I'm sure he's crying into his millions of dollars even as we speak.

No one is campaigning for him.

If he bungs me a few million, I'll pretend to care

Maybe he can paint you like one of his French girls.

I think I'll pass on that.

I was hoping so.

Well the Oscars are hardly "insider awards" and their purpose has gone well beyond ego stroking. Being nominated and/or winning an award increases marketability for the actor and film tremendously. It's a hugely commercial endeavour.

Although I agree that Will Smith and other major stars look very petulant in staging a boycott.

Who really chooses whether or not to watch a film based on how many awards it's won? I can think for myself, I'll watch it if I don't think it looks shit. They are insider awards because it's all chosen and voted for within the industry. It is so lacking in objectivity it might as well be a religion.

I watch a film based on the trailer and what I know of the storyline. I am indifferent to what film critics or awards think of it.

Same as me, then. The three stages of "What's that film?", "What's it about?" and "Does it look crap?".

I know plenty of people who, when the nominee list comes out, say something like "Oh I've not see those films yet, let's go this weekend".

A lesson in how to set yourself up for disappointment, right there

Generally, from experience, I find the nominations to be a fairly good indicator of the better middle-brow movies of the previous 6 months/future few months. The good thing about movies hopeful of nomination is that around December the screener DVDs get released, so we can all choose to see them at home if we wish, often even when we do not have the choice of a cinema viewing.

The few times I ever bothered to watch the Oscars it was always amusing to see the old wrinkled, gray haired past their prime actor guys showing up with foxy looking young chicks on their arms and the actresses also showing their advance towards middle age dressed up like Barbie dolls. posing for the cameras