The Osc-SNORES...

[donutato_kun]

(This was originally my reply to angharad 's post.  Then it got long so I figured I'd just post it here)

The Oscars have a long history of completely underwhelming me.  Every year, without fail, I try my best to avoid it.  Normally, I'll have it on in the background while I'm doing something more important -- like organizing my socks.  Anything I miss I can

Comments

[fuzzyscribble]

But another typical Oscar curio? Apparently, one of the reasons DEPARTURE won best foreign film, even though it was never released in the continuous U.S., is because of a recent rule that requires all voters to have seen every film in the category they're voting on. I'm sorry... WHA??? Wouldn't common sense dictate that that should've been the case already???

There's apparently a pretty long history as to why...and most of it is actually distribution rights. For some categories...only members involved in the category are allowed to vote. (Only members who work in "sound" can vote for sound related categories.) Voters can get special DVDs of almost 90% the movies involved mailed to them...regardless of whether or not they're out DVD or not. All they have to do is ask. No attendance at a screening required...and you can pop your own popcorn at home.

Some of the problems of doing that with foreign films (and documentaries)in the "best" category...is that they "used to" be voted on en masse by the entire Academy. At one time...getting a majority of the membership hustled to screenings for that was pretty easy. Not so anymore...and negotiating the distribution rights for pre-screening copies of movies that might not actually MAKE IT into full release in the US is what makes attendance at special screenings required. Not just to have SEEN the movie...but to have seen it at an Academy registered screening.

Did that make sense? My Mom is all up on her Oscar trivia...and I'm sure Robin is too...but it actually makes more sense than it seems...

[fuzzyscribble]

And as a side note...may be fact...may be urban legend...a majority of the DVD quality bootlegs that came out before the general DVD release of a movie used to come from preview and screening copies of movies sent to movie critics and out before the Academy Awards. Some studios and/or distribution companies won't sent out screening copies for industry awards anymore. I think Pathe used to be one of them until "Bend it like Beckham" hit it big.

Personally...I think it's about time that "Bollywood" cinema got the recognition in the US that it deserves. It's one of the largest movie industries in the world...and the fact that even American movie buffs...who think Gene Kelly bursting into song and dancing with a piece of newspaper is "Classic Hollywood" will ridicule your average Indian movie...because they almost always have a musical number.

I LIKE Bollywood movies. And there are more out there than "Monsoon Wedding" that are "watchable" to someone with a Western cinematic sensibility. I wish more of them were subtitled in English...because I think we're missing out. The music is fun and lively...the dancing is beautiful...and the plots are no better/worse than your average musical from the "Golden Age" of Hollywood. Some interpretation of Indian cinematic symbolism is required...but otherwise...

I think there are plenty of American movies that would be vastly improved with a musical number thrown in somewhere. It might make Adam Sandler films watchable.... ;-)