but in the 2015 acting categories—all four of ‘em, a total of 20 slots—there wasn’t a single person of color. That’s despite several high-profile potential nominees, some of which had already been factors in this year’s other contests: Michael B. Jordan in Creed; Will Smith inConcussion; Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation; Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight; Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina; and Benecio del Toro in Sicario. Oh, and don’t forget about Tessa Thompson in Creed. Or Jason Mitchell in Straight Outta Compton. Or Zoe Saldana in Infinitely Polar Bear. Or Jada Pinkett-Smith inMagic Mike XXL. Or Mya Taylor inTangerine…
Literally the only one of those that should have been nominated was Benicio Del Toro.
As for diversity paying dividends, let's look at their examples:
Straight Outta Compton sold because people fucking love NWA. That's not diversity, that's a sure thing, a movie Hollywood would have been stupid not to make. If NWA had been white guys, the movie would have starred white guys.
Star Wars sold because it's literally the most successful media franchise of all time, and as such is also virtually guaranteed to succeed. It is the surest of sure things. On top of that there was a media blitz of biblical proportions which predominantly showcased the nostalgia of... a few particular white people. Not saying John Boyega and Oscar Isaac weren't great, it's just that diversity isn't what sold this movie.
As for Creed, again, has a Rocky movie ever lost money? Creed is great, Jordan is great in it and Coogler is a fantastic director. BUT, if Apollo Creed had been played by a white guy, this would be a white movie.
Is it weird to anyone else that #socialjustice is--of all things--a colonizing ideology? In the absence of proof to the contrary, it will take credit for literally anything good that happens. In this case, it's taking credit for simple capitalism.