"You can’t go to awards like the Oscars or the Grammys for validation. The validation is if your work still stands 25 years later," Spike Lee concluded in his response to "Selma" Oscar snubs. And he’s not the only filmmaker speaking out about the nominations this year, which don’t see one face of color in any of the acting categories. Stopping by "CBS This Morning" to talk about his upcoming animated film "Strange Magic," George Lucas — who is not a member of the Academy — was perhaps a little more cautious in his criticism but nonetheless barbed when asked on his thoughts around the controversy of the nominees this year.
"It’s a political campaign. It has nothing to do with artistic endeavor at all," he stated about the process. Having worked with David Oyelowo on "Red Tails," Lucas calls him "truly one of the great actors of all time." He calls out director Ava DuVernay‘s talents as well, and describes "Selma" as a "beautiful film." But for Lucas, it’s the dirty tricks around the entire season that he finds perhaps most unappealing.
"Why do we elect people who drift toward not the most talented, best, and brightest we have in the country? It’s all political, who can you slam, you can you do this to…what it does is, I think it hurts everybody," he says. And indeed, in the weeks leading up toward the Oscar vote, talk swirled around "Selma" about its apparent inaccuracies and there was some debate about whether or not voters got screeners in time. But there was little talk about the actual merit of the critically acclaimed film.
Thoughts? Share ’em below and watch Lucas’ CBS segment as well.