Well, another year of loaned-out gowns and jewels and posturing and hoo-ha has come and gone, and once again, I wonder why with each passing year, this exercise in self aggrandizement becomes more a fashion show and a soapbox and less about excellence in filmmaking. And, as always, am filled with vitriol over the Motion Picture Academy’s ineptitude, beginning with their bizarre decision to give most of the key awards to “Brokeback Mountain”, and then awarding the ‘Best Picture’ award to “Crash”. Call me un-insightful, but if other films win the major awards, (Actor, director, etc,) then how does a film with no award-winning components become the best movie? For me, that’s like saying Julia Child’s Rum Babas have the finest flour, sugar and cocoa, but Hostess Cupcakes are better. Personally, I think the whole awards meshugas is a joke, and that things would be much improved if less focus were put on whom wore what by which designer, and more focus on the meat-and-potatoes of what the whole evening is about…excellence in films. But then, if they did that, Joan and Melissa Rivers would be out of work completely.

For those of you who loved “Dynasty”, and sat glued to the television during the ‘Watergate’ and ‘Monicagate’ hearings, I have one word that will make you’re whole veldt light up…”Syriana”! Although it isn’t George Clooney’s finest performance, (his lack of screen time made his character almost a supporting role,) he certainly did deserve his little golden doorstop from the Academy.

This one could have been a total mishmash of politically correct preaching, and pseudo-intellectual grandstanding, but instead it turned out to be a slickly presented foray into the corrupt underbelly of politics, wealth and the global fight for Middle Eastern oil. The production team did their homework on this one folks, and the film is riveting, although sometimes a little hard to follow. George Clooney stars as a high-stakes hustler who becomes a scapegoat for a Texas oil tycoon and his fellow cartel members. Also starring is Matt Damon who plays a news reporter-turned financial advisor to the heir presumptive of an oil-rich Emir who’s Inner conflict between his Muslim upbringing comes into conflict with his ability to rule. He ends up losing the throne to his brother who is, as all ‘good businessmen’ do, willing to sell to the highest bidder regardless of who gets hurt. The torture scenes are graphic and the total lack of human decency on all sides is so blatant that it’s impossible to determine who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. It reminded me of the 1980 film “The Formula” with Marlon Brando playing the mendacious oil magnate and George C. Scott as his arch nemesis. Only, in “Syriana”, the gloves are off and the carnage is shown in all its Machiavellian glory. More than two hours long, the film moves fast, and my advice is don’t go see it if you’re hungry or have been drinking liquids, or you’ll have to run to the bathroom and you’ll miss something.

Meanwhile, this in from the “My version can beat up your version “ department, ABC TV, famous for it’s yearly airing of the 1956 Classic “The Ten Commandments”, has apparently decided that the story needs a facelift, and will be airing a mini series by the same name sometime in April or May, with an almost entirely unknown cast save Omar Shariff who plays the patriarch of the Ishmaelites, Jethro. From what little I’ve seen of the new epic, it lacks the grandeur and scenery chewing found in the original, and for those who are unable to resist making comparisons, this one will leave you with a feeling of lack. The acting is unimaginative, as is the art direction. Trust me, this is no “Troy” and Dougray Scot, who plays Moses, is no Chuck Heston. His acting may be technically more convincing, but it lacks the scope and breadth that makes for epic entertainment. I will say that the CGI graphics are far better than the cheesy, animated pillar of fire, or the Gaussian glow of the burning bush found in the original and the dialogue makes more sense, (unlike lines like Heston’s “From everlasting, to everlasting…thou art God!”…say, WHAT?) but the end result is more like a docudrama on ‘The Discovery Channel’ than what people will be expecting. Conspicuously left out of any press trailers and advance publicity is the pivotal scene; the parting of the Red Sea. Whether this is because it will surpass the original, or will be the downside of the whole film remains to be seen. In any case, if you’re a fan of biblical rehash, this is a must see. I’ll be watching it, if for no other reason than to see if director Robert Dornhelm’s vision is superior to deMille’s, which I find doubtful. The 1956 version is the ‘Mona Lisa’ of biblical epics, and so far nobody has had the brass baitsim to try to improve on DaVinci’s masterpiece.

Speaking of DaVinci, actor-turned-director Ron Howard has pulled a chinchilla out of his hat with his upcoming film “The DaVinci Code”. Based on the best-selling book by Dan Brown, this film does a spectacular job of leading the audience on an emotional and intellectual rollercoaster ride through the pages of history, trying to separate truth from fiction. If you enjoyed “National Treasure”, you’ll love this one! Never before has anyone so daringly brought to bear the duplicity and political underhandedness of the early Roman Catholic Church. “The DaVinci Code will leave you believing what Mark Twain once said of the Bible, ‘…an interesting collection of far-fetched fables, half-truths and outright lies!” But, be warned…this film is not for those who believe the adage, “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it!” Being a student of theology, I found it a fascinating glimpse into stories the church has kept suppressed for twenty centuries. Depending upon your personal feelings, this one will be anywhere from ’food for thought’ to outright blasphemy. I do recommend it though, if for no other reason than it’s a superbly executed piece of work, and quite possibly an Oscar contender for next year.

Till Next month!