Oscars 2019: 'Green Book' beats Netflix's 'Roma' for Best Picture

25 Feb 2019 | Rasmus Larsen |

While many had predicted that Netflix’s Roma would win the Oscar for best motion picture at the 2019 Oscars, Green Book ultimately came out on top. Netflix’s participation at the awards ceremony continues to divide opinion.

No Best Picture Oscar for Netflix

Netflix had spent an estimated $25-30 million on its Oscar campaign for Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, which is almost double the production budget for the movie. Netflix had its eyes on winning the most prestigious Oscar, which would have been a first for any streaming service and an important milestone for the company.

Roma had been nominated in a total of 10 categories and took home three awards, including an Oscar for best foreign language film, but it did not win the best motion picture award. That Oscar went to Green Book that also won in two other categories. Bohemian Rhapsody took home four awards while Black Panther took home three. Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse won the Oscar for best animated film.

Green Book

Netflix’s participation at the Academy Awards show continues to divide opinion. One of the contentious issues being debated is a qualifying run in theaters. This simply means that any movie must be shown in cinema before it can qualify for an Oscar. It is the second rule of play: ”Publicly exhibited by means of 35mm or 70mm film, or in a 24- or 48-frame progressive scan Digital Cinema format with a minimum projector resolution of 2048 by 1080 pixels”.

In order to participate – and to appease some of its biggest filmmakers – Netflix has been giving a few of its films such as Roma and Birdbox a limited theatrical run in select countries. Major cinema chains typically demand an exclusive window of at least 90 days and some have argued that Netflix is essentially playing the system. Steven Spielberg has argued that Netflix is producing TV movies that should not qualify for Oscar nomination.

Netflix Roma

The debate will surely continue as more companies are about to enter the streaming race. Apple, Disney, and WarnerMedia are all planning to launch their respective streaming services later this year.

Many had expected Netflix’s Roma to win this year’s top price, which would in some ways legitimize the streaming model. It did not happen but the shift is already underway. Perhaps the academy is simply not ready. As some people in Hollywood have said; a vote for Roma is a vote for Netflix.

Academy Awards 2019

Best motion picture of the year: BLACK PANTHER BLACKkKLANSMAN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY THE FAVOURITE GREEN BOOK ROMA A STAR IS BORN VICE
Best foreign language film of the year: CAPERNAUM (Lebanon) COLD WAR (Poland) NEVER LOOK AWAY (Germany) ROMA (Mexico) SHOPLIFTERS (Japan)
Best animated feature film of the year: INCREDIBLES 2 ISLE OF DOGS MIRAI RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
Performance by an actress in a leading role: Yalitza Aparicio in ROMA Glenn Close in THE WIFE Olivia Colman in THE FAVOURITE Lady Gaga in A STAR IS BORN Melissa McCarthy in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Amy Adams in VICE Marina de Tavira in ROMA Regina King in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK Emma Stone in THE FAVOURITE Rachel Weisz in THE FAVOURITE
Performance by an actor in a leading role: Christian Bale in VICE Bradley Cooper in A STAR IS BORN Willem Dafoe in AT ETERNITY'S GATE Rami Malek in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Viggo Mortensen in GREEN BOOK
Performance by an actor in a supporting role: Mahershala Ali in GREEN BOOK Adam Driver in BLACKkKLANSMAN Sam Elliott in A STAR IS BORN Richard E. Grant in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? Sam Rockwell in VICE
Achievement in cinematography: COLD WAR THE FAVOURITE NEVER LOOK AWAY ROMA A STAR IS BORN
Achievement in costume design: THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS BLACK PANTHER THE FAVOURITE MARY POPPINS RETURNS MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
Achievement in directing: BLACKkKLANSMAN COLD WAR THE FAVOURITE ROMA VICE
Best documentary feature: FREE SOLO HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING MINDING THE GAP OF FATHERS AND SONS RBG
Best documentary short subject: BLACK SHEEP END GAME LIFEBOAT A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE.
Achievement in film editing: BLACKkKLANSMAN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY THE FAVOURITE GREEN BOOK VICE
Achievement in makeup and hairstyling: BORDER MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS VICE
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score): BLACK PANTHER BLACKkKLANSMAN IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK ISLE OF DOGS MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song): "All The Stars" from BLACK PANTHER "I'll Fight" from RBG "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from MARY POPPINS RETURNS "Shallow" from A STAR IS BORN "When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings" from THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
Achievement in production design: BLACK PANTHER THE FAVOURITE FIRST MAN MARY POPPINS RETURNS ROMA
Best animated short film: ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR BAO LATE AFTERNOON ONE SMALL STEP WEEKENDS
Best live action short film: DETAINMENT FAUVE MARGUERITE MOTHER SKIN
Achievement in sound editing: BLACK PANTHER BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY FIRST MAN A QUIET PLACE ROMA
Achievement in sound mixing: BLACK PANTHER BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY FIRST MAN ROMA A STAR IS BORN
Achievement in visual effects: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR CHRISTOPHER ROBIN FIRST MAN READY PLAYER ONE SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
Adapted screenplay: THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS BLACKkKLANSMAN CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK A STAR IS BORN
Original screenplay: THE FAVOURITE FIRST REFORMED GREEN BOOK ROMA VICE