Da Oscars n Dat

So it's done and dusted for another year. This year's Academy Awards have almost no relevance for us Woollybacks * here in the sticks of Dubai though. As far as I know, not one of the nominees for Best Picture (Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Good Night and Good Luck, Munich) have hit these shores yet. Interestingly, George Clooney won Best Supporting Actor for 'Syriana' most of which was shot right here in Dubai, but it has not been released here: if the script was acceptable for the censors, how come the finished film isn't? Brokeback Mountain, forget it - that is very unlikely ever to get a release here (homosexuality is a big no-no in Islam, I'm not planning to argue against that one - the Anglican Church still has problems with it even though it's a biological issue, not a religious one).

Some sanity at least: Wallace and Grommit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit won Best Animated Feature. How long before this category gets merged with the 'Best Picture' category?

Short note on censorship, oh Government, 'cos I know you're listening. People pay money to see movies. It is their choice - they decide what they want to watch based on some pre-knowledge. So you don't need your censors to rip them to shreds, ok? Even a 'controversial' movie like Brokeback or Syriana can and should be shown here. If it's not your cup of tea, you don't shell out the 30 dirhams to see it. Quite simple really.

Anyway, back to the Oscars. This awards stuff is nonsense. And by the way, have you voted for Adventures in Dubai on Toot yet? Hurry, hurry, only 25 days of the month left! And nothing less than 5 cherries if you please. Thanks.

*Woollybacks: Scouse (Liverpool) slang for someone random asshole who doesn't come from my city/suburb/street'.