Oscar.

Yup. He's one fickle guy.

Okay, so it's the members of the Academy (yes, that is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) who make the picks. But, hoo-boy! Some choices this year leave me wondering if anyone really looked at the films or just blindly marked their ballots. And in some categories, there is room for doubt as to the message voters were sending.

Such as Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor in "Little Miss Sunshine". Give Mr. Arkin his props. He has some classic roles in his career. It wouldn't be the first time that Academy voters have gone sentimental and recognized someone for previous efforts. But was this his best work? Enough to deserve the award? Well since I don't have a vote, that's not for me to say. But... as an audience member? Well, I think there were some great moments in his career before this film came along. How's that for ambiguity?

Clearly a message of sorts sent to the folks at Pixar and by extension Disney this year. When they get shut out again in the Animated Feature, Animated Short Subject and Song categories, clearly voters are saying something.

The only Disney Oscar won this year was for Visual Effects on Pirates - Dead Man's Chest.  With the competition of Superman Returns and Poseidon, this one was a walk off. If Disney had not won, now that would have been really big news.

And on the subject of animation, I hear folks asking when motion capture became animation. Probably about the same time rotoscoping did. As certain folks keep saying, "It isn't about technology. It's about the story." That said, I'll admit to not having seen "Happy Feet". Saw the trailer about a dozen times. From folks who did sit through the picture, I saw enough. And while I'm confessing, I didn't see "Monster House" either.

Folks who used to read my efforts on Jim Hill Media recall that I expressed my opinions on "Cars" previously. Even if I did enjoy it, I felt there was room for it to have been that much better. So I'm not overly surprised that voters passed it by.

But, hey! Nice to see "Pan's Labyrinth" get some recognition. Usually that kind of imagination goes over heads instead in-between the ears. Here's hoping that it gets more folks to see the film.

After all, that really is what Oscar is all about. Selling. More tickets or more videos. Anyone who tells you otherwise is pulling your leg. Maybe once upon a time there was something in recognition from one's peers, but that passed into the realm of "what was" when the studios all stepped up their campaigns "for your consideration".  If the money that went into Oscar campaigns went into developing quality products instead... well, you know where I'm headed with that line of thinking.

Why you need not even sully your social life with a trip to the theater to watch a film. Now they'll be more than happy to send you that DVD so you can see it at home at your own convenience.

Don't get me wrong. I really do believe that some films, actors, directors, et-cetera do deserve recognition. It just is annoying that such a year of hype leads up to such a disappointing evening. Maybe they should try going back to the whole concept of an awards dinner and no television broadcast of the proceedings? I know more than a few entertainment reporters who would be glad not to have to cover the festivities.

Like I said up front, that Oscar.

He's a fickle guy.

Just ask Peter O'Toole or Martin Scorsese.