Brokeback author bashes Crash

Annie Proulx

Proulx criticises Oscar voters and the Academy Awards ceremony in the 1,094-word rant, which appeared in Saturday's issue of The Guardian, a liberal paper boasting 1.2 million readers daily.

The best-picture Oscar went to Crash, which focuses on race relations in Los Angeles.

Academy members who vote for the year's best film are "out of touch not only with the shifting larger culture and the yeasty ferment that is America these days, but also out of touch with their own segregated city," Proulx writes.

The 70-year-old Pulitzer-prize winning author points out that Brokeback, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, was named best picture at the Independent Spirit Awards one day before the March 5 Oscars.

"If you are looking for smart judging based on merit, skip the Academy Awards next year and pay attention to the Independent Spirit choices," Proulx advises.

"Rumour has it that Lionsgate (the distribution company behind Crash) inundated the academy voters with DVD copies of 'Trash' -- excuse me -- Crash a few weeks before the ballot deadline," Proulx writes.

She notes that Brokeback's three Oscar wins, for original score, adapted screenplay and direction for Ang Lee put it "on equal footing with King Kong."

"For those who call this little piece a Sour Grapes Rant," Proulx concludes, "play it as it lays."