the members of the Academy and that perhaps opening up the Academy itself to more people of color (not just black, mind you) would expand the focus of the nominations.
So the real question people are asking becomes this:
Q: Why are all the nominees in the major categories white?
A: Because the people casting the ballots are white.
And opening the Academy membership up to a less one-dimensional make up of races, may produce a larger variety of nominees.
Um… Wes Anderson WAS nominated for best director for The Grand Budapest Hotel.
And you can certainly help the situation in Hollywood by casting women and non-white actors in leading roles. Got a lead male character that can just as easily be played by female? Cast an actress. Got a lead male character? Cast a non-white actor. Women and minorities can’t be nominated for Oscars if they aren’t given great roles in Oscar-worthy films. Stop making excuses. Just do it.
Bravo!
This from the guy that just wrapped his racist film, Rock The Kasbah. Leads are all white, constantly making fun of Arabs and subject everyone to kidnap/ransom/terrorism in his bullsh*t “comedy”. Liberal hypocrite.