And the Oscar Goes To...

The Oscars aired on television last night; the first awards show that was held since the Writer's Guild of America came off of their three month strike. And while several other awards shows did get cancelled, it was nice to see that things got resolved before the Oscars were set to air. While some of the other awards shows that we get subjected to may be more entertaining due to their format, there is something different about the Oscars. More than the glitz and the glamour it is often about rooting for the movie that you liked most of all. Most years you will find movies that you have seen but there are some years, as was largely the case this year for many people, the major categories were full of movies not everyone, in fact very few people, had seen.

I don't think it's due to the fact that these movies are bad or that they deal with subjects that people aren't interested in but its more because these are movies that are a bit 'off the beaten trail'. In other words, most of the movies that were nominated were those that weren't wrought with major explosions or action sequences. There were no thrilling car chases (for the most part) or special effects-filled action sequences and so predominently they weren't the typical summer schlock that fills the screens and that allow you to check your brain at the door. These were the movies that were limited to a smaller number of screens or theatres for shorter durations and that was mainly because they were tailored more for the true movie fan rather than those of us who enjoy a mindless summer blockbuster. That's not to say these movies are snobby or not worth seeing but I think the people behind them knew that these weren't the type of movies to break box office records.

I remember the 1998 Oscars when "Titanic" won in almost every category that it was nominated in. It seemed that the movie could do no wrong that year. It also happened to be the one movie that everyone had pretty much seen at least once that year. Teenage girls had apparently seen it too many times to count making it one of the most profitable Best Picture winners in recent years. A lot of people at that time, at least the ones who can be truly called 'movie insiders', felt that this was a signal of a disturbing trend and that was the preponderance of summer blockbusters on a cinematic art form and if a movie like "Titanic" could win when compared to other great films that came out in that period, were the movies truly being judged on artistic merit or on popularity. It was like being back in high school and that wasn't going to stand. At least not exactly in that way.

Since then, most of the Best Picture and major category winners have been deservedly awarded. I can't say that I've seen every Best Picture and acting award winners but I know that when I see these films I come to understand why they were nominated in the first place and why they won in the second. But when do we see these films? Generally we end up seeing them when they're on DVD and therein is the problem that many of the writers had. I don't think "There Will Be Blood" or "No Country for Old Men" was even close to where "Rambo" was in terms of box office income or to the "Hannah Montana" movie but then again it was never expected to be. It will likely make tons in DVD rental and sales and that was the problem most writers had. Not all of them were privy to earning money from that income and as a result they felt they were shortchanged.

I think they deal they brokered will make for a more equitable arrangement for them and I hope they don't feel slighted to have to resort to striking again because despite what many in Hollywood think, if it isn't for the writers, they are just actors standing around on fancy sets in fake clothes. You can't have great acting like we've seen this year without great writers and they are the true winners at this years Oscars in my book. With such a diverse variety of stories and challenges for actors, they truly help showcase the talent and creativity that is there in Hollywood. Sure the majority of us enjoy pure entertainment films which require no thinking at all, but every once in a while, it is great to see acting that isn't a special effect.