Samuel L. Jackson has hit out at "Oscar bait movies".
The 67-year-old actor insists films such as Will Smith’s ‘Collateral Beauty’ – which tells the story of an ad executive who suffers a great tragedy and seeks answers from life by writing to Love, Time and Death – are clearly attempting to tug at the heart strings of Academy Awards voters.
He said: "There are all these ‘Oscar bait’ movies. I was looking at the trailer for this Will Smith movie the other day and I’m like, really? It’s another one of those, ‘Oh my God, life is so wonderful, take time to sniff the roses.’ "
Jackson also pointed towards ‘Manchester by the Sea’ and ‘Moonlight’ as movies which could be perceived as white and black films respectively because of the skin colour of the majority of actors and actresses in each of the films.
Speaking at the Dubai International Film Festival, he added: "The politics of what happens during this time of year is very interesting in Hollywood.
"The movies they choose to say are amazing and great, you know – ‘Manchester by the Sea,’ oh my god, you must see it, it’s an amazing film!’ But, eh, I guess it is – to somebody.
"It’s not an inclusive film, you know what I mean? And I’m sure that ‘Moonlight’ will be thought of the same way.
"They’ll say, ‘Well, that’s a black movie. Where are the white people?’ We’ll say the same thing about ‘Manchester by the Sea.’"
Earlier this year, several stars opted to boycott the Oscars over a lack of diversity among the nominees.
But actress Charlotte Rampling later claimed those who planned to boycott the Oscars over the lack of nominations for black people were being "racist to whites".
She later apologised and clarified her comments, saying: "I simply meant to say that in an ideal world every performance will be given equal opportunities for consideration.
"I am very honoured to be included in this year’s wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses."
Samuel L. Jackson slams ‘Oscar bait movies’
