Oscar Preview

With the Academy Awards starting in just under an hour, I have to say I'm not looking forward to the awards ceremony much this year.

I'm not going to deny that any of the best picture nominees aren't worthy of their nominations. I wouldn't know. I haven't seen them.

Together, the five best picture nominees have made under $250 million dollars. That may seem like a lot, and it is...even in the movie biz. It's not commonly known outside the business that one blockbuster hit pays for approximately 10 other movie. But that not one nominee was a blockbuster sure seems troubling.

Now, I'm not going to go on for too long here. You can read my earlier post "'Real' to 'Reel' not what Americans want" for more of my opinions on Hollywood today. I do, however, feel the Oscars often get it wrong--if not in the nominations, then with the winners themselves.

Some years there is an abundance of worthy movies and to look at historical snubs (for example, "Pulp Fiction" or "Shawshank Redemption") wouldn't be fair. Besides, every year around this time that topic gets covered ad naseum. This year, however, I predict the Oscars will have difficulty finding viewers due not to the quality of the movies it has nominated, but to the popularity of them. No better year, then, for Hollywood to make its boldest statements: the movie about gay cowboys will surely win. No one will argue that it beat out something better because, well, no one saw the others either!

They also say George Clooney is the front runner for Best Supporting Actor and that may be. His outspoken political views make him a Hollywood favorite (and his good looks don't hurt him, either). But remember, he was snubbed for his superior work in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and the Oscars, in my opinion, seem to have a penchant for rewarding people years after they really deserve it.

Look at "Lord of the Rings". Should've won Best Picture THREE YEARS IN A ROW! Denzel Washington should've won his award for "Philadelphia". Instead they waited until he was nominated in "Training Day" to give him an Oscar. (You think these things aren't planned? Remember, that was the year the Oscars had a theme to honor black actors in film and Halle Barry also won Best Actress.)

Despite endless examples of "getting it wrong", the Oscars have gotten right a few times. "Silence of the Lambs" rightfully swept the five major awards. "Schindler's List" should have won two awards for Best Picture (it was just that good...and long enough, too).

Then there's the choice of host. There's two options: Billy Crystal or anybody else. Billy Crystal can make even the most awful awards night palatable (or Palance-able). The rest have had varying success. I, for one, am looking forward to John Stewart's opening. I fear, however, that it will be downhill from there.

Besides, "Batman Begins" should've won, I don't care what anybody says.