87th Academy Awards ceremony is the Sunday night while there is diversity of filmmaking styles on display, they're a bit complacent this is the widest group of nominees in years and then of course there's always complains about what's been left out and what's been included. Here to discuss this year's nominees are KBPS arts and culture reporter Beth Dr. Mott no hideout back I thanks and film critic Iain Forbes writes for showbiz junkies and is a member of the San Diego film critics Society you'd welcome back Thank you Belles lettres starve by talking about the criticism the Academy receipt for the lack of diversity among the nominees -- that you think is justified? I think the criticisms justified but I would say that the Academy is also hindered by the fact that they have a very specific pool of field staff to choose from which is what films were made during the course of the year so I don't think it's quite fair to call them racist but because I think what Hollywood is making is rather bland and kind of homogeneous so maybe that Chris and Lisa go one step back to the studios and I think is basically reflecting the fact that there is a complete lack of diversity behind the camera and that's where you really need to start having diversity to make those changes to see those people up run and get more nominations. Al Selma was the only African-American centric film nominated here's a clip from Selma Files continues toward the unarmed people of Selma while there assaulted with tear gas and batons like an enemy in a war -- no citizen of this country can call themselves label as we all bear a responsive -- responsibility for our fellow man -- I am appealing to men and women of God and goodwill everywhere. Five -- white black and otherwise if you believe all are created equal, come to Selma and join us and join our march against injustice and inhumanity -- we need you to stand with us. That was a clip from Selma. The only African-American centric film nominated for this year's Academy Awards -- and you think it start David O you'll only available low low -- was overlooked by the Academy? Sadly does when I did get to watch this year I wasn't able to make I'm not even exactly sure at the there might've been one screening for us and consider screener out to San Diego film critics societies so it was hard to judge that one Beth Keck Day deftly could've removed a couple of the people from the acting category for best actor and swap it out with him is back But you know the thing also is when they do go to films about African-Americans and they tend to want to go to what I call these Oscar bait films which of these films that are very weighted down with what they feel are important messages and they go to a film like Selma or like Malcolm X. or things like that and rather than looking at some of the John or films that are out there that might be more interesting and that have some very strong performers as well How he and you are part of the San Diego film critics what did the honor this year Well are big Dick was nightcrawler -- we gave it seven awards which probably five or six years of been there I think is the most we've given anyone film part of that I think is us recognizing I think it was an excellent excellent film but also one of 14 wasn't that interesting of a year for film in general there I can struggle to find a top five let alone a top 10 for the year so that makes it difficult Lesser clip from nightcrawler The name of my company is video production news a professional newsgathering service that's how it should be read in that's how it should be said. I also want to go to the next room and meet your team and the station manager and director of the acre and start developing my own personal relationships I like to start meeting them this morning you'll take to run and introduced as the owner and president of video production is a remind them of some of my many other stories and I'm not done -- I also want to stop our discussion overprice at this will save time so when I say that up to your numbers is my lowest prices that file is present you can be assured that I write that without whatever the number is very carefully now when I say that I want these things -- I mean that I want them and I don't want to have to ask again -- That's a clip from nightcrawler's Jack Hill et al. -- so this film was overlooked in the best picture category by the egg headed towards an why do you think it's got no traction Well it's a bit of a darker film which when you look at the demographic for the Oscar voters, who are over 90% where 90% white and 60 some years old -- is not a film that is readily palatable so I think and also your protagonist is a sociopath so he's the modern-day Travis Pichler Patrick Bateman he's that strong of a role -- it's not one where you can go in and feel empathy for him -- you're actually kind of cringing from what is doing and wondering is something going to be able to stop him from doing what he wants to do -- so I think is tough for people to go with Is or anything you think was overlooked up in the Oscar for best picture this year? Home I got my list is so long. But I would narrow it down I think the one thing that really saddened me was to not see Tilda Swinton for snow piercer it's a bit of an over-the-top performance she's got these but to you but she is someone who can -- he still manages to find once in the performance despite all the big theatrics of it and it was such a fun performance in that film was overlooked as well and so I'm really saddened to not see that up there And there was also in the best film category Industrial category I would love to have seen things like gone girl and inherent vice films which is what Dean was talking about with nightcrawler were a little too dark to really get any traction with the Academy voters And there was one movie really like that was not was just out of bounds because of the way it was released right Yes. This was a very thing for best actresses of tenure and is tragic that this film me Bob Duke which is an distraught Australian horror film was considered ineligible because it was released video on demand first which is streaming and it didn't have according to the Academy rules you have to play seven days in Los Angeles at a theater in order to be considered and as the Davis was amazing and I think head shoulders above anyone who was nominated Is this SE Davis in this that we have ST Davis from the movie Bob Duke You can't get rid of the Bob Duke -- if you're a clever one and you know what there is to see then you can make friends with a special one a friend of you and me -- his name is Mr. Bob Duke and this is his book -- and three sharp knocks -- pop Bob Duke there. That's when you know he's around ECM if you look -- you see him if you look Bob Duke Duke Duke That was from a Bob a duck and I here in this movie was too scary for you That clip creep me out I couldn't wait to hear the sound -- I'm Beth those is very well I'm a bit was when it comes to modern-day horror film so I heard amazing things about this film pretty much universal really rated about and I'm a little surprised it didn't a little more traction just for notice of it -- and I'm sure it's done well with four films in the last 10 years or so especially data Concentrating on the actual movies out for the awards boyhood is often picked as one of the favorites that we due to think of the film I'm not a big fan of it. I think Rick corrector rich click letter to the amazing thing and being ambitious about the story he wanted to tell and taking the same actors over the course of 12 years and filming a segment of the summer basically but the problem for me basically is it Susan Zickmund 12 times in a row pet Patricia Arquette continues to make that choice is about men and the kids to the same cycle over and over again so was interested at the beginning and is nice to see the resolution at hand but I felt it was too long of an experiment maybe a few done six years Beth? I feel it's a gimmick. If he had shot over 12 years with one actor and used three actors to play the character at different points, no one would be talking about it for Oscar it's a good independent film but it's not best film of the year in my mind. It's a gimmick it was ambitious but I don't feel like used the shooting over that length of time to find any new insights into the characters or the story What you think about the host of this year's Academy Awards Neil Patrick here. We are excited -- Cannot wait he's done a great job posting before like to 20 words and things that I've been a big fan from gatehouse or through his 10 time [ indiscernible - multiple speakers ] He's fantastic and he's got a great range of comedy and musical theater that is going to let us up to what I hope to be a very good opening number during the question the only question will be what continue the trend of Oscars we have a good opening number that you don't really see the host again -- Is there anything they could do better to make the show more watchable Well the first thing I would do is cut out the best song category in its entirety because dominated the Sox only encourage movies to create horrible best songs that we didn't have to listen to although it is the only time you can get up and go to the bathroom so back I like one of them I would allow more time for the winners to talk and less time for presenters to talk I think that would help I think it's more if you're gonna be boarded rather be bored by somebody being genuine and spontaneous in their acceptance presents him with a badly scripted joke back as early thing that you're dreading to see is it the songs The songs are always painful for me Well, no, I agree with you that often the Sox are better they try that when you're with adjusted like a medley of all five it was really weird and it's a shame though I did like one son lost stars from to get again it's a great site however Kira Knightley version is her version is better than animal feeds is probably going to be the one performing it especially you know -- How about the red carpet there's so much data that these days is that an important part of your Oscar watching experience yes It's fun. You have to makes snarky comments and see what people are wearing and listen to the stupid questions that they're being asked and look at the blank faces of the intelligent actors and actresses who don't want to have to say the name of the designer of their clothes for the 18th time on the red carpet but as part of the whole process you know it's part of the whole event and you can of have to take the whole package It's kind of early the last element of real pageantry that Oscars have at this point so So let me go out with your pics -- what you think will win best picture and what you want to win Beth I think that boyhood is probably going to take the prize for best picture and I would be much happier to see whiplash, bird man or grand Budapest hotel Wait a minute let's start with whiplash for a minute because JK Simmons is also he's nominated in this supporting actor category Great nominations back you like that one One of the few that you've actually like -- what is good about his performance He plays a teacher who pushes the students a bit too far and he has these great over-the-top scenes like the airbrake character and full metal jacket but what's really scary is when he's nice and quiet and what's interesting is the guy who wrote this has written horror films and he said that when writing his script, he looked to some horror tropes in writing seem so yes he was just brilliant he takes your breath away So you should pick for best supporting Yes of the ones that I can I think use the lock we think is a lock could be one good thing to walk away from And he and your pics of what will win best picture and what you would like to win What will win I think Girdwood will end up taking it not that I want to but I can't pick that crawler so I probably go American sniper out of that list it wasn't necessarily my favorite on the list but you know it's a long time since I like to Clint Eastwood film but thought they told that story very well and Bradley Cooper was very good and Centerville read it recognizer was quite good even just the two of them Oh okay all right the Academy Awards as I said this is Sunday starts at 4 PM so get your popcorn ready. Cater cocktails I did speak with KPBS Ccrp of Beth Occam I don't have film critic Iain Forbes thank you very much back thank you Be sure to watch KBPS in addition of five and 630 tonight at KPBS television and join us tomorrow for Midday Edition Friday) KBPS FM. On Maureen Cavanaugh thank you for listening.
The 87th Academy Awards are this Sunday (red carpet begins at 4 p.m.). Vegas oddsmakers have the independent film "Boyhood" as the favorite with the Clint Eastwood war film "American Sniper" as the extreme long shot. Find out what a pair of San Diego film critics think of this year's Oscar race.
While there is a diversity of filmmaking styles on display among the nominated films, there have been complaints that this is the whitest group of nominees in years. The "Selma" nomination for best picture is the one exception. It focused on the campaign of Martin Luther King Jr. to secure equal voting rights through a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., in 1965.
But does the lack of ethnic diversity among the nominees reflect an underlying racism among Academy voters or does it say something about the pool of films from which they had to choose?
Beth Accomando said it reflects "the lack of diversity behind the camera in Hollywood rather than a racist bias on the part of voters. But whether it's the fault of Academy voters or the studios making mostly white films, Hollywood needs to address the lack of diversity among the people writing and directing its films."
Every Oscar race stirs some kind of debate or controversy over who gets nominated and who doesn't.
For Ian Forbes, a member of the San Diego Film Critics Society, the greatest oversight among this year's nominees is the omission of "Nightcrawler" from the top categories. The film cleaned up at the San Diego Film Critics Society's awards, winning seven categories including best film, best director for Dan Gilroy, and best actor for Jake Gyllenhaal.
For a less serious take on the Oscars, check out Barbarella Fokos' tip on watching the show and how it could be made better.
You can find a complete list of the nominees for the 87th Academy Awards at the Oscar website, complete with a printable ballot. You can find Accomando's picks for the year's best on Cinema Junkie.
The Oscars will be telecast live on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 22 starting at 4 p.m. Neil Patrick Harris will be the host.
