The State of Oscar. 122319. The Great Settling.

It was Bill Condon who coined the phrase, "The Great Settling." And I have used it every year since I heard it. Because even in a shortened season —perhaps more so — there is a point at which the power to try to convert voters disappears from the efforts of the often-brilliant salespeople (whatever their budget) and and film pundits (whatever their skill level) and everything falls to the most appropriate sales tool there is... the movies themselves.

The greatest whine of film publicists in award season was, forever, that getting voters to see the movies was a profound challenge. Same with film writers who bagged for a longer award season so they could find time to see movies. But... bullshit.

The only thing that has truly suffered in this short season — aside from massive ad buys, shortened by a few weeks, but mostly made up for by early launches — is the Oscar Industrial Complex. But no one is or should be assured of Oscar creating windows for everyone else's convenience.

I am sympathe…