AFI vs. The Academy

// June 3rd, 2009 // Random Movie Musings

With Slumdog Millionaire winning the most recent ‘Best Picture’ oscar, I found myself saying that it would never end up on the 100 greatest movies of all time list. Which I guess isn’t that big of a deal because there are lots of Best Picture winners that aren’t on the list, and The Academy Awards and AFI’s list are done by different organizations. The oscars are done by the academy, which includes people like Elton John, Billy Joel, and others that have nothing to do with film but are voting for the Best Picture of the year. And the 100 greatest movies list is done by AFI (The American Film Institute) which is actually comprised of film scholars. That first thought got me to wondering how many movies on AFI’s list had won the ‘Best Picture’ oscar. So I did some research and this is what I found. I thought this was kind of interesting.

4- is the number of films on the 100 greatest movies list that were made before the Academy Awards came to life.

28- is the number of films on the list that won the “Best Picture’ oscar.

21- is the numberof films on the list that were nominated for Best Picture, but lost to another movie that is also on the list.

23- is the number of films on the list that were nominated for Best Picture and lost to a movie that is not on the 100 greatest movies list.

24- is the number of films on the 100 greatest movies list that weren’t even nominated for Best Picture.

Sidenote #1: 4 out of the 5 Best Picture nominees in 1977 are on the 100 greatest films list. They are: Rocky, Network, All the Presiden’t Men, and Taxi Driver.

Sidenote #2: How Green Was My Valley, which is NOT on the 100 greatest movies list, won the best picture oscar over 2 movies that ARE on the list. It beat The Maltese Falcon, which is #31, and also the #1 greatest film ever made, Citizen Kane. Yeah, that makes sense.

Sidenote #3: 6 of the top 15 greatest movies ever made (according to AFI’s list) weren’t even nominated for Best Picture. They are; #5-Singin’ in the Rain, #9-Vertigo, #11-City Lights, #12-The Searchers, #14-Psycho, and #15-2001: A Space Odyssey. Hmm….

Justin’s Note: I personally put more stock into AFI’s 100 greatest films list than I do the Academy’s Best Picture winners. I think AFI has more credibility for the fact that everybody voting for the movies on their list is a film scholar of some sort and not just some jo-blo celebrity.

13 Responses to “AFI vs. The Academy”

  1. Chris says:
    June 3, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

  2. Nic says:
    June 3, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    i personaly prfr teh mtv movie awards ther so cooo0ool omg!!!111!!

  3. bryan says:
    June 3, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Wow. Those are some interesting sidenotes.
    And, Nic, wtf!!

  4. val says:
    June 3, 2009 at 4:00 pm

    no more wtf!! and just what would make citizen kane the #1 movie. man i have lot to say today.

  5. Jake says:
    June 3, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    Citizen Kane is the most BORING movie ever made.

  6. justin says:
    June 3, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    #1 movie according to AFI’s list. It is number one on their list, not mine. I must say though, the first time I watched citizen kane I absolutely hated it, but the second time I watched it I liked it a lot more. I saw what was there to appreciate.

  7. bryan says:
    June 4, 2009 at 7:23 am

    what? “wtf” stands for “witty times, friend”

  8. Nic says:
    June 4, 2009 at 8:40 am

    I thought it was the acronym for the World Taekwondo Federation. What was Val thinking?

  9. bryan says:
    June 4, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Or it could mean Work Time Fun

  10. Chris says:
    June 4, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    I really think a proper understanding of the cinematic context of Citizen Kane increases one’s appreciation immeasurably. The film was incredibly groundbreaking in its use of many cinematic techniques we now take for granted. I think its influence and importance in the history of cinema have kept it at the top of movie lists for so long.

    It’s definitely not the most entertaining film ever made, but it’s far from the most boring film ever. Though I am a film snob. In any case, Orson Welles’ performance is spectacular.

  11. Nic says:
    June 4, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    @Chris – I completely agree with your comment. However, when you start a statement with terms like ‘cinematic context’, you’ll find that the majority of today’s movie-goers hear nothing but ‘blah blah blah’ afterward. Friggin’ kids these days with their short attention spans. I’ve tried to explain the artistic merit of Kane to a lot of folks, and my words always fall on deaf ears.

  12. Jesse says:
    June 4, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    I appreciate the artistic merit and the complicated techniques used in some movies. However, for me, movies will be first and foremost entertainment. If a movie has all the artistic merit and techniques in the world, but it’s boring, I don’t think that movie can be considered one of the greatest movies ever made.

    The funny thing is that I actually love Citizen Kane for it’s entertainment value. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, and it’s surprising to me that most people just acknowledge it for it’s technical merit.

  13. bryan says:
    June 4, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    I absolutely agree with Jesse. Movies for me are entertainment. If it doesn’t entertain me, no matter how high on AFI’s list it is, it won’t be on mine. But I have yet to see Citizen Kane. Look how many comments you have on this post!

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