Amidst the din of dissent, the clouds of confusion and the outcry of the oppressed, that whisk and whirl around us non-stop, the clang and clamor of tinsel is still audible. It resonates from a faraway place called Hollywood, where sounds are blaring and sights are dazzling. It is the splendiferous home of show-business, and this is the time for their show of shows…. An annual extravaganza they call Oscar Night. Its purpose is to crown the winners of tinsel-town with bright shiny gold---Oscar Gold. The Oscar is by far the most coveted award in all of Movie-land. Show-business nobility descend en masse to celebrate filmdom's golden prize of supreme distinction, set in the most lavish soiree known to mortals. Armies of lovelies of every colour and creed don their glitziest and gaudiest, with the purpose of bewitching and bedazzling their adoring fans. They dance and prance on the plush red carpet as they head for the golden gates of Oscar glory, the sacred shrine of filmdom's posterity. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), has created a monster, fed annually by more hyperbole, publicity, rivalry and controversy. At 85, Oscar shows no sign of aging. It has more vigour and fervor adding a steady growth to its popularity, its revenues, its viewing public and its prestige. For weeks, heightened anticipation and great expectations compound the excitement of the myriad parties and celebrations of Award season. Launched by the Golden Globes early in January, the festivities continue until they culminate with Oscar night. Would-be winners meanwhile, gaze in their crystal balls, predicating and predicting Oscar's favourites. Even in Movie-land the wars are as brutal and bloody as the wars raging around the globe. Filmmakers have refined the art of political manoeuvring which includes mud-slinging, name-bashing and dirt-dishing. The competition is ferocious, the competitors tenacious. No slacking, no relenting until the enemy is demolished, the war is won and victory declared on Oscar night. Winners are not necessarily the better artists, but the better fighters. Why the dogged fight for a small bronze statuette, only dipped in gold? What does a win mean to the movie industry---to actors, agents, directors, producers, writers, cinematographers, distributors, studios and theatre owners? MONEY—that's what! By far, the biggest winners are the stars. They are the front and face of the industry; they sell the tickets, fill the seats, adorn the magazines and mesmerize on the screen. Without their glitz and glamour the mega-bucks would evaporate. What makes a star? The answer is as elusive as it is invisible. It is a magical bond that is formed between the public and the screen persona; you either have it or you don't. Stardom must not be confused with talent. More often than not, one exists without the other. There are over 150,000 actors in Hollywood, and less than 100 stars, and many a good or great actor, never reaches stardom. Oscar has that unique privilege of crowning the gifted, ones who have toiled and laboured to offer their best. Fortunately a good number of them are also stars in Hollywood Heaven. Nothing compares to an Oscar win. Even a nomination is bragged about. This honour will precede the name of the recipient, much as Nobel laureate does, with due deference and difference. The ultimate badge of honour is to be a member of the Academy, which is by invitation only, limited to those who have achieved distinction in film, thereby fit to sit in judgment of their peers. Traditionally five films are nominated in the main categories. Last year was an exception with 9 nominations for Best Picture as it was this year, not all worthy. Some surprise winners include Taiwanese director Ang Lee for” Life of Pi”, Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence for” Silver Linings Playbook”, and the biggest surprise was saved for last, “ARGO” for Best Picture. None can compare to British actor Daniel-Day Lewis when he is at his best, and Lewis is always at his best. It is the films that often fall short. This time the film LINCOLN rose to the high standard of the sublime actor, who was addressed as Mr. President on the set. He won his third Oscar as Best Actor, and also gave the best acceptance speech. Between the extraordinary musical numbers which starred the likes of Shirley Bassey and Barbara Streisand, added excitement was provided by 9 year old Quvenzanhe Wallis who stole hearts with her performance in “Beast of the Southern Wild”, and 80 something Emmanuelle Riva for “AMOUR”, both nominated for Best Actress. The Supporting Actor Category was studded with such illustrious names as Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Alan Arkin and Philip Seymour Hoffman, with 21 Oscars between them. The winner however was Christopher Waltz for Tarantino's creation “Django Unchained”. The lovely Anne Hathaway was perhaps the most deserving actress taking home her Best Supporting Actress trophy, for her heart rending performance in “Les Miserables”. It is not often that Hollywood nominates a foreign production for a Best Film Award. France leads in that category with 32 nominations; Italy holds the record with 10 wins. While taste may not be abundant among Academy members, they have shown great taste in honoring the French production ”The Artiist”, last year, and paying tribute to that poignant Austrian/ German gem AMOUR this year, which fills our hearts with more amour for Hollywood and Oscar!
“There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness”. Frank Capra ( 1897-1991 )
