Why Avatar Shouldn't Win Best Picture

It's time to wake up and accept the reality that Avatar is not only not the Best Picture of 2009, but it doesn't even deserve to be in that category. Does it deserve technical awards? Of course. Was the 3D technological experience groundbreaking? Yes, but so was Captian EO once, and no one gave that an Oscar.

Anyone you talk to who has seen the film will tell you you just have to see it in IMAX 3D to really, fully, appreciate it, which is exactly the reason it shouldn't win. If the film is no longer affecting outside of a strict set of circumstances how can it be the Best Picture? Inglorious Basterds and The Hurt Locker can be enjoyed just as fully at home as they were in the theater. In ten years, when technology has continued to make further leaps, both movies will still hold up because neither one was enjoyed solely on the use of a gimmick. Can you say the same for Avatar? The script is weak and the plot is recycled from two of his previous efforts (most notably Aliens and Titanic). The fact that it wasn't nominated for Best Original Screenplay speaks volumes. A movie that is crowned the Best of the Best should be strong in all areas, not just a "visceral" experience. Kathryn Bigelow's film was visceral without the use of 3D glasses. Quentin Tarantino's script was engrossing and entertaining without the use of overwrought cliches. Lee Daniels and Jason Reitman didn't need $300 million to get a message across or move you to tears.

The truth is that Avatar will probably win this year's "we're making up for our mistake last year Oscar," or, as I call it, "the Denzel Washington in Training Day Oscar." He should've won for The Hurricane, but since the Academy screwed up, they just gave it to him the next year. We had a populist, box office shattering blockbuster with depth, layers, and technical craftsmenship in 2008, it was called The Dark Knight, and the Academy dropped the ball, so here we are.

I enjoyed Avatar, but I also enjoyed Honey I Shrunk the Audience once too when I went on vacation to Disney. In a year with four really strong contenders like Basterds, The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, and Precious, can you seriously tell me that a heavy handed, bloated, theme park ride is deserving of the title Best Picture of 2009?