Hollywood's big night -- Take 12

The night ends as "Slumdog" is elevated to the top of Oscar's list, this year's best picture. It was great to see most of the movie's cast on stage. Their victory felt like a communal celebration. The award for "Slumdog" concluded what amounted to a generally tasteful evening. Now, we can go back to watching movies without wondering whether awards are in store. The truth is that Oscar represents the collective wisdom of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, nothing more. Oscars can help careers. Oscars can mean boosts in revenues. But they should never -- and I mean never -- stand in the way of what you love, remember and want to make a part of your own movie consciousness.