Lights, camera, and… when did it become so lackluster? The once-glorious Oscars, a beacon for cinematic brilliance and box office titans, have sadly devolved into an interminable awards show featuring films most folks have never even heard of, let alone seen. Nowadays, the Oscars feel like a highbrow club where Hollywood elites slap each other on the back while the audience wonders if they accidentally tuned into an avant-garde French film festival.

There was a time, a gilded age in cinema, when the Oscars celebrated films that dazzled both the critics and the cash registers. Back in 1939, a veritable clash of the titans took place at the Oscars with classics like “Gone with the Wind,” “Wizard of Oz,” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” These were stories that entertained the masses and found their way into the cultural fabric, where they shall remain like indelible ink stains on a white carpet. But today’s contenders, one could argue, are about as memorable as trying to recall what they had for lunch last Tuesday.

Take, for instance, the bewildering choice of “Moonlight” a few years back. Sure, it was well-acted and beautifully shot, but it catered to such a niche audience that most people didn’t even realize they were invited to the party. Gone are the days of “Casablanca” and “The Godfather,” where anyone with a pulse and a penchant for great storytelling felt the cinematic magic. Now, it feels as if the Oscars are picking films for their political or social statements over real storytelling prowess.

This slide into obscurity seems a tragic comedy of errors for Hollywood. In the era of Shakespeare, the Bard wasn’t just the greatest playwright; he was the people’s favorite too. The same used to apply to movies. Why the disconnect now? It’s as if the Oscars are so determined to crown themselves king of the intellectual elite that they’ve forgotten their original audience—everyone else. They’ve become the cinephile equivalent of vegan bacon: great in theory but just not something the masses are clamoring to savor.

Amidst the sea of today’s gritty realism, social commentaries, and experimental narratives, the joyful collision of artistry and entertainment seems to have been lost. As we peruse lists of recent Oscar winners, we can’t help but grasp that longing for the days when the films were as grand as the actors accepting the awards. Sure, there are still moments of brilliance, but it often feels like searching for a diamond in a cubic zirconia mine.

So as the Oscar nominations roll in this year, there’s a part of us that will root nostalgically for the golden days. Let’s hope they rediscover the secret sauce of pairing enjoyment with excellence. Meanwhile, we can always turn to the treasure troves of classic cinema to remind us that once upon a time, Hollywood knew how to throw one heck of a show. And who knows? Maybe one day the Oscars will get back to their shining glory… or maybe they’ll finally create an award for best offbeat film that’s also watchable.