who would have guessed?

As a guy whose iconoclastic, cynical stance often has me on the outside looking in with popular opinion, I'm pleased to have  received numerous messages from folks agreeing with my opinion on "Roma". (If you missed it, I opined that had I not been aware the film was up for countless Oscars, I would have bailed after the first 10 minutes. That opening sequence of water being sprayed on a tiled floor again... and again... and again... and again... left me scratching my head. And then watching some guy who we don’t even know spend an hour and a half trying to park his car - OK, it was likely a few minutes, but it seemed like a lifetime - I was left thinking this movie ain’t for me. Yes, Alfonso Cuarón figures it's his powerful personal story, and how swell of you to share it, Al. And sure, by the end, a plot had developed that was serviceable, but I was not deeply invested in the lives of most of those on camera because the director forbade me to get close. What's he got against close ups, the most powerful tool a director has? There, I’ve said it, and you can start heaping abuse on my philistine ways!)
        Several messages praised my ability to stay with the flick when they couldn't ("we abandoned it after 10 minutes for the more exciting task of watching paint dry" was typical). And yes, I'm glad I did hang in, but I'm also happy the Academy did not fall prey to awarding the Best Picture Oscar to this second string effort. Disagreeable enough they gave Señor Cuarón Best Director when, in my opinion, Bradley Cooper should have received that accolade (although, when you realize that Hollywood directors make up much of the voting contingent in the Academy, it's not surprising the fix was in and they would not elect an "actor" to their hallowed shrine; only did that once with Kevin Costner because "Dances With Wolves" was such a fine effort that couldn't be overlooked, and he didn't have a whole bunch of competition that year). Several observers correctly identified the hoopla around Roma as a need to trounce back Trump's bashing of Mexico. But isn't that a sad realization when the Oscars ought to be about recognizing high style and great filmmaking, not redressing political incorrectness.
        Oh well, onwards!

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