Pedants who complain that Academy Awards don't really honor the year's best work in cinema because they ignore little, independent art-house movies--and hey, did you know that French toast isn't really from France?--must come to terms with what they have wrought now that the Academy has indeed honored a bunch of little, independent art-house movies. The result is a dull, nonglamorous contest with, alas, little prospect for Oscar-night silliness. Secrets & Lies' Brenda Blethyn is a wonderful actress, but don't expect her to show up dressed like Geena Davis.
Of the five nominees for Best Picture, only one, TriStar's Jerry Maguire,...