Inevitable, Ubiquitous...Glorious!

I haven't posted much about the Oscars during this period, largely because everybody else is and there didn't seem much to add. I will say this though: I'm excited about them and I'm looking forward to the results.

There is a certain type of critic, you see - a type that, for the most part, The Knowledge loves reading, for their passion, intellect and analysis, but who is either dismissive or gets agitated about 'the Academy' and their awards. The argument goes that the films honoured are the same old Hollywood product, that the variety and depth of world cinema is not recognised and that the entertainment industry is far too obsessed with them. Some or all of this is true.

And completely misses the point. The reality of the matter is that unless you're Paul Schrader and saw no films until a certain point in your life and your first experiences were of Dreyer, Bresson and Ozu, as a cinefile, your love grew out of movie, out of star systems and glamour and hackneyed dialogue and colour and fun. I think to deny this part of it is to lack a sense of humour and to go without many of the pleasures.