The Oscars are purportedly about honoring the best movies of the year, but they also serve as a proxy war between old-guard Hollywood studios and next-generation streaming services. So if you want to root for the home team this year, you can cheer for your favorite studio to block Netflix Inc. from taking the first-ever best picture statue for a streaming service.
This year, Netflix actually has a pretty good shot at the prize that has so long eluded the tech industry. The company reportedly spent $25 million-plus to win Academy votes for its racehorse—the black-and-white, Alfonso Cuarón masterpiece, “Roma.” And it hired Oscar strategist Lisa Taback, the woman behind the campaigns for “The King’s Speech,” “The Artist” and “Spotlight,” to help shepherd Roma to victory.