No, I think there's more to it than that. It's a combination of factors that all have to fall into place, and I think old-fashioned escapist epics have their place and can be recognized (and rewarded) for what they are. It's rare that the best picture also has the best individual elements in every category, even if that's how the awards are handed out - it's about how those elements add up to the total experience.

(I actually get pretty cranky when Cinematography = Whatever Was Shot In IMAX and Editing = Whatever Had The Most Shots. Each of those is also an art with many varied ways of being "the best" - when spectacle is all that's rewarded, the categories become meaningless.)

(Yeah, I'm still a little bitter about Gosford Park not winning more technical categories.)

I actually get pretty cranky when Cinematography = Whatever Was Shot In IMAX and Editing = Whatever Had The Most Shots.

Or Make-up = lots of crazy monsters and aliens.

A screenwriter friend just sent me this comment on the best picture noms:

In my District, 9, oh sorry, 10! nominees is still five too many. If you got any Education, this is an Inglourious list, you Basterds. The film that got Blind Sided this year is The Messenger – I’m Serious, Man – it’s a Precious, excellent, understated movie. My prediction: Kathryn Bigelow will win best director, but she’ll get Hurt by her ex, so Locker away. Sad to say, Avatar will end Up Up In The Air.

Michael Phillips, the Tribune's movie critic, has a breakdown of the Oscar noms and potential wins here. I like what he said about Carey Mulligan:

Who should win best actress? -- Carey Mulligan for "An Education." She has everything it takes to rival Kate Winslet or Helen Mirren in a decade or two.

I hope Avatar doesn't win Best Picture. Had a great time at it, and it was pretty, but so not "best." I also don't really like the comparisons (I hear around work) about it to Titanic, both big BO hits, but Titanic got some solid Oscar nominated performances while Avatar has none. I didn't think Titanic was all that either.

Maybe I'm just being cranky because OTT coworker is "OMG so sure that is going to win."

I don't think it has a shot, but of all the nominations, An Education is what I would pick if I were voting.

Michael Phillips, the Tribune's movie critic, has a breakdown of the Oscar noms and potential wins here. I like what he said about Carey Mulligan

I love this comment:

Who should win best actor?

Three-way tie, courtesy of the Oscar ceremony currently taking place in my head, between Jeremy Renner; Colin Firth; and Bridges.

I agree with Jessica about spectacle. The best screenplay and action does not automatically win the best movie. There's more to a film. It's like when The Lion King won Best Musical at the Tony's, even though Ragtime won both best book, best music, best actor, AND best actress. It was the right decision. The Lion King had magic which that production of Ragtime sorely lacked. (The revival is supposedly better, but nobody's going anyway).

That said, I thought Avatar was godawful, and the more I think about it the more I feel that way. I didn't even think the effects were all that and a bag of chips, mostly because effects long ago reached the "Okay, I'll totally buy this" plateau for me, beyond which I don't really care. I'm good at suspension of disbelief, thanks, and if I wasn't making your blue people look more realistic wouldn't help, it just makes me feel like I finally upgraded to an Xbox 360 after years on a Playstation 1 - exciting for about 5 minutes, then I just want the game to be fun.

Alert to SF Locals:

Coraline is playing at the Castro on Thursday, in 3-D.

I've got the DVD and I love the movie but you can't get the DVD effect at home and (trying not to oversell this but, uh...) Coraline in 3-D on a movie screen has the most beautiful visuals I've ever seen in a movie.

Was that too much? Well, that's the way it is. They use the 3-D to add depth, and with stop-motion animation there's plenty of depth. The whole movie is a notch better in 3-D but there are three scenes which are beyond sumptuous in 3-D (spoiler fonted for those who haven't seen it): the Fantastic Garden, the ghost children released with the Starry Night Van Gogh background and the Other!Mother last attack in the spider web).

Also, it's on a double bill with the animated movie 9.

I've never seen any movie use 3d as brilliantly as Coraline did. The depth and detail they were able to achieve was nothing short of amazing.