They never fail to disappoint

So it is time again for my annual rant about the Academy Awards, and yet again, they screwed it up, again. This should surprise no one.

In past years, I have sounded off on the need for additional awards. More awards = more nominations = more chance to share the love supporting second rate movies that did badly in the box-office but that producers feel can recoup money in the rental market with those magic words "Oscar Nominated".

More pictures will be nominated this year, but for the same awards. Instead of expanding the number of awards, they just increased the number of movies nominated for best picture, from five to 10. I suppose I should not be surprised. This is an institution that does not venture out into new territory; they stick to proven formulas. Just look at the movies they are cranking out for 2010: "Karate Kid" and "Clash of the Titans" are being remade and neither movie is 30 years old. The Hollywood formula of today seems to be remakes of proven winners come on in, original thoughts need not apply.

To top it off, this year was really weak with Best Pictures. "The Blind Side", "Avatar", "Up"... really? Nice pictures that proved entertaining to certain fan bases, but Best Picture Worthy? Compare this years list to the Best Picture Winners of the 1970s, which could be considered a Second-Golden Age for Hollywood:

1970: Patton

1971: The French Connection

1972: The Godfather

1973: The Sting

1974: The Godfather, Part II

1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1976: Rocky

1977: Annie Hall

1978: The Deer Hunter

1979: Kramer vs. Kramer

Of the 10 movies nominated this year, could any one of them be considered better than this list of 10 winners from the 1970s? I don't think so. Also, not making the winners list for the 1970s included the following films: "All the Presidents Men", "Cabaret", "Chinatown", "MASH", "Network", "Taxi Driver" and "Star Wars".

Yes, "Star Wars". To me, "Star Wars" is the champion of Science Fiction movies. There has not been a picture to surpass it in this genre. If "Star Wars" could not win Best Picture, I don't think any other Sci-Fi film should either, no matter how weak the competition. So it is with amusement and fear that I read about "Avatar" being considered the greatest picture of all time. Not Sci-Fi movie, but best picture of all time. Three hour CGI-fest movies, with no plot, no point, bad acting, and one that relies on profanity for cheap laughs, should not qualify for Best Picture no matter how much money it makes.

I only hope the Academy gets it right with the wins, even if they can't get the nominations right.

Happy Watching

PS: This year's George Clooney Academy Award goes to George Clooney for, oh, "Up in the Air"