Oscar Feeling Indie

Feeling a little tired at work this morning? Sipping an extra cup of hi-test java? Sounds like you stayed up for the end of the Oscars last night! Yes, it was a later than usual Sunday night for most of us on the East Coast, but with so many of the big awards undecided till after 11, real film fans couldn't help but burn the midnight oil!

It was an interesting year for Oscar all the way around.

With indie faves Paul Thomas Anderson and the Coen brothers leading the charge, Oscar had a definite tilt away from mainstream Hollywood last night. Keeping with that theme, all four acting statues went to foreigners, with Marion Cotillard becoming only the fifth person to win an acting Oscar for a performance in a foreign language.

What does it all mean? Not too much, as most of the films and performances honored are not showing up in the year end box office lists, and we all know that's what will determine the films you see at your local multiplex. Five of the ten highest grossing domestic films were sequels (not exactly Oscar materials outside of The Godfather II) - expect to see more of the same.

However, even the big studios like lining their trophy cases, so we can assume that their indie arms will continue to take some chances on edgier fare. In the meantime, count on the smaller distribs like Lifesize to release interesting titles theatrically and, more often, on DVD.

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