Oscar Nods for Regular Films

The 84th Academy Award Nominees have been announced and of all the films nominated, I have seen two. I say that without a hint of sheepishness, by the way. Ever since Avatar lost to Hurt Locker for Best Picture, I am convinced that it is a flawed system.

Here is what I know. Moneyball, nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Brad Pitt), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jonah Hill), and Film Editing, is a great American baseball movie. It's about sabermetrics, or the methodology of using the statistics of baseball to make in-game decisions. While shows like Clubhouse Confidential are not going to appeal to anyone besides major baseball nerds (me!), this film does. It makes the inaccessible ideas behind obsessing over baseball stats accessible through a true story that happened very recently. Great film, A+ in my opinion.

Bridesmaids was just hilarious. I'm surprised it is nominated because besides it being very funny, I didn't notice what set it apart from other great comedies. But of course, I'm not in the Academy, so what do I know?