“When there were more than five nominees for best picture between 1934 and 1943, the preferential ballot was used to choose winners,” which is why it’s being reinstituted now, likely leading to “schizophrenic and illogical” results. “One of the most notable disagreements between those races back in the old days led to one of Oscar’s greatest tragedies: the snubbing of one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, Alfred Hitchcock, who ended up going to his grave Oscarless….”