Keeper of the Clown Bell

Well, it's that time of the year again. Here are my thumbnail reviews of the best picture films for 2014 being honored at the 86th - that's right eighty six of these things have transpired - Academy Awards this weekend. Will I watch? Doubt it, because True Detective is on HBO at the same time and it's better than almost all of the movies nominated this year. Before going any further let me say that expanding the number of films from 5 to whatever is a big mistake - the Academy doesn't pick better films just because it can pick more. This years nominees prove the point so here's the scoop. American Hustle - This years Argo. A nostalgia piece for the 65 and older crowd who actually vote for the winner. Makes me sweaty with anticipation for the Iran-Contra epic that will be honored at the 96th Academy Awards. Great acting, direction and design, but the same problems that sunk Argo infuse this manipulative fiasco. If there wasn't a slave and transexual movie in