In my listings of the nominees, I make an effort to list the names of the people, beyond the actors, who did the work. I skip the convention for the movies (here and Best Picture) because the Producers are the names the Academy highlights. While I'm sure they frequently provide something beyond money, most of the names are just people lucky enough to be able to place good bets on creative types. Reminds me of the newspaper articles about slo-pitch softball games. One of our teammates would have a homer and two doubles, driving in 7 runs and the paper would say "...and Fred Dumpster was the winning pitcher". Producers are the people who stood there while others did great work.

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• A House Made of Splinters

  • Ukraine film, but between the 2014 invasion and last year's all-out war. It's importan to know the process the lost and forgotten children have to endure. We were blown away by Children of Leningradsky about orphans pushed out to the street in Russia. This is equally moving and troubling. Please watch (and help if you can).

• Navalny

  • In a time of "the messenger is the message", this is hobbled by its producer -- CNN. Don't let that dissuade you. It takes a liberty or two (as most documentarians are won to do) but largely is the accurate story of the only legitimate opposition leader in our main military adversary's country. You'll pay closer attention to the war in Ukraine if you know what is really happening in Russia under Putin.

• {to the Gilligan's Island theme song} "...and The Rest"

  • I didn't see them. I will. My boss expects me to get my work done in something like a timely fashion. Needy bugger.