For the first time in eight years, I watched the Academy Awards live from a vantage point away from the Kodak Theatre. And now I remember why so many attendees spend most of the night at the bar-- that is one boring show. Some thoughts on the Oscars: -- Judging by Reese Witherspoon's black eyes and ragged dress, it appears that Chris Brown already has a new girlfriend. --I wonder who wore the sheet with the higher thread count: Jessica Biel or Tilda Swinton. I hope they were smart enough to bring along the ...

I had a change of plans and won't be returning to the Oscars this year but I did watch all of the Best Picture nominees (clocking in at a total of almost 11 hours) so of course I have to weigh in. I haven't given away any spoilers so it's safe to read if you haven't seen the films. Slumdog Millionaire: Since I tend to be disappointed by films with too much hype, I decided to start with the favorite just to get it out of the way. The story unfolds like a grim Forrest Gump, in which the extraordinary events of a young man's past provide him with the answers ...