Last night at the Oscars in the 'Hooray for Hollywood' documentary-cum-minor-celebrity-vox-pop which preceded the actual awards, the following comment was made:

'I would rather see a mediocre movie than a good play.'

Am I the only person to find this comment ignorant, offensive to the craft (of both stage and screen) and extremely irritating? Furthermore, I thought it was an ill-advised inclusion, considering the British theatre royalty present in the crowd that night.

And yes, I'm sure Hollywood is dislocating its collective shoulder patting itself on the back after giving Halle & Denzel the Oscars. But why has Hattie McDaniel been forgotten so quickly (1939 - Best Supporting Actress for Gone With the Wind)? Surely her recognition, albeit for the supporting role, in a time when the KKK was still an openly active, government-supported organisation was a far greater achievement, than cross-racial accolades in a time when being PC is not only compulsory but very trendy? Had they come out of left field and given an openly gay or lesbian actor an Oscar (for lead or supporting) *then* I would have been impressed... but somehow I think we're going to have to wait a much, much longer time for that. (I'm sorry, but giving Tom Hanks the Oscar for playing gay don't count...)

Amanda Chesterton

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