What’s So Great About Oscar Anyway?

It’s February so Hollywood is on fire as the flames of the Mighty Oscar Hype Machine burn their way across the collective consciousness of all in its path.

In other words. you can’t pick up an entertainment publication, scroll across a website or even turn on a radio without being slammed by news of the Academy Awards. Apparently the universe will perish and the populace will die screaming in agony if you miss what Natalie Portman is wearing on the red carpet.

Or something like that, I may be over-exaggerating but I’m just caught up in the frenzy.    

I used to love the Oscars but my tolerance shrunk as the production ran longer and longer each year. They’ve added more blockbusters (True Grit) and kiddie fare (Toy Story 3) in an effort to reach a wider, more tolerant audience, but I still don’t think they can grab the coveted male 18-34 demographic if they continue to shun features like The Expendables.  

Image via Wikipedia

 

Yeah, I know Stallone and crew aren’t Oscar-worthy thespians, but way back when the original idea behind moving pictures was to entertain as well as enlighten. Now the Academy is interested in pushing “serious films” but the Hype Machine is anything but serious.

There are Oscar Party Diets to slim the ladies down for the big night. Recipes for Oscar snacks and of course, fashion predictions detailing which star will be wearing the latest craze by the newest “It” designer. I bet Trojan has an Oscar themed gold-tinted condom just in case your party ends with a bang!

So to speak.

 The Academy is only interested in “films” not “movies”, but the public is hungry for movies. They spend their hard-earned cash on movies. They want to see movies honored at the Oscars.

So give the people what they want. Or they may just end up hiring The Expendables to set you straight.

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