Best Picture Oscar - the Academy Long List

With the Oscar's decision to go from five to 10 films in the Best Picture Category, they may have diluted the luster of the award ceremony. We have been given an interesting mix of films that on one hand support the decision and on the other, films that don't deserve the Oscar.

Most everyone agrees that if the list had been kept at five those films that would have made the cut would have been, "Avatar," "The Hurt Locker," "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious," and "Up in the Air." However, after those five the other five just kind of drop off the edge.

One picture in that bottom five is "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock. Sandra is up for Best Actress and deservingly so. However, this is one of those feel good, gooey movies that Oscar usually doesn't respond to. Audiences do, Oscar not so much.

Another in the bottom five is "District 9" a sci-fi movie. Since "Avatar" is already in this as a sci-fi contender, why is there another one? Better yet, why didn't "Star Trek" a much better movie, storytelling, critical praise, and box office success? I understand the underlining commentary of "District 9" and it's political leanings, but Oscar?

The British tale "An Education" might be the one of the bottom five to rise to the top for this occasion. Carey Mulligan as a Best Actress nomination and a story from Nick Hornby give a lot of credence to this film. However, as a teenage come of age film it works until the end of the film. The wheels just seem to fall off.

In addition, another that rose to the top of the bottom five was "A Serious Man" from the Coen brothers. A kind of tale of the Book of Job, done as a dark comedy. After they won last year with "No Country for Old Men", the Coen's were most guaranteed a spot in the expanded top ten list.

Last, but not least is our only animation feature "Up" from Pixar. Now that the list has been expanded many critics believe that Pixar who has come up consistently with great animation pictures will have a spot in Best Picture every year. Had the list been ten last year "WALL-E" would have made it. Not to take away from "Up" it may be one of the best to come out of Pixar. However, the Oscar is not going to come calling.