Posted: 7/3/20 at 2:46pm
CT2NYC said: "Broadway61004 said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "Saving this one to watch with my family for the 4th of July tomorrow.
Just a heads up, this is currently Oscar eligible. Unless the Oscars make a special ruling rendering this ineligible, I think this could be a Best Picture contender. We could see some of the performances recognized as well."
It may technically still be eligible right now, but I'd say there's less than a 1% chance it ends up that way. Otherwise every single Met production shown in cinemas over the past 10 years would have been eligible.
And even if it does end up eligible by some miracle, I'd say there's less than a 1% chance it would get nominated. Oscar voters are already completely rebelling against streaming services, so something on a streaming service that isn't even a film in the traditional sense? No way.
I could, however, see the Academy giving Lin an honorary Oscar or something along those lines."
1. In 1975, James Whitmore received a Best Actor nomination for his filmed stage performance in GIVE ‘EM HELL, HARRY, so there is precedent.
2. Due to the pandemic, streaming films will be eligible this year without a theatrical release.
3. In 2019, Roma, a Netflix film, won 3 Oscars: Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Director.
4. In previous years, only films shown in a theaterfor a run of seven consecutive days would be eligible, which is why none of the Metropolitan Opera performances or Fathom Events qualified.
No miracle necessary,there’s everyreason to believeHamiltonwill compete at the Oscars, as well as at the Golden Globes, where I think a Best Picture Musical or Comedy win is already a good bet, even withWest SideStoryyet to come."
Followup to your Point #4, in my lifetime opera has always had a niche audience who adores opera. They are in the drastic minority. It is inconceivable to me that operas would receive any nominations, even if eligible, unless it was a really bad year for some categories. Hamilton clearly does not have a niche audience; if anything, it has gotten people who never attend the theatre to express interest and actually attend when they can get tickets and afford those tickets. Whether Hamilton is eligible or not, I do believe that there are categories for which it should not be eligible, e.g., sets and costumes, music, song, because they were exactly the same as in the show.