Oscar says Best

It's probably a little late to be writing about the Oscars now that most newspapers and broadcast outlets in the English-speaking world that have been glutted with post-game analysis since Monday morning are finally getting on to other things. But, I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention that the film I've been talking about here all year, The Lives of Others, won Best Foreign Language Film. It's enjoying a limited theatrical release, (check local listings, and good luck unless you live in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal), which should be extended now, thanks to the Academy. I took my wife and some friends to see it on Saturday afternoon. And while it's not necessarily a 'feel good' picture, it is hopeful. Hopeful that no matter what dreadful things we as humans are capable of doing to one another, we're also capable of unexpected goodness.

And while I didn't think The Departed was his best work, it was somehow satisfying to see Martin Scorsese finally win for Best Director.

One more Oscar-related thing before I head out the door to catch my flight to Winnipeg for Film Exchange... Alex at Complications Ensue raises an interesting point that illustrates the arrogance, pomp and circumstance surrounding the Academy Awards: When are they gonna stop claiming that 1 billion people around the world are watching at home?

*Update: Oscar telecast attracts 10.6 million viewers in Canada. That only leaves about 990 million viewers to divvy up among the rest of the countries of the world. If I was a fan of emoticons, that one with the winking eye would go right here.