Vainglory and the Oscars 1— “Welcome to Marwen”

A calculated Oscar gamble fails because it lacks a hero.

Actually - not at all inspirational nor much inspired.

Big-screen-quality films are expensive, in terms of money and time. Studios don’t spend millions and directors don’t spend a year or more of their lives without a purpose.

All films, even bad ones have purpose.

They may be made to teach or preach, or solely to return a profit, hopefully by entertaining us. When a film does nothing, doesn’t educate or change society on its way to losing money we’re right to ask — why did they make this, why would anyone make this?

The closer we are to Christmas the more likely the answer is — the Oscars.

Releasing a film in December accomplishes two goals — it qualifies the film for Oscar consideration and ensures the film generates its greatest impact just before Academy members start voting. Last year directors Scott Cooper and James Franco released the torturous “Hostiles” and incredibly oddball “The Disaster Artist” just in time for consideration.

In spite of their directors’ and producers’ calculated hopes (In “Hostiles” evil white men persecute native Americans, and “Disaster Artist” is a Hollywood insider tale.) and starry casts, the films weren’t aimed at audiences; they were aimed at Oscar voters.