Richard Corliss indicts Oscar, arguing that the Academy Awards are lousy at picking what is best about film and not always that great even picking commercial hits. Corliss blames Oscar's 5,800 voters — the Academy membership — who, he says, are insular and aging, live mostly in Los Angeles, and seem to respond all too easily to studio politicking and lobbying. Corliss lists Oscar's biggest failures: Citizen Kane was nearly shut out (winning only best screenplay); no foreign film has ever won best picture; and Martin Scorsese took forever to win his first. For the millions who will watch Oscars awaded later this month, this is a great pre-program primer.