Global perspective

The Oscar’s are upon us. Just a few more days. I’ve done a lot of thinking about the Oscar’s in the past couple of months, and I mentioned this on our show, but I really feel like the Oscar’s fall short in accomplishing a presentation of true greatness in film. In the United States, when a baseball team wins the World Series, Major League Baseball refers to them as the world champions. Are they really? Or are they just the United States champions?

Likewise, when the academy gives out awards for best picture, are these really the ten best pictures? In 2008 there is no question that “Revanche” was one of the best films of the year, but it was relegated to the foreign film category because it wasn’t American. I understand the Academy is designed to mostly celebrate Hollywood, but that means that the biggest night in movies is actually not about movies at all, it’s about American movies. Shouldn’t the biggest night in movies have a bit more of a global perspective?

Now I understand that if the Academy was designed to celebrate film on a more global level, people in the U.S. wouldn’t watch, because they don’t know jack about movies and are uncultured and shortsighted enough to believe that all movies are made in the U.S. This is disappointing. The Academy needs ratings, so it will just chug along on the current philosophy, but there is a bit of injustice here. Some people thought that something ridiculous like “The Hangover” deserved a best picture nom. Where is the outcry for the French film “A Prophet”?

Don’t get me wrong. I still love the Oscars. It’s one of the best nights of the year.

For the year, add seven more films.

Last of the Mohicans (yes again)

Oh Woe is Me

Revanche

Umberto D.

Goodbye Solo

Crazy Heart

Gomorrah

January – 33

February – 21

March so far – 2

56 total