My last couple of weeks have consisted of some serious screen time.
Well, okay, I'll be honest, that's been most of my life. But we just had the Oscars - a nearly 100-year American marketing tool masquerading as an awards show. I'm openly Academy-obsessed, though indeed, I can't deny it was mostly Americans in American movies celebrating in America. So, what it's always been.
My favourite movie up for Best Picture was a very American movie all about an American musician - Bob Dylan. A Complete Unknown ultimately lost to another great, American dramady; Anora.
A couple weeks before that, Saturday Night Live (SNL) - an American institution (created by a Canadian) - celebrated 50 years with countless documentaries and a lengthy special. For a fan, this reunion was a real treat. Again, mostly Americans. Especially since Dan Aykroyd didn't show up.
Given tariffs, treatment, and the whole "51st state" talk, people here are buying Canadian like never before. They're flying flags. Booing The Star-Spangled Banner. Ditching Florida vacations for ones here at home. The sentiment is strong and certainly positive to see. But I highly doubt this with translate to what's playing on our TV.
Me? Avoid SNL and award shows for patriotic retaliation? Never.
And I don't feel any kind of remorse because I know I'm not alone. We can find adequate - even superior - homegrown replacements for most American imports. But American's have dominated film and TV for a century. They are, by nature, entertainers.
Canadians ... can't really compare. I mean, really? Is anyone going to try and only watch Canadian? That would be an interesting experiment, but there's only so much Beachcombers a human brain can take before turning into maple syrup... sorry Bruno Gerussi.
But that's okay. We never had the same Hollywood-type playing field, nor can we expect people like Ryan Reynolds to pack up their career and pick a CBC show over a billion dollar superhero franchise. And no, The Last of Us is not Canadian just because it was partially filmed around Rocky View County.
Entertainment can be art, and that is a whole lot more subjective, nourishing even, than lumber and orange juice. So clearly, it will be harder to "shop" local. As American-centric as many may seem, I'll still be watching my favourites. Maybe a little bit more SCTV than usual.
Perhaps this can be an excuse for to hone in on the "International" Oscars category and watch a few flicks with subtitles. A good way to change our way of thinking in terms of allies and trading partners is by learning about them through their stories.
