Oscar Bait? Yeah no

Rating: 3/10 (20 February 2019)

This coming Oscars season, Marvel Studios so called "critically acclaimed film" Black Panther has been nominated for Best Picture. Sure, the film offers somewhat decent visual effects, a funky soundtrack and a stacked cast, but is it worthy of their Oscar nod?
Many films over the last few decade have been snubbed of this critical award nomination, such as:

The Matrix, Cast Away, Kill Bill, The Dark Knight, Gran Torino, Foxcatcher, Gone Girl, Blade Runner 2049

Each of these films encompass amazing scenes, cinematography, script, performances, and were all reviewed with critical success. Yet, none were even considered as a nomination for Best Picture, something many people still disagree with to this day, but black panther. Black Panther! Black panther gets a nomination?
The Dark Knight, often regarded as the best superhero live-action film of all time, with one of the few performances where someone was awarded an Oscar for their performance as a superhero character, was not nominated for best picture. Fair enough, it is a comic book movie. But, The Dark Knight is barely even considered a superhero film, rather, a drama, revolving around concepts of good and evil, and realistic themes, such as terrorism, justice and trust. It makes you consider, what made Black Panther so great to get this nomination?
Sure, Marvel has had an array of successful films, both critically and at the box office. However, is Black Panther "the film", that allows Marvel studios to obtain its first nomination for best picture?
In my opinion, Black Panther was an overrated picture. Heavily dominated by the African-American demographic of America, it was listed as the highest domestic box office statistics of all time. This is heavily due to the culture impact it had on the African-American community, however, quality over quantity.
I am not the only one who agrees that the only reason that Black Panther was nominated was due to this cultural wave. More often than not, the academy does not tend to go for big Hollywood, blockbuster films, who score big at the box office. Rather, they lean towards more independent, indie based films, which don't perform largely at the box office which don't tend to have large budgets.
Black Panther is the epitome of this philosophy. It made $1.3 billion USD at the global box office. It's budget was $200 million, typical of a Hollywood action movie. It's storyline and premise was basic, and it's character development was mediocre. For me, I was slightly entertained. It was part of the marvel films universe, and it had some decent action. However, I didn't leave the cinema impressed, or leave thinking that was a different movie that I've seen, or unique in any sort. It followed the same origin movie formula, something that has been occurring a lot lately. The antagonist was not depicted any better. Again, we see a villain who has the same ability, same suit as the protagonist, just with a different colour palate!?
I was shocked to see it receive this nomination this year, and even the speculations that it would win. Those who believe these rumours are consumed by the hype and the cultural trend of America. Overall, it was okay, but definitely not Oscar worthy.
The story of the film is convoluted, and it lacks any pizzazz that helps to make the film unique. I quite disliked level of acting also, and the overall need to use visual effects.
I am a little annoyed that a film like Black Panther gets nominated, yet ,"If beale street could talk", doesn't get any nomination at all? It just shows how the academy can become so convinced of a film to be nominated, due to the overall outcry from a general audience.
In my opinion, the critics got this one extremely wrong. It received a 97% on rotten tomatoes, another biased marvel based review! It was crazed by everyone, and that is what originally made me excited for the film. Upon my arrival however, I came to realise how wrong I was. A "What are those" Joke in 2018, really? The comedy was so generic and utterly butchered, that I didn't have much to enjoy in the movie except for Kendrick Lamar's soundtrack.
I am disappointed that this is the film that creates "history" by receiving a best picture nomination, and I believe the academy gave in to the bait on this one, big time.