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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
2

Critic's Confession: Seeing Oscar Movies Is a Big Pain

Getting to the theater a problem

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(Newser) – There are 7 weeks left until the Oscars, and if you start now, and get to the theater every other day, you might just be able to see all the contenders. Hollywood has made being an Oscarphile tough work, writes David Carr of the New York Times. After months of empty fluff, discerning viewers must “drink from a fire hose of prestige movies” at year’s end, Carr complains. “Where were you back in August, pal?”

If that weren’t bad enough, studios limit the release of their movies, hoping to boost the all-important viewers-per-screen statistic. Even if your local theater gets them, you might have to buy tickets days in advance and brave crowded theaters (and let's not even start on cell phones and yakkers). Every year, our home entertainment systems improve. The movie-going experience is going to have to improve, too, “if Hollywood expects us to leave the cocoon.”

In this image released by Focus Features, Sean Penn portrays gay rights activist Harvey Milk in a scene from in a scene from,
In this image released by Focus Features, Sean Penn portrays gay rights activist Harvey Milk in a scene from in a scene from, "Milk."   (AP Photo)
In this image released by Miramax Film Corp., Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Father Flynn, right, and Meryl Streep portrays Sister Aloysius  in a scene from
In this image released by Miramax Film Corp., Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Father Flynn, right, and Meryl Streep portrays Sister Aloysius in a scene from "Doubt."   (AP Photo)
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Between the release schedule and the increasing inhospitable environs for actually seeing a film, even the most dedicated Oscarphile could not be blamed for bluffing his way through a conversation.
- David Carr

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2 comments
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Newser001
Jan 2, 09 12:51 PM CST
DVDs are made available, 'for your consideration,' for SAG members and others... they don't need to go to theaters. The general public has no input on the process, only industry... Since the scandal of a policeman (and others) acquiring screening / consideration DVDs, duplicating, and selling copies, the process is far more restricted and controlled. It is estimated, approximately 1% of all screening / consideration DVDs make it to the general public, in some fashion or form... Reply
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riffran
Jan 4, 09 10:20 PM CST
seeing oscar movies is a pain?....They must have seen Mama Mia...bwaaaahahaha..... Reply
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