Wide Open Races? Not For Long

Let us all pause for a moment to consider the death of the wide-open spaces in these here Oscar races. It's kinda like this every year (give or take a few films/performances). Until the precursors begin anything seems possible. Then suddenly, like a thunderclap, possibilities are snuffed out as things get homogenized. With the LAFCA, BFCA, NBR, and NYFCC all announcing in the next 3 days the sometimes maddening narrow-down process commences at warp speed.

[sigh] Oh for wide open races when we can still dream (or at least Amy Taubin and I can) that A History of Violence might survive the great and terrible funneling of contenders.