To put it right up front, I have a love-hate relationship with Hollywood, The Oscars, and commercialised cinema in general. But as much as I despise the bulk of what the big studios churn out year after year, and the big self-indulging show they put up every year at the Academy Awards – I can't help getting excited about it.
Maybe I need help.
Maybe it's because of the hope that something miraculous happens which redeems the Academy of decades of errors of judgement.
Anyway, I just came across the press coverage of this year's Oscars nominations and I noticed a lot of mentions of
The Grand Budapest Hotel, the most recent film by one of my favourite directors, Wes Anderson. I take that as a good sign and having watched it again just then I keep my fingers crossed that the film gets at least one or two gongs.
I do try to stay completely open-minded when it comes to films, and I only play the favourite director game (half) in jest. However, to illustrate how much I like Wes Anderson's work I'll say that he's in my "inner circle" of "can do no wrong" directors that also includes Lars von Trier, Lasse Hallström, Stanley Kubrick, and Tim Burton.
PS If
Princess Kaguya doesn't win Best Animated Feature I'll never watch the Oscars again
http://oscar.go.com/nominees
Cheers
Steffen.