h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here is an American critic with similar notions:

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/21/the_oscars_old_white_male_problem/?source=newsletter

Are the BAFTAS for English language films? UK films? I don't think they have a category for Bollywood films,do they?

The BAFTAs do award to 'foreign' films, as demonstrated by the fact that The Artist cleaned up there, as well. They're fairly depressingly Anglophone-biased, too (I say that, but the vast majority of the films I see are in English too). There is a specific 'Outstanding British Film' category though.

We in the UK don't have grounds to complain too much - it was a bit painful to turn on the news today and have all the Oscar coverage leading with 'British people don't win any awards', as if the lack of national success was the only thing people would be interested in.

Well ,la Streep DID get the Oscar for playing Maggie. I thought they would be upset at The Artist taking so many , that being French an all.

Also D and I got the chance to watch 'Rubber' . Now that is a real astonishing film, even if it is directed by a weird French guy. It is very Da-dist.

Hmm, yeah, I got 5 out of 6 this year (not the toughest year to pick the winners, though) - enough to feel smug, but not in 'why didn't I place an accumulator bet?' territory.

My problem with Rubber is not that it's a piece of Dada arthouse, but that it's a piece of Dada arthouse being marketed as a genre spoof.

Well I am not sure the movie makers have much say in how their film is marketed. Did you see the cross-dressing Albert Nobbs that Glen Close was in? Was it any good?

True.

I don't remember seeing any publicity for Albert Nobbs - it's a fairly small movie so there's probably only a few prints making lonely journeys around the UK. I might see it if it turned up around here though.

Ooh, Albert Nobbs is only getting released today in the UK. It's showing down the arthouse but I have to say the buzz around it is 'Two brilliant performances in a so-so movie'. The subject matter means the film is of some interest to me, but there's also a documentary about Bob Marley doing the rounds - and I'm aware I know very little about him but really want to learn more. So it's looking unlikely right now I'm afraid...