The biggest joke of the century is that Barbie is actually nominated? I am not saying that it didn't try to have some sort of meaning, there isn't really just some dancing and chat, there is this main idea behind it as well, and that's understandable, the whole "Barbie created terrible expectations from woman" type of situation and I agree, BUT when we are talking about a movie about potentially what caused the death of all humans, I would say the idea behind Barbie can't ever be taken seriously. And... it's Barbie lol, seriously? Barbie? Oppenheimer will win this one without even trouble, it is not going to be even a discussion about it, there isn't even any movie that could be alternative to it.
Other categories are fine too, but Cillian Murphy MUST win the best actor, that dude played the role perfectly, I wouldn't say a single line was out of order, he played it so amazingly on every single scene he was in, he definitely deserves it no question.
I am not sure why should movies be comparable in this way. Why couldn't movies with different genres enter into the game? Imho depth is just a matter of perspective and we need all kinds of movies. The idea that movies should all be heavy to process, artsy, or deal with concepts like oppenheimer in order to be taken seriously, would leave us with pretty bleak cinema.
Lack of depth in a movies is in eye of beholder as you can see lots of levels in different movies. They don't all need to be sad or direct about something that happened. It's not about who makes the saddest and most realistic movie should win. And it's not like Barbie went with the easiest route. It went all in bashing the very firm it was advertising. Backgrounds weren't digitally added. But moved by hand. Music was actually well done considering it was mostly musical. Imho it was bold and original, and left Bechdel test seem to be like a bad memory in movie history.
Sometimes being funny is the sugar we need to get the medicine in while being all preachy about it.
Edit: This might make it more difficult for judges to justify "best leading role" or something like that, but i assume it makes it more predictable for outcomes, as many people will see "serious" and sad roles with genocide ect, as winners. Which they often are. But there are other areas to judge, which makes the whole event more interesting and fair