Do Japanese films really stink??

[ironhart]

Now that you have all gotten over Oscar fever - I thought I'd drop a 
little notion out there.
After the Academy Awards I went to the AMPAS Home page to look for clues 
as to why it's been ages since a Japanese film has been nominated (let 
alone won) an Oscar. Leaving aside the question of whether the Academy 
Awards actually reflects the artistic quality of films or not - as well 
as that cute Japanese woman who won in the short length documentary 
category this year (since not only has she lived in the States for a long 
time but it was also clearly a domestic production) - the Academy Awards 
are an important financial force in the film industry.

According to AMPAS rules each country is permitted to submit one and only 
one film for consideration in the Best Foreign Film category. The 
representative film is to be chosen by the government of the country or a 
committee selected by the government. Herein seems to be the rub. I know 
there are lots of extraordinary Japanese films out there - of equal or 
better quality than many of the other "foreign" films that have been 
nominated over the years. My question is - who are the idiots of the 
Japanese committee that can't seem to find their artistic way out a paper 
bag?!?!  You would think that after so many years of failure someone 
would wise up and choose a group of people that had some expertise and 
insight. It's not as if there is a ban on Japanese films, in fact it 
seems to me by the showing of Hanabi and The Eel that international film 
competitions can't wait to give prizes to the market that makes up so 
much of their overall grosses. 

I'd love to hear some insight from folks that know the inside story in 
Japan. For now though - what a shame and what an insult to the Japanese 
film industry that RAN has to be their last fond memory of the Academy 
Awards. 

Paul Silverman