This year's Academy Awards, under the seemingly glamorous surface, are actually turbulent. The Academy Awards, which have always been regarded as the vane of the Chinese film industry, seem to be losing their former glory. Tony Leung won the actor again, which should be a thing worth celebrating, but his award caused a lot of controversy. Many people believe that his performance in "Goldfinger" is not enough to support this award, and some voices even suggest that he "abdicate and make way for Xian" to give the younger generation more opportunities.
When it comes to the younger generation, we have to face an embarrassing fact: they are almost nowhere to be seen on the list of nominees this time. Among the Hong Kong artists nominated for Best Actor, Tony Leung is 61 years old, Lin Baoyi is 58 years old, Wong Zihua is 62 years old, and the youngest Lu Zhenye is also 38 years old. Obviously, on the stage of the Academy Awards, the lack of young power is a problem that cannot be ignored.
What's even more discussable is that the popular mainland comedian Dapeng only showed up on the nomination list, but it didn't make too many waves. At the same time, in previous years, the Academy Awards often saw big-name stars such as Andy Lau, Jackie Chan, and Chow Yun-fat, but this year they are crowded. Except for a very small number of veteran stars such as Sammo Hung, Carina Lau, Louis Koo, Fung Delun and Aaron Kwok and others who attended, most big-name artists chose to be absent.
On the one hand, the reason behind this may be that the overall market influence of Hong Kong films is gradually weakening, and many artists have begun to turn to the more active mainland market. On the other hand, the positioning of the Academy Awards itself is also changing, from an award that attracts the attention of global Chinese people, to a more localized and niche event.
In contrast, the film big data festival held in the mainland at the same time was star-studded. The attendance of Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Jackie Chan, Yao Chen and other top stars formed a stark contrast. Obviously, not only movie fans, but also industry insiders are gradually shifting their focus, shifting from Hong Kong's film awards to mainland film events.
At last year's Golden Rooster Awards, the absence of Hong Kong's big-name artists was equally eye-catching. The golden age of Hong Kong cinema seems to be gone. Many veteran filmmakers admit that Hong Kong films are facing unprecedented challenges, including insufficient funding, loss of audiences, and the cultivation of new talents.
In such an environment, although the Academy Awards strive to maintain its tradition and influence, it is clear that it is difficult to avoid these deep-seated issues. The scarcity of some once glorious veteran filmmakers at the Academy Awards may be a microcosm of this industry transformation and cultural change.
At this year's Academy Awards, Tony Leung's award is not only a personal honor, but also a collective reflection on the current situation of Hong Kong films. Although his "Goldfinger" may not be superior at the box office and market response, his reputation as an actor still reminds everyone of the glory of Hong Kong films. Still, Tony Leung's own statement at the awards ceremony also showed a kind of helplessness, and his low-key and modesty may reflect the mentality of the entire Hong Kong film industry.
For the absence of the younger generation, many voices in the industry have also expressed concern. They believe that without the injection of new blood, the future of Hong Kong films is worrying. Young actors grew up in a very different environment from the older generation, facing more diverse entertainment consumption needs and fierce international competition. This is not only a challenge for individuals, but also for the industry as a whole.
The selection mechanism and criteria of the Academy Awards have also been the focus of external discussions, with some commentators pointing out that the selection of judges and the transparency of the awards have always been key to enhancing the international impact of the awards. However, judging from the situation this year, these problems have still not been fundamentally solved.
How Hong Kong films can break through the current predicament and regain their place in the global film market will undoubtedly become the focus of attention within the industry and fans. So what do you guys think about this?