Award this.

Tonight’s Oscars cap off a furious season of celebrity award giving, each one more callow than the last. The New York Times had a solid examination of this phenom this morning.

I find myself even less interested in this evening’s festivities than last, maybe because Chicago looks like a shoe-in and I didn’t think it was all that good. And I know the awards are really just a big party for the entertainment industry but after seeing all the movies in question, I don’t feel all that obligated to come to their roast. Also I caught the Independent Spirit Awards on IFC last night and saw precisely what the Oscars lack–spontaneity, wit, and appreciation for movies instead of hype and most of all, fun. The Oscars, ccomparitively, are like a five-hour high school graduation with nicer clothes and no beach balls.

Should you be interested in a more levelheaded approach to the Season of Statuettes, may I recommend Fametracker (look past the attitude) and Gold Derby, which sees this time of year for what it really is, a horse race.

• Category: Art & Culture