The Academy Awards: A Loss of Credibility?

Anil Kapoor said it brilliantly and breathlessly at the SAG Awards ceremony after the cast of "Slumdog Millionaire" walked away with another major award..."I can't believe I'm up here accepting this," were his paraphrased remarks.

He is not alone.

There are many actors, actresses, directors, etc. who deliver similar prepared thoughts. Some are genuine, but most are meant as an offer of humility and reek of insincerity. Kapoor, however, was anything but prepared and seemed completely flabbergasted. Indeed, following Kapoor at the various televised award programs is akin to watching the cat eat, digest, and revel in the glory of the devoured canary. He seems to know he's been handed a free pass for a magic carpet ride.

There are several factors contributing to the momentum "Slumdog Millionaire" has gathered in the last couple of months. It was a well reviewed film by critics, many of whom seem to welcome films from outside the United States that attempt to capture a culture in a couple of hours. Also, though there were many good films released in 2008, and some with startling performances, it was a year devoid of the truly great, epic film. But perhaps most importantly, there seems to be a younger-skewed Academy membership at the helm, and they appear to prefer Independent offerings. Many believe this is a positive trend, but "Slumdog's" 10 nominations has bestowed the film a place in history it clearly doesn't deserve.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is a watchable film. It contains some respectable performances. But 10 nominations?

Everyone who follows the Academy Awards understands it can engender many an argument concerning those nominated and those snubbed. And, perhaps if it weren't for the implausible surge of "Slumdog Millionaire," the following would not be so puzzling. But where is the recognition for perhaps the best, or at least among the best, and most powerful performances in many a year...Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road? Universal acclaim by critics and many filmgoers seems to have been completely ignored. The two actors conducted an acting workshop, a virtual clinic, on screen. And, to underscore the enigma, Kate Winslet is acknowledged instead for her work in "The Reader," a glacially-paced film in which she performs admirably but at a level significantly below her effort in "Revolutionary Road."

The Academy Awards program is a wonderful and time-honored spectacle, a worthy celebration of the movies, its history, and its impact on all of us. But, regrettably, it is reaching the stage when it can no longer be taken seriously as a barometer of performance excellence.