One interesting aside ... it is still beyond my understanding as to why the Academy still voted Gladiator as Best Picture, when it was clear that they were on a path to fully honor it as the year's best film. I mean, look what Traffic was winning on Oscar Night prior to Best Picture, it claimed a Screenplay award, Best Film Editing, one acting award, and Best Director. The win for Soderbergh as Best Director looked to be a clear indication that perhaps the Academy would be stepping out to make the bolder, more deserving choice of Traffic for Best Picture, and there was genuine excitement for the first time in a while when the Best Picture envelope was opened. One sensed an upset in the works.
I wish the Academy would release the actual vote totals, because I bet the totals between Gladiator and Traffic were very near each other. Traffic had also won Film Editing, which is sometimes the key small award as to which film ultimately wins Best Picture. I am thankful however that they did manage to give one of the night's two biggest surprises to Soderbergh, for his clearly deserving direction of one of the most powerful films of recent times.
Which brings me to my point this week ... I think it's clearly understandable why Best Picture and Best Director could be split between two films. The Academy Awards are designed to single out individual film achievements, such as film editing, sound, writing, and cinematography. According to the mentality of those who argue that Picture and Director should always match, then the Best Picture selection should just be given every other award too. They argue that the best directed film of the year must also be the overall Best Picture, but I disagree. Directing can be singled out just like any of the other achievements honored by the Academy.
For instance, let's examine this year. When I thought of the five best directors of the year, I simply examined the directorial achievements presented on screen, and that's why in my personal list of five Best Picture and five Best Director nominees, I found only two films where I nominated both the film and the director ... Traffic and Soderbergh, and Cameron Crowe and Almost Famous.
