Will you call the Academy Awards show predictable, year after year? Will there always be a movie that can bag an award without question? Will there be an actor or actress that has skills that far surpasses the others?

Why am I asking subjective questions?

To start off, the films nominated for Best Picture are not the top-grossing films on its release. What does that tell you? Less and less appreciate true artistic story-telling expressions in the form of film. People go for the more visually wow-ing or stuff that has what I would like to call ‘appeal’. Blockbusters are created just so that it will appeal to the masses to earn stacks of green. The real quality content, however, should escape the eyes of the Academy.

I guess that this year, it hasn’t. Still, can you predict the winners?

Ang Lee, who emerged from the ashes of a break-neck flop, namely Hulk, has undertaken a project that has rather *ahem* sensitive or perhaps even controversial elements and ultimately earned him the best thing you can decorate your shelf with (An Oscar, duh). Call me homophobic, but I do not plan to watch Brokeback Mountain nevertheless. Still, go Asians! They need all the exposure they can get.

George Clooney, who starred in a nominated film, directed his own film (which got nominated in multiple categories, and is considered a veteran with his experience went home with only an oscar for best-supporting actor. Sure, he deserved that, but doesn’t he deserve more? Maybe not this year, but you can tell that his directorial venture is well-put effort.

John Williams, who was nominated TWICE in the same category at the same time, did not win anything. Daymn. Everybody knows that his music is top-of-the-line prominence, with a resume that ranges from Star Wars to Harry Potter. Gustavo Santaolalla’s scores must be really ear-opening to achieve such a feat.

Wait, what’s Hustle and Flow? Is that a movie? If so, why haven’t I heard of it? Again, oscar material is not wildly popular with movie-goers these days.

Not that I’m complaining that the oscars are given to the wrong people. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is indeed a really good film considering its entirely stop-motion. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it even has plot twists! Memoirs of a Geisha is indeed artsy, hence the Art Direction achievement award. But costume design? All you need to do is check out a Japanese history book and you have your design right there! %^&*(

I’m going to watch Crash before I pass judgment on the Best Picture of the Year category. Good bye and good luck.

See the list of nominees and winners