The Academy Awards 2014, hosted by Ellen Degeneres.

We will soon give more extensive insights about the film achievements honored in this non-event, but it should be noted that Ellen did a great job, given the lack of imagination in directing and producing evidenced in the show.

With the remarkable roster of films this year; with the new technical achievements in a variety of films, from Get A Horse, to Gravity, to Frozen; with a banner year for women in film, both portrayed and behind the lines (albeit not there yet, not there yet…) the show itself was a throwback to something  more like from the 50’s.

When the most memorable moments of the show are pizza delivery to the stars and a group selfie, you have to realize there is something wrong with the whole concept of the spectacle.  And, even with such limited imagination on display, it still ran over its allotted time by quite a bit.

CJ Rangel