Make way for the real dirty politics

Final Oscar ballots were mailed to voters today and the contenders wasted absolutely no time in revving up their campaigns. The dirtiest one so far appears to be the one for best picture.

It is assumed as I write this that "Slumdog Millionaire" is way out in front in this race but we'll know more this weekend when the Directors Guild hands out its awards. Second place right now is being conceded to "Benjamin Button," which is the only Hollywood studio product in the running, and the "Button" folks wasted no time in trying to sully "Slumdog"'s rep. A letter was sent to many voters, timed to arrive in their mailboxes today, accusing the makers of "Slumdog Millionaire" of exploitation, especially in their handling and paying of the Indian actors and extras who appeared in the film. According to the mailer, they were treated and paid only slightly better than slave labor. I have been told that "Button" promoters were behind the mailing. "Slumdog Millionaire" wasted absolutely no time refuting the charges, addressing each one specifically and, one hopes, honestly. I don't think "Benjamin Button" did itself any favors and, in fact, may have even hurt its chances.

If any film now has a chance to overtake "Slumdog" for the big enchilada, it appears to be "Milk." Its campaign has been one of slowly building momentum; in fact, the film finally goes into wide release tomorrow, just in time for the Oscar voters to see it at a theater near them. It will be released with all the accompany Oscar hoopla -- i.e. "Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Actor Sean Penn and Best Picture" -- appearing in the local ads.

The other thing "Milk" has going for it is the "Brokeback Mountain" backlash. The Hollywood community has finally expressed its embarrassment at awarding a best picture Oscar to "Crash" when it should have gone to "Brokeback Mountain" and it is worried that the charges of homophobia that accompanied that mistake might actually stick. Therefore, this current theory (and silent campaign taking advantage of that theory) goes, that to prove its tolerance, voters will name "Milk" the surprise best picture winner this time around. Hollywood might also want to give its highest award to a film that actually has something to say instead of a glorified love story without a single recognizable Hollywood face in its entire cast.

Frankly, I don't see it. Well, I see "Milk" earning more support than "Benjamin Button," but I think the "Slumdog Millionaire" train has gathered too much steam to be stopped now. However, ballots don't have to be returned to the Academy's offices until Feb. 17 and a lot can happen between now and then. Three years ago, folks were saying the same thing about "Brokeback Mountain" that they are saying about "Slumdog Millionaire" today and we all know how that story ended.