I've found that the Oscars are usually a good indication of how good a film is, but like any other awards ceremony, the Academy do tend to make what many consider to be the wrong choice. I'm normally more interested in the Oscar nominations than the actual awards, as these give a better indication of the range of films being considered.

There is usually a fair amount of controversy each year at the Academy Awards, with one of the 'favourites' usually missing out. In hindsight though, it seems the Academy have made quite a few strange decisions. The one that stands out for me is the 1994 Oscars, where 'The Shawshank Redemption', in my opinion one of the best films ever made, failed to receive a single award. Instead, the Academy chose to reward the public's favourite, Forrest Gump. Although a good film, it didn't deserve all the awards it won.

It is because of this, and several other recent decisions, that I usually take the Oscar winners with a pinch of salt. As I say, look out for the announcements of the nominations - these tend to give you a better idea of which films are worth watching.