Sarah Polley on ‘The Woman King’ and ‘Till’ Snubs: “The Game is Rigged”

I always liked Sarah Polley’s unique filmmaking vision. If you’ve seen “Take This Waltz” or “Away From Her,” then you know what I’m talking about.

As far as I’m concerned, Polley took a major step back with her speechy slog, “Women Talking,” which somehow managed to nab a Best Picture nomination. Now she’s backing up the ridiculous movement that “The Woman King” and “Till” deserved to be in the Best Picture race and were only hampered by racism.

She also went as far as to tell IndieWire’s Kate Erbland that the game is rigged for black filmmakers.

Ditto James Bond producer Barbara Broccolli who seems bitter that “Till” and its lead actress Danielle Deadwyler didn’t get nominated. Deadwyler, I get it, it was a very good performance, but there are only five nominees, what are you going to do?

It’s rather strange that “The Woman King” and “Till” are the films many are willing to die on a hill for. It’s not like they were one of the best reviewed films from last year, and lest we be reminded that there are only ten nominees for Best Picture.

No, ‘Woman King’ (#22) and ‘Till’ (#42) weren’t even in the top 20 most listed films on critics ten best lists for 2022. Does that mean there’s also some good ol’ inherited racist attitudes going around film criticism?

If anything, people should be crying foul about how Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” a much better-reviewed, and ambitious, movie didn’t get any Oscar love. It was the best black-directed movie from last year, definitely much better than ‘Woman King’ or ‘Till.’ Is there no outrage for the “Nope” snub because Peele is male?

While we’re at it, someone might as well start a campaign about how David Cronenberg’s “Crimes of the Future” should have been nominated in multiple categories. Fat chance.