8. Politics and Period Pieces
If theres one thing the Academy loves, its a film that has absolutely nothing to do with today! From Saving Private Ryan to The Artist, make a film that isnt contemporary (or god-forbid, the future) and youve already increased your Oscar chances by at least 35%. The Academy loves films that tackle serious issues and deals with history. Its why so very few horror, science fiction, or fantasy films ever grace the Oscar Best Picture category. The Iranian hostage crisis provides the backdrop for a story that can deal with some political elements but not be controversial as well.