“I think Peter Howell makes a good point about the Academy’s fear allowing Crash to sneak away with the Best Picture Oscar. However, I think the most glaring example of the Academy kowtowing to fear would be Citizen Kane losing the 1941 Oscar to How Green Was My Valley. That time was the fear of Randolph Hearst and the national stink his henchman would have made if Kane had won. Also in both examples, the ultimate winner seemed to be a safe wagon on which the Academy members could jump. The winners of ’41 and ’05 are good quality movies, just not in the same league as Citizen Kane and Brokeback Mountain.” — Jeffrey A. Easter
