THE OSCAR RUN

I don't remember exactly how The Oscar Run got started, but these days it's a midwinter rite. Let me 'splain, Lucy.

What is The Oscar Run?
A marathon viewing of as many Oscar nominated movies as possible prior to the airing of the awards show in March.

Who are the participants?
My friend Mary and myself are the original Oscar Runners, although very recently we allowed her husband Albert to dash along with us. (He's still spinning.)


When does The Oscar Run begin?
Officially, The Oscar Run begins around the time of the Golden Globes.


How did The Oscar Run get started?
If the participants were to plan this sort of thing, we would start going to these movies as they are released. But as pseudo-adrenaline junkies, we both prefer the rush of cramming everything at the last minute.

So how does The Oscar Run work?
The final weeks prior to the awards happen at a breakneck pace. Since at that point some of the films are no longer on the big screen, a massive hunt begins for second tier theaters at which they may be playing, as long as they are within reasonable distance. It might be necessary to view several films in one afternoon, starting with an early early matinee.


What does one wear to The Oscar Run?
While it's fabulous to sport red carpet wear at the Oscars, The Oscar Run demands comfortable clothing that will go with the flow. Sweatpants, sweatshirts and sneakers are derigueur. Always carry a large handbag (see below).


Is there a special diet for The Oscar Run?
Participants usually fortify themselves with large bottles of water, popcorn, Good & Plenty, Pirate Mix and seasonal fruit. (Nothing with peels like bananas). Pack it all in advance in the aforementioned large handbag.

Are there any health hazards?
There may be difficulty readjusting to daylight after spending an entire day watching films in the dark.


Any final recommendations for The Oscar Run?
Bring blankets with you, sometimes the theaters are cold.


Amen, and pass the mustard.

AVATAR BLUES

AvatarAvatar is an okay movie. Yes, people, just okay.

It has a time worn plot (boy meets blue girl, boy turns blue, blue boy gets blue girl) which is buried in a spectacular display of mind-boggling technological advances and whiz-bang special effects. A pretty movie, that I WILL give you.

But this whole business about comparing it to other films like Dances with Wolves blah blah blah on account of what some perceive are numerous subplots that suggest soul searching depth on the part of the film maker? Please. I may puke.

Avatar comes to you from James Cameron, the same director who years ago postulated that two people were able to muck about the sinkingTitanic in waist deep frigid water with no signs of hypothermia. And yet these yodels, presumably deep in love and thinking of a life together, were unable to negotiate how the two of them could float on a pretty large piece of wood. And so one died. Eeeek. But it won a ton of Oscars, as undoubtedly Avatar will.

Cameron knows exactly what audiences want to see, and he makes money pandering Pandoras and other fantasy worlds. Titanic gave us luxe sets and gorgeous clothing and a window into another era. Pandora takes us flying (in 3D) through lush jungles all in vivid, crayola colors.

But Avatar is just a movie, a movie, nothing but a creative endeavor by a man who has oodles of money and has proved that he can attract wide audiences to watch some pretty sappy stuff. Pandora is not real, and it never will be.

To read that many who have seen it are experiencing depression because they cannot live on Pandora, or that their world seems gloomy and gray in contrast, is a sad commentary on the mindset of the movie going public these days.

At least, it's enough to make me blue.

Amen, and pass the mustard.