The Oscar’s held very little surprise, and what has already been written so far across “the internets” covers the highlights – MoNique and Sandra’s speeches, The Hurt Locker’s win, The Kanye moment, and the hosts.  It really was a predictable affair if you were to read up ever so little beforehand.

Oscar is continuing to mean very little to me other than a voting party with friends and family.  The revelation that people campaign for their nomination and win sucked a lot of air out of the festivities.  This isn’t your high school’s ASB, we can already judge your performance.  You don’t need to tell us what you will do for us this year, you already did it.  If your performance deserved it, then good for you – here’s a vote.  I understand the double edged sword.  Out of the loads of films to be considered, not everyone can actually see them all.  But if people aren’t taking the time to watch the films, doesn’t that diminish the value of the statue?

Precious is the most basic, extraordinary and humane film of 2009.  After a summer of silliness, Precious arrives as a bracing alternative, powered by jolting performances from Mo’Nique and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.   It takes viewers inside the tragic life of a teen mother.   It puts a face on poverty, abuse, and perseverance.   Precious offers hard-earned hope amidst overwhelming odds.

I had the privilege of seeing Precious on the night it won the Grand Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.  Director Lee Daniel was delighted to discover that ‘white folk’ liked his unapologetically ‘black’ film.   Initially, it was called Push:  Based upon the Novel by Sapphire.  It arrived at Sundance with little fanfare, but got way under audiences' skin.   Now, the star (and theme) of the film has been pushed to the forefront—everything revolves around Precious.   Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey have added their endorsement.   Viewers have responded by breaking box office records in both upscale art-houses and down-home black theaters.   Just as pundits declared independent film dead, Precious redefines what's possible.

Slumdog Millionaire will win the Academy Award for Best Picture. But what about the acting categories? Months ago, I championed two big performances in small movies. I was thrilled to see Melissa Leo nominated for Frozen River and Richard Jenkins honored for The Visitor. Both films are modest in scope but grand in their execution. They put a human face on the immigration issue, exploring lives on the margins, at the edges of the American dream. For independent films, it is a victory just to be nominated. So who will win the Oscar?

Best actor has become a two horse race: Harvey Milk vs. Randy the Ram. The Screen Actors Guild honored Sean Penn for his compassionate portrait of San Francisco supervisor, Harvey Milk. Mickey Rourke gave a poignant acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for his bruised and broken down role as The Wrestler. Both Oscar campaigns are fueled by the connections between reel life and real life.