Flavorwire

Countdown time: we’ve got less than a week to go until the presentation of this year’s Academy Awards, and the weeks we’ve spent parsing the categories and guessing at their winners got us thinking about the shortcomings of said categories. They haven’t added any awards since Best Animated Film was established back in 2001; that was the first new category in 30 years. Every winter we discuss ways to spice up the ceremony, whether it’s new hosts or new production ideas or streamlining the handing out of the statues — but maybe it’s time to rethink the categories themselves. After the jump, check out our suggestions for new and needed Oscar categories.

Best Ensemble

Aside from the big prize for Best Picture, the acting awards are probably the most discussed of the Oscar ceremony. But what’s interesting is how clearly they emphasize individual work and downplay team collaboration; there is no award for Best Ensemble, although the “Best Cast” honor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards is highly competitive. It’s basically their version of Best Picture, but it seems like there could be room for both at the Oscars, to acknowledge films with big, juicy roles and crackerjack ensembles (like, say, Silver Linings Playbook) that aren’t necessarily Best Picture material.

This year’s nominees: Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, Lincoln, Killer Joe, Cloud Atlas