| The Oscar. It is the most prestigious award | | | | impression on anyone seeing it then they were |
| in the film industry. It is given out as a | | | | either brain dead or without feeling. This |
| symbol of excellence. The best of the best | | | | movie was the clear favorite to win that |
| are supposed to be the ones who get these | | | | year's award, except for one problem. The |
| little statues. But is it really like that | | | | movie was extremely violent and showed war as |
| in real life? Do the most deserving always | | | | it really is, ugly and disgusting. You |
| get the awards or is Oscar nothing more than | | | | needed a strong stomach to be able to watch |
| a popularity contest? While we will in no | | | | this powerful film without getting sick. |
| way attempt to answer that question, since it | | | | Well, when Oscar time came, the winner for |
| could never really be proved, we are going to | | | | best picture went to an obscure film by the |
| take a look at some of Oscar's more dubious | | | | name of "Shakespeare In Love". This had many |
| moments that left people wondering if this | | | | people scratching their heads wondering what |
| award is really nothing more than a poorly | | | | went wrong.In 1981 one of the greatest action |
| disguised popularity contest.You don't have | | | | movies of all time was released. This movie |
| to go any farther back than this past years | | | | brought back the old time serial cliff hanger |
| ceremony when Brokeback Mountain was the | | | | days and literally had people on the edge of |
| overwhelming favorite to win the award for | | | | their seat from beginning to end. The movie |
| best movie. Critics from all over almost | | | | was "Raiders Of The Lost Ark". This movie was |
| agreed unanimously that it was the best movie | | | | the clear favorite to win the Oscar for best |
| of the year. But there was a big problem | | | | picture. But that same year, a sentimental |
| with Brokeback Mountain. It focused on a | | | | movie by the name of "Chariots Of Fire" came |
| theme that the powers that be at Oscar land | | | | out. It was nowhere near as great a movie, |
| viewed as very controversial, that of | | | | but the sentimental theme made it very |
| homosexual cowboys. Plenty of people, | | | | "popular" with the academy and it ultimately |
| especially in the Mid West were up in arms | | | | won for best picture. Again, people were |
| over this movie. Ultimately, the best | | | | left wondering what happened.All throughout |
| picture award went to a movie called "Crash" | | | | the history of the Oscars, upsets like these |
| that most people never even heard of. One | | | | have been going on, either because one movie |
| can't help but feel that Brokeback Mountain | | | | was controversial or another movie tugged on |
| lost because of the controversy surrounding | | | | some heart strings, even though it was not a |
| it.In 1998 there was a powerful anti war film | | | | technically great movie. So one has to |
| by the name of "Saving Private Ryan". It was | | | | wonder. Is Oscar really nothing more than a |
| said that the first 15 minutes of the film | | | | politically correct popularity contest?One |
| were such that if it didn't make a lasting | | | | will never really know. |