Robert Koehler has posted an excellent takedown on the foreign-film Oscar category (http://filmjourney.weblogger.com/2008/02/23) that goes beyond the usual "why wasn't 4 MONTHS.../ PERSEPOLIS/SILENT LIGHT nominated?" complaints to engage with larger issues like the cronyism of the national groups that select a film to be a contender and the Academy's demand that every film must be shown in a 35mm print which cannot later be returned to the filmmakers.