Plain Old Oscar

It seems the Oscar nomination voters give little credit for originality. What else could explain the fact that in a year that saw the release of such daring, original works as “The Unbearable Lightness of Being,” “Wings of Desire,” and “Dead Ringers,” an utterly predictable, formula, road picture such as “Rain Man” can emerge as the best-picture front runner?

In fact, most of the leading nominees seem to have been produced on an assembly line. “Working Girl” is yet another variation on the climbing-the-corporate-ladder fairy tale, a la “9 to 5” or “The Secret of My Success.” “Mississippi Burning” is little more than a buddy-buddy cop thriller in emperor’s clothing. Nor do “Dangerous Liaisons” or “The Accidental Tourist” stretch any limits.

MICHAEL BAUM

Brentwood