Middlebrow Industry Circle-Jerk Ahead!

I suppose we should acknowledge the Oscar nominations. I won't reprint the whole list, but here's what's up for Best Picture:

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways

I've seen only two of those, Million Dollar Baby and Sideways. I liked them both, but I wouldn't say either was the best of the year.

Needless to say, that won't disqualify them from winning. Depending on how you count, 76 or 77 movies have won the Best Picture Oscar; I've seen all but two. Some are good and some are bad, but they're hardly ever the best anything of the year.

Full disclosure: I'm one of the two dozen or so Americans who really liked The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, so my taste might be just as suspect as the Academy's.