A long running-time. Bad jokes. Bad movies. Fluff.

And somehow, we remain interested in the Oscars for a simple reason: We love film, and more importantly, love to talk about film. Good or bad.

However, a few environmental picks stand out this Sunday. Grist highlighted Avatar by James “I’m The Greenest Director Of All Time!” Cameron and The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Wes “Cardigan” Anderson, both allegorical films with an eco-friendly bent. But the best are two deservedly nominated, hard hitting documentaries.

The first, Food Inc., took on America’s dangerous industrial food system. Then there was The Cove. Have you seen this film?

This extremely intense documentary is about a brutal dolphin killing operation in Japan. Director Louise Psihoyos assembled a crew - including a surfer dude - only to be greeted with hostility by the locals. Also on hand is Ric O’ Barry who was a trainer for the 1960’s series “Flipper” but renounced the work due to a crisis of conscience and became an activist. Determined to stop the slaughter, he’s asked “How many times have you been arrested?” The response: “This year?”

No fluff:

---

---