Polish or Labor

A few weeks ago, the country hemmed and hawed at celebrities strutting the red carpet and hamming it up on camera during the 87th annual Academy Awards. Anchoring the egregiously long television event is the award for best picture, so popular that most people in this nation understand what ‘Oscar season’ means. And yet, after researching the last decade of nominees, I’ve only seen 30% of them. My movie taste has barely evolved since I built my first top-ten list, requiring a mammoth personal experience with a film to even sniff the top 20. While it’s easier with music, I think it’s hard to untie the feelings and emotions and reactions to a movie when you first truly discovered the role they can play in your life. These days it’s unlikely that a movie will change my life. When I was 16, everything changed my life. I’m not saying that I can’t still learn or change or grow, but I’m a little less impressionable as I approach 30. Given all of this information, I think it’s pretty easy to determine that I am no movie expert and most certainly could not weigh an educated guess or suggestion on who or what deserves a heavy, gold statue.

Then why did I feel satisfaction when [spoiler alert] Birdman beat out Boyhood for the coveted Best Picture notoriety?

Here’s what I know about the two movies. Birdman had an exceptional cast, depicted life in Hollywood and on Broadway, and didn’t have many camera cuts. Boyhood had an impressive cast as well, tackled the issue of growing up, and used the same actors over a twelve year period to track the true progress of a boy coming of age.

About a month ago, the equally useless Grammys took place for the 57th time. Equally focused, the ceremony crescendos with album of the year. And again repeating history, Kanye West took it upon himself to sound off about a winner, claiming Beyoncé should have won album of the year instead of Beck. Once again, I haven’t listed to either album. But what I do know is the internet backlash against Mr. West was profound, usually citing the number of contributors on Queen B’s album while pointing out the unbelievable range of individual talent that Beck displayed, writing and performing the whole darn thing by himself.

Then why do I find myself uncomfortable with the whole situation, especially as someone who listens to a genre of music that takes pride in talent, ability, and live performances of real instruments? Because the award wasn’t ‘Who was the most talented musician that made an album,’ and it wasn’t ‘Solo album of the year,’ and it wasn’t even ‘Who accomplished more with the music they made.’ The name of the award is Album of the Year.

Does how something gets made impact your reception of it? Or another way, do the means justify the ends?

While no one doubts that Boyhood is an amazing accomplishment in film-making, does that mean it’s a good movie? Does it impact the way you view it? When you watch it, do you have to think ‘this is a little boring, but that kid basically grew up on camera, so I’m going to like it a little more?’ Can you separate the two, assuming you already know the story? I heard an interview where some B-lister saw the movie and remarked how impressive the casting was to find young actors that looked so much alike as time passed. He had no idea it was the same kid. Does that make the viewing better or worse?

I was raised to respect the talent of musicians. My family has spent hours fawning over the mind-blowing ability of Jimmy Page, Alvin Lee, and Lindsay Buckingham, amongst others. When my interests turned to rock and heavy metal, it was the unimaginable guitars and drumming that mystified me, a body void of musical aptitude. But ask a non-metal head how they feel about the music, and their reaction will be the same: they might be talented, but it sounds like shit. At the end of the day, what matters more? Are they talented, or is the music good?

There is no black or white answer to this, but surprisingly, I fall on the Birdman and Beyoncé side. It shouldn’t matter how you got there, only that you got there. Music is made to sound good, and movies are made to be enjoyed. And I’d rather have a great sounding song that was made by machines than the best guitarist in the world producing crap.

Of course, you can have both. And maybe Boyhood IS an amazing movie that ALSO was a feat to make. And maybe Beck’s album IS a delight to listen to that ALSO was an impressive display of music. And in those scenarios, the how it got made can enhance the what got made. But choosing between the two? Give me polish over labor.