I have an Academy Awards fantasy. This Sunday, when the presenter opens the envelope for Best Achievement in Directing, I envision audible gasps, then stunned silence and, finally, thunderous applause when un-nominated Kasi Lemmons benefits from a secret write-in campaign and wins for Talk to Me.

And then, for the hell of it, Sarah Polley wins an Honorable Mention for Away From Her.

I suspect, however, that one of the actual nominees will win. (I'm pulling for Jason Reitman — Juno.) But this does not change the sad truth that sometimes the best movies and performers do not get nominated, and sometimes the absolutely wrong performers and movies win.

It can be pretty tough to figure out the logic. For example, my brother noted that the longest — read poorly edited — movies often win Best Editing. (As he elaborated, “All 28 hours of The English Patient beat Fargo in 1997.) And the acting nominees sometimes reflect the most offensive scenery-chewing.

Of course, my brother and I are not the only ones to spew righteous indignation about the state of Academy Awards affairs. I recently read a pretty good list of the Worst Oscars Ever, some of which I agreed with and some of which I disagreed with. And this led me to compile my own list of Academy Awards Travesties — the performers and movies that stole the awards that should have rightfully gone to more deserving others. … continue reading

In honor of Black History Month, Time has compiled a list of 25 influential movies starring, about, and/or for African Americans since Paul Robeson made his first silent films in the 1920s. I say "list," but it's really an article; Time offers a thoughtful (and at times nicely sarcastic) look at the films and actors in their historical and cinematic context.

As the article points out, in a day when Morgan Freeman plays God and Will Smith beats George Clooney as a box-office draw, times have improved. Hollywood has come a long way since setting Lena Horne's performances as vignettes that could be excised for screenings in all-white communities. (No wonder she gave up on the business.)

So here are a few of the titles (i.e., movies starring women) I found interesting. Some I've seen, some I need to.

Imitation of Life (1934)

At the heart of this adaptation of a Fannie Hurst novel is the conflict between Delilah (Louise Beavers), a maid and single mother, and her light-skinned daughter Peola (Fredi Washington). Finding she can pass for white, Peola decides to leave her family to live as a white woman, telling her darker-skinned mother, "Even if you pass me on the street, you'll have to pass me by." When Delilah dies, presumably of a broken heart, Peola is overcome with guilt.

The moral dilemma of passing to achieve social success but leaving behind one's family is its own subgenre in literature of that time, and the movie was one of the first films to offer a (somewhat) sympathetic view of a protagonist stuck between family and a whitewashed American dream.

Gone With the Wind (1939)

I was a little surprised to see this one on the list, given the subject matter (former slave-owners and the former slaves who love them). But it makes sense that Hattie McDaniel made the list for her role as Mammy, “the movie's moral center and the stern arbiter of Scarlett's strategies and whims.” … continue reading

A couple of nights ago at midnight, I watched fireworks from a friend's roof, kissed my girlfriend and thought about the career and personal changes I could make in the new year. Then I decided self-improvement was overrated, and it would be more fun and less work to make resolutions for others. I suspected that my girlfriend wouldn't let me make them for her, so I turned my attention to the powers-that-be in Hollywood and on Broadway. Here's what I resolve they do for women in entertainment in 2008.

Movies

I resolve that the Academy Awards will be less of a celebration of male accomplishment, and more of a recognition of the breadth of accomplishment in Hollywood. Last year, it was great that Ellen DeGeneres hosted the show, but the dearth of female nominees in the directing, writing and producing categories was a wee bit depressing. So I resolve that the Academy nominate at least two women for Best Director. If they need my help, I'll make suggestions: Kasi Lemmons (Talk to Me)

and Sarah Polley (Away From Her).

… continue reading

The folks at Entertainment Weekly like their lists. And their latest list is a big one; so big that it warrants the cover of the print version. Declaring that “It's not about power anymore,” EW has presented us with “The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.” And guess what? Men are a lot smarter than women. Or, at least, there are a lot more smart men than women in Hollywood. Now, I'm not confident that I counted correctly because, you know, math is hard, but here are the numbers: There's exactly one woman (10 percent) in the top 10, two (8 percent) in the top 25 and 13 (26 percent) in the entire 50.

Meryl Streep, at No. 6, is the smartest woman in Hollywood — because she's managed to have a vibrant career after age 50.

The other 12 women are: 15. Amy Pascal, 26. Stacey Snider, 30. Jodie Foster, 31. Kathleen Kennedy, 32. Thelma Schoonmaker, 33. Angelina Jolie, 38. Diablo Cody, 39. Mary Zophres, 43. Beth Swofford, 45. Cate Blanchett, 47. Amy Powell and 49. Sarah Polley. (You can find the full list with explanations beginning here.) … continue reading