The movie that beat the infinitely more important and influential Star Wars for best picture.  Remember Annie Hall?  No?  Yup.

This “little guy, big guy” is nonsense.  It’s crap.  The Hurt Locker was made for 11 million dollars and made nearly 200MM dollars.  The idea that this is some tiny film from nowhere “taking down” the best picture of 2009 is completely ludicrous.

For some reason, “sticking it” to Avatar became immensely popular, because it was big.  In the spirit of populism, people rallied behind other films because they seemed to represent fiscal challengers to Avatar’s budget, which is the least relevant aspect of film-making.  How is the trail being blazed here any different than The Blain Witch Project?  Y Tu Mama Tambien?  Pan’s Labyrinth?  Little Miss Sunshine?  There’s an “indie” darling every year, and the most cynical thing about it was that any non-Avatar winner would have been heaped with indie praise.  You tell those big studios, Film X!

Here’s the thing.  Paul Blart: Mall Cop still gets made no matter what a bunch of bought-and-paid-for Academics think.  I can’t help but feel that when we’re watching Paul Blart: Mall Cop 3D next year, we’ll all be thinking of naked, blue people.  That’s because what James Cameron did with Avatar was important, and groundbreaking, and infinitely more deserving than the achingly average liberal comfort food that won Best Picture this year.

Further into irrelevance with the Oscars, then, which will be rated highly specifically because of the attention on Avatar and the crowds of coastals who sneered every time it picked up an award.  You’re all rather ridiculous, those of you who hate the “size” of such things.  Paths are blazed by great, grinding machines, not solitary wanderers.  It is fitting that 2009’s great “marvel” film will blaze the 3D trail in a similar manner to the film most like it.  After all, what’s precedent worth if not followed?