On Tuesday we witnessed The Neglected Sibling, as Fox Searchlight reminded us that you can love both your children (in its case, "Sideways" and "Kinsey"), but in the end, daddy really does love one better. There was the Not So Fast! as the Academy withdrew its approval of digital cinema by leaving off "Collateral" cinematographers Dion Bebbe and Paul Cameron. We witnessed the We Don't Want to Watch Someone Die for Two Hours, Even If He Does It Really Well, as Academy members simply refused to go see "The Sea Inside" and Javier Bardem's shattering performance no matter how many critics wagged their fingers.

And then there is the What the F*** Happened?

From the chattering streets of Park City, where much of the industry has convened to look for the next big thing, no one seems to be able to figure out how Paul Giamatti could have been passed up as a nominee for best actor this year. He wasn't undersold by "Sideways'" distributor Fox Searchlight. He isn't a scrappy newcomer who needs to earn the credentials to get nominated. He's been Oscar buzzed repeatedly since his turn as Pig Vomit in "Private Parts," reaching the buzz apex last year for his unnominated turn in "American Splendor."

Continue Reading...